Customer Reviews

Jerusalem

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Selma Lagerlof's Jerusalem is one of my favourite books of all time. Anyone who speaks more than one language knows that to read a book in a language other than your native tongue can be a tiresome challenge. As a native English speaker, I was a little wary of reading this book in Swedish. However, the characters were so engaging, Lagerlof's descriptions of life in 19th century rural Sweden so beautiful, that I forgot that I was reading in Swedish. Even if you can't read the original I would recommend the English language version. Tales of separation and conflict surrounding differing religious beliefs are universal and Lagerlof depicts them brilliantly.

This is really a message to the previous reviewer, Rowena Suryobroto. It seems that you have missed THE SECOND HALF of the novel! ( Jerusalem has often been published in two parts, and the second part begins with the group reaching Israel.) Start looking for the second part right away!! Judging from what you thought of Selma Lagerlof's other works, you'll absolutely love Jerusalem, it's every bit as good as The General's ring. With the same insights into people's minds and hearts, Jerusalem is a story of goodness, love and loyalty, and of people ( finally ) realising what's important to them personally and standing up for that, no matter what others may think. Without giving away too much I'd just like to say that the ending is everything you might wish for, it leaves you fulfilled and with a smile on your face and in your heart.

Selma Lagerlof is too little known in the English speaking world. This book is profound and deeply moving.

It began with a story about one Ingmar Ingmarsson. He had a big heart to forgive his wife who had murdered their own baby. He dared everyone in the town by taking his wife who had just released from the prison to the town church, bearing everyone's look on them. But the story itself is not about him, but his children.

The first Ingmar had 3 daughters and 1 son. His eldest daughter married a moneyspender man, so after his death, the family of Ingmarsson got bankrupt. His son, young Ingmar wanted to be a teacher and did not care to buy back the Ingmarsson properties that had been lost. On the same time, a new wave of Christianity came into the town. It's the wave that telling everybody to pack up and go to Jerusalem because that is the only place in the world that will survive a doomsday. So everybody in town started to pack up their things.

But still, the story was nothing about Jerusalem. Ingmar's sisters and their families prepared to go, and also Young Ingmar's love. And the story was ended by farewell from the people that were left in town and those who were leaving. But the story itself does not seem to be connected one another. The heart of Big Ingmar, the dubious and kind-hearted Young Ingmar, Ingmar's sister life, and finally, the farewell. The story seemed to be cut down, and with faraway related ending.

I love Selma Lagerlof, but I don't understand her Jerusalem. What was she thinking, what was the topic itself, what was the message, I don't understand.