“On the Island of Saltkrok” is not the most famous novel by Astrid Lindgren, there are no dizzying adventures or mischief in it, as in “Pippi” and “Emil”, you will not laugh at it like at Carlson, not much happens here at all many events. This novel is about how a family with four children rents a house on an island in the Baltic Sea and spends the summer there. Actually, all the events do not go beyond the experience of most children spending their holidays at the dacha: they sail on a boat, create secret societies, do not return home on time, play with animals, and grow, grow! And at this time, adults are organizing their dacha life and rethinking their lives.
This means that there are four children in the family, but there is no mother; the role of mother is played by the older sister, who is 19 years old. She cares for her father and three younger brothers, one seven-year-old and two teenagers. They all find company on the island, and as the narrative progresses, the emphasis shifts from one age to another, so there are no key and minor characters, as well as key events, in the book. The main character here is life itself: children, adults, animals, nature, and the old manor, and events, events take their course, joy and sadness hand in hand, warm days give way to rainy ones, pleasant adventures give way to troubles, holidays, love, worries, tears...
This book evokes memories of summer at the dacha, of glazed terraces, of cool nights, of the fragrant herbs of meadows, of neighbors from other areas, and - so strange! – it leaves a feeling of warmth and at the same time coolness, freshness, something close and understandable and at the same time elusive. Everything seems to be shrouded in a light haze, but it also seems to be crystal clear. Grand Master Astrid Lindgren.
leave a comment