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Hundtrilogin #1
My Life as a Dog
Thirteen-year-old Ingemar Johansson is a survivor. Things have never been easy. But, he figures, they could always be worse.
With his father usually away at sea, and his mother dying of tuberculosis and often too weak to care for him, Ingemar has spent much of his life in foster homes, or the Children’s Home, or with his grandparents – with whoever would take him. In this wry first-person narrative, Ingemar tells of his life with his aunt and uncle in Småland, where he goes to live off and on for two years, one before and one after his mother’s death.
In Småland, Ingemar finds more of a family than he’s ever known, as well as a cast of comic village eccentrics, with whom he decides he fits in perfectly. There’s the tomboy Saga, who teaches him how to box and introduces him to the mysteries of female adolescence; and Manne, who has green hair because his inventor grandfather makes him bathe in a copper tub. Together with the people of Småland, we watch as Ingemar falls into one outrageous situation after another, always displaying irresistible humour and the fortitude of a true hero.
In turns tragic and farcical, and imbued with an acute sense of the absurd, Ingemar’s story is one of a valiant, wacky, and often hilarious struggle to make sense of life and of his mother’s illness.
With his father usually away at sea, and his mother dying of tuberculosis and often too weak to care for him, Ingemar has spent much of his life in foster homes, or the Children’s Home, or with his grandparents – with whoever would take him. In this wry first-person narrative, Ingemar tells of his life with his aunt and uncle in Småland, where he goes to live off and on for two years, one before and one after his mother’s death.
In Småland, Ingemar finds more of a family than he’s ever known, as well as a cast of comic village eccentrics, with whom he decides he fits in perfectly. There’s the tomboy Saga, who teaches him how to box and introduces him to the mysteries of female adolescence; and Manne, who has green hair because his inventor grandfather makes him bathe in a copper tub. Together with the people of Småland, we watch as Ingemar falls into one outrageous situation after another, always displaying irresistible humour and the fortitude of a true hero.
In turns tragic and farcical, and imbued with an acute sense of the absurd, Ingemar’s story is one of a valiant, wacky, and often hilarious struggle to make sense of life and of his mother’s illness.
220 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
22 people are currently reading
347 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 1, 2017
If this book had been written today I think it would have been a massive bestseller among the non-crime/non-romance crowd (since it's the story of a boy whose mother is too ill to care for him or his siblings, and there's no murder whatsoever and only extremely clumsy "childhood romance" touches). It's an absolutely awesome book that also exists as an (in my memory of it) awesome movie. I don't, however, recall the movie being so sad. The book is tragicomical, with (fortunately!) a rather heavy emphasis on the tragedy. The movie I remember as mostly funny and strange... O_o If you like good books this is a must-read. It takes some time to get into, but it's worth it.
April 21, 2015
Mitt Liv som Hund handlar om en pojke som heter Ingemar Johansson och hans egen livserfarenhet innan han blir tonåring. Som en blandning av gott humör, uppriktighet och melankoli, boken framkallar djupsinninga tankar om barn- eller ungdom, deras emotionella mångfald och uppväxtning.
Ingemar Johansson är en busunge som brukar anse sig själv och sitt liv som hund. Hans mor är för sjuk och orkar inte med hans bus att han måste flytta till Småland för att bo hos sin morbror. Ingemars liv fylls av bus, skoj, lek, fotboll, boxning, nya kompisar och de andra, men under de roliga upplevelserna finns det alltid undringar och funderingar som han har om sig själv och livet. Ensamhet, besvilkelse, längtan och allt emotionelt komplixitet, vilka blir kraftigare efter hans mors död, är vad han måste konfrontera vid dagens slut.
Berättarperspektiv som Reidar Jönsson användar är av den tolvåriga Ingemar. Varje sida är skriven med livliga beskrivningar fulla av nyfikhet och ivrighet, vilket gör att vi som läsare känner oss som om vi riktigt lever i den färgrika barn- eller ungdomsvärlden. Men Mitt Liv som Hund är också gripande på ett annat sätt. Att ta ett exempel, Lajka, den sovjetisk hunden som sändes till rymden, som symbol användas upprepat i boken av författaren varje gång huvudpersonen Ingemar tröstar sig själv genom att jämföra sitt liv med Lajkas. Ingemars funderingar är verkligen också våra. Är livet indefinit som rymden men ofrånkomlig som rymdfarkosten, och barn som den oskuldfulla Lajka, utbildad fför att anpassa sig i den oförklarliga och oväntade världen?
