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runoreetta's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sofia_brohez's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
5⭐️from younger self
aker_br's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
outoftheblue14's review against another edition
5.0
The Brothers Lionheart by Astrid Lindgren is my first book for the Martel-Harper Challenge hosted by Dewey. It's a children's book with unusually serious and dark themes. I picked it up from the library in the Italian translation.
Ten-year-old Karl and thirteen-year-old Jonathan are the two Lion brothers, later nicknamed Lionheart. Karl (nicknamed by Jonathan "Rusty", "Briciola" in Italian) is skinny and terminally ill, so he must take to bed. Jonathan cheers him up by telling him of Nangijala, a land in "the campfires and storytelling days", where people go after they die on Earth. On Nangijala, Jonathan says, they will be happy and live together.
Shortly afterwards, Jonathan dies in a fire burning their home, trying to save his brother from the flames. Karl is sad, but soon he dies as well and finds his way to Nangijala, where the two brothers share a house. In Nangijala they have adventures: Together with a resistance group they lead the struggle against the evil tyrant Tengil, who rules with the aid of the fearsome dragon Katla and her firebreath.
I found this book peotically written. While Jonathan is the medieval hero, blond, handsome and fearless, Karl is the anti-hero, the short, skinny boy who overcomes his fear and gets to live wonderful adventures with his adored brother. I liked this book very much, and found it suitable for adults as well as children.
Ten-year-old Karl and thirteen-year-old Jonathan are the two Lion brothers, later nicknamed Lionheart. Karl (nicknamed by Jonathan "Rusty", "Briciola" in Italian) is skinny and terminally ill, so he must take to bed. Jonathan cheers him up by telling him of Nangijala, a land in "the campfires and storytelling days", where people go after they die on Earth. On Nangijala, Jonathan says, they will be happy and live together.
Shortly afterwards, Jonathan dies in a fire burning their home, trying to save his brother from the flames. Karl is sad, but soon he dies as well and finds his way to Nangijala, where the two brothers share a house. In Nangijala they have adventures: Together with a resistance group they lead the struggle against the evil tyrant Tengil, who rules with the aid of the fearsome dragon Katla and her firebreath.
I found this book peotically written. While Jonathan is the medieval hero, blond, handsome and fearless, Karl is the anti-hero, the short, skinny boy who overcomes his fear and gets to live wonderful adventures with his adored brother. I liked this book very much, and found it suitable for adults as well as children.
iven's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ideoilli's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
4.25
maddoxx's review against another edition
5.0
As far as I remember, this is the first of Astrid Lindgren's books I've ever read. One might say I'm a bit late to the party but then again, I feel like I wouldn't have been able to appreciate the book as a child as I do now.
It's a bittersweet story and the ending kind of broke me. I read it in public and I seriously had to hold back a few tears.
What an astonishing book.
It's a bittersweet story and the ending kind of broke me. I read it in public and I seriously had to hold back a few tears.
What an astonishing book.