För mig är Mitt liv som hund den svåraste men vackraste boken som jag någonsin läst på svenska! Ordförrådet är ganska stort. Berättelsen tar mig också tillbaka till mina barndoms dagar där fanns både skratt och tårar..
Ah förresten är jag också hund i asiatisk horoskop! :) Vackert!
Ingemar Johansson är en busunge som brukar anse sig själv och sitt liv som hund. Hans mor är för sjuk och orkar inte med hans bus att han måste flytta till Småland för att bo hos sin morbror. Ingemars liv fylls av bus, skoj, lek, fotboll, boxning, nya kompisar och de andra, men under de roliga upplevelserna finns det alltid undringar och funderingar som han har om sig själv och livet. Ensamhet, besvilkelse, längtan och allt emotionelt komplixitet, vilka blir kraftigare efter hans mors död, är vad han måste konfrontera vid dagens slut.
Berättarperspektiv som Reidar Jönsson användar är av den tolvåriga Ingemar. Varje sida är skriven med livliga beskrivningar fulla av nyfikhet och ivrighet, vilket gör att vi som läsare känner oss som om vi riktigt lever i den färgrika barn- eller ungdomsvärlden. Men Mitt Liv som Hund är också gripande på ett annat sätt. Att ta ett exempel, Lajka, den sovjetisk hunden som sändes till rymden, som symbol användas upprepat i boken av författaren varje gång huvudpersonen Ingemar tröstar sig själv genom att jämföra sitt liv med Lajkas. Ingemars funderingar är verkligen också våra. Är livet indefinit som rymden men ofrånkomlig som rymdfarkosten, och barn som den oskuldfulla Lajka, utbildad fför att anpassa sig i den oförklarliga och oväntade världen?
För mig är Mitt liv som hund den svåraste men vackraste boken som jag någonsin läst på svenska! Ordförrådet är ganska stort. Berättelsen tar mig också tillbaka till mina barndoms dagar där fanns både skratt och tårar..
Ah förresten är jag också hund i asiatisk horoskop! :) Vackert!
October 12, 2020
Three and a half stars, rounded up.
The story centers on Ingemar, a teenage boy growing up in late 1950’s Sweden. Ingemar’s father is away at sea, and his mother is dying of tuberculosis. Therefore, he and his siblings are split up and sent to different relatives. Ingemar ends up at his aunt and uncle.
There he learns to deal with different aspects of life, including being unwanted, death and his own growing sexuality. Sometimes he deals with his problems by pretending to be a dog. Sometimes he compares himself with the unfortunate space dog Laika, who is in an even worse place.
This strange story is both heartwarming and sad. Maybe the many cultural references can be a little difficult to understand for a non-Scandinavian reader.
As I remember it, the movie from 1985 is also very good.
The story centers on Ingemar, a teenage boy growing up in late 1950’s Sweden. Ingemar’s father is away at sea, and his mother is dying of tuberculosis. Therefore, he and his siblings are split up and sent to different relatives. Ingemar ends up at his aunt and uncle.
There he learns to deal with different aspects of life, including being unwanted, death and his own growing sexuality. Sometimes he deals with his problems by pretending to be a dog. Sometimes he compares himself with the unfortunate space dog Laika, who is in an even worse place.
This strange story is both heartwarming and sad. Maybe the many cultural references can be a little difficult to understand for a non-Scandinavian reader.
As I remember it, the movie from 1985 is also very good.
November 22, 2007
Strangely funny and poignantly sad. This is written really nicely, and has some lines that just hit you hard.
October 8, 2025
Maybe it’s because the movie is one of my favorite of all time but I was slightly underwhelmed? It’s a good book that I think was pretty faithfully adapted, and there’s a little more material here, my biggest complaint is that it’s a little all over the place chronologically, and the prose can get hard to follow.
January 12, 2008
Even better than the 1985 Swedish movie...
August 2, 2019
This book is sad. But the thing is, a lot of the times you forget that. Ingemar's head is a sad place to be, yes, but it is funny too. Several times I laughed out loud, and I love when books about serious matter can do that. My heart absolutely broke for him at times, but it wasn't this constant ache that reading a heavy book can sometimes be. (The last part of the book was a bit more sad to read though)
At first I was a bit confused because of the jumps in events and what time it was, and also he had a veryyy lively fantasy, but I got used to that pretty fast and it didn't bother me more than a bit in the beginning.
I've known about this book for a long time but I've never read because I've always had an idea that this book was just weird, and I mean, it kind of was at times, but definitely in a good way. I was also scared it would be boring, but despite "just" being about a teenager's live in small village, I never got frustrated because nothing happened like I thought I might be.
Absolutely worth reading!
At first I was a bit confused because of the jumps in events and what time it was, and also he had a veryyy lively fantasy, but I got used to that pretty fast and it didn't bother me more than a bit in the beginning.
I've known about this book for a long time but I've never read because I've always had an idea that this book was just weird, and I mean, it kind of was at times, but definitely in a good way. I was also scared it would be boring, but despite "just" being about a teenager's live in small village, I never got frustrated because nothing happened like I thought I might be.
Absolutely worth reading!
November 28, 2020
My brother-in-law recommended this book because of how much I love the Swedish author Fredrik Backman. And while there are some similarities in their writing styles, Reidar Jonsson doesn't have quite the storytelling ability of Backman (IMHO).
Overall, this was a very tough book for me to rate. I really enjoyed sections of it, alternating between out-loud laughter and tears (just like when I read Backman's works). But I found other sections slow, plodding, and stretching the boundaries of "suspended disbelief."
Also, I struggled with ending...although in fairness to Mr. Jonsson, maybe that says more about me than him. Lately, it seems as if I've struggled with the endings of many of the novels I've read. I'm not sure why - but it does seem to be a trend.
Ultimately, I settled on three stars for this novel. I liked it - sometimes a lot - but I can't say I loved it. (And at times I didn't even like it.) Still, I'm glad I read it...I just won't add it to my collection of novels to reread sometime in the future.
Overall, this was a very tough book for me to rate. I really enjoyed sections of it, alternating between out-loud laughter and tears (just like when I read Backman's works). But I found other sections slow, plodding, and stretching the boundaries of "suspended disbelief."
Also, I struggled with ending...although in fairness to Mr. Jonsson, maybe that says more about me than him. Lately, it seems as if I've struggled with the endings of many of the novels I've read. I'm not sure why - but it does seem to be a trend.
Ultimately, I settled on three stars for this novel. I liked it - sometimes a lot - but I can't say I loved it. (And at times I didn't even like it.) Still, I'm glad I read it...I just won't add it to my collection of novels to reread sometime in the future.
November 7, 2023
Eind jaren 80 zag ik, samen met de kinderen, de verfilming van dit boek op de TV. Die stond als kinderfilm geprogrammeerd. Ik vond het een ontroerende film maar niet echt voor kinderen bestemd.
Nog later las ik het boek.
Zowel film als boek zijn mij steeds bijgebleven.
Het eenzame jongetje, dat zijn moeder zo hard miste, troostte zich met de gedachte aan het hondje Laika dag eenzaam in een raket rond de aarde draaide. Laika had het toch nog zwaarder dan hij.
Ik dacht terug hieraan tijdens het lezen van "Een en ander over reuzenpijnbomen en de tijd" van Jon Kalman Stefansson, dat qua thematiek veel overeenkomsten heeft met "Mijn leven als hond".
Ik vraag me nu af of ik dit boek ook nu nog 5 sterren zou geven.
Nog later las ik het boek.
Zowel film als boek zijn mij steeds bijgebleven.
Het eenzame jongetje, dat zijn moeder zo hard miste, troostte zich met de gedachte aan het hondje Laika dag eenzaam in een raket rond de aarde draaide. Laika had het toch nog zwaarder dan hij.
Ik dacht terug hieraan tijdens het lezen van "Een en ander over reuzenpijnbomen en de tijd" van Jon Kalman Stefansson, dat qua thematiek veel overeenkomsten heeft met "Mijn leven als hond".
Ik vraag me nu af of ik dit boek ook nu nog 5 sterren zou geven.
September 7, 2020
Kanske borde man ha växt upp under, och upplevt den tiden som boken handlar om för att kunna henföras så av den? För mig blir det bara kuröst lirande, en upprepning av att barn misuppfattar mycket som vuxna säger. Boken springer fram och tillbaka i tid, utan att det känns som annat än ett försök att göra sig till, göra läsningen lite mer krånglig, och därmed intressant.
Helheten består emellertid, vi har en mängd porträtt varav några är tydligt uppritade - det gillar jag.
Helheten består emellertid, vi har en mängd porträtt varav några är tydligt uppritade - det gillar jag.
August 18, 2024
What a masterpiece of storytelling.
I really enjoyed this book.
This book needs to be read by more people.
I also noticed that the book made a point of highlighting at least 3 female characters whose potential and talent and desire were thwarted by the patriarchal ways of life at the time.
Amazing.
The book feels both fantastical and real at the same time.
The book has moments of hilarity and also moments of sombre reflection.
Just absolutely amazing.
I really enjoyed this book.
This book needs to be read by more people.
I also noticed that the book made a point of highlighting at least 3 female characters whose potential and talent and desire were thwarted by the patriarchal ways of life at the time.
Amazing.
The book feels both fantastical and real at the same time.
The book has moments of hilarity and also moments of sombre reflection.
Just absolutely amazing.
April 28, 2020
En omfångsrik svada från pojken Ingemar, som förtränger sin smärta inför sin dödssjuka mor. Inte lika tragikokmisk som filmen. Författaren skrev själv filmmanuset, och kudne då renodla texte betydligt - det mådde den bra av. Jag tycker mycket om den konsekventa tidsatmosfären 1958-59, med Pelé, Ingo och Povel Ramel.
October 30, 2021
La versión que he leído de este libro ha sido de lectura fácil en sueco (lättläst), por lo que son muchos los matices que no he podido apreciar. Sin embargo, la historia de Ingemar Johansson es interesante, divertida en general, aunque ocasionalmente triste. Algún día me atreveré con el original.
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January 3, 2023Inte lika bra som filmen, men Ingemar är så klok och snäll.
September 26, 2025
Älskade lilla Ingemar, (ett komiskt geni!). Underbart värmande, sorglig och fantastiskt rolig berättelse. Livet är inte lätt.
(Påminner om Jävla Karlar (?) - eller snarare tvärt om, har Andrev Walden inspirerats av Mitt liv som hund?)
(Påminner om Jävla Karlar (?) - eller snarare tvärt om, har Andrev Walden inspirerats av Mitt liv som hund?)
March 15, 2011
One of the most unusual voices I've come across, and a wonderful tale. After re-watching the movie, I realized that I wanted to try the book, and actually the book was even more wonderful than the movie. It's a painfully honest, extremely quirky and funny portrayal of a Swedish teenager growing up in the 1950's.
December 20, 2024
Denna bok är som en kusin till P.C. Jersilds roman "Barnens ö", som också den handlar om en ensam pojke som kastas omkring av livet året innan tonåren, utan vare sig far eller en stabil mor. Jag gillade denna roman, den hade en väldigt speciell ton i berättandet som fångade och höll kvar uppmärksamheten.
May 3, 2008
Thank you Wright
unfinished-not-applicable
June 18, 2013BCID: 186-11987310
March 15, 2010
It was an enjoyable and touching read, but ultimately it was not as impressive as the film.
January 4, 2015
too depressing.
January 7, 2015
Lättläst bok för Svenska kurs. Jätte spännande berättelse om livet av en pojke som upptäcka tonårings år och alla förändringar i hans liv.
November 4, 2018
couldn't finish it
July 25, 2017
Nu var det visserligen jättelänge sedan jag såg filmen men boken var en helt annan upplevelse. Ingemar växer upp utan närvarande föräldrar och filtrerar sin omgivning genom ett barns ögon samtidigt som han är i tonårens gränsland.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews