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Karlsson på taket #1
Karlsson on the Roof
Imagine Smidge's delight when, one day, a little man with a propeller on his back appears hovering at the window! It's Karlson and he lives in a house on the roof. Soon Smidge and Karlson are sharing all sorts of adventures, from tackling thieves and playing tricks to looping the loop and running across the rooftops. Fun and chaos burst from these charming, classic stories.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
118 people are currently reading
2560 people want to read
About the author
Astrid Lindgren
1,227 books3,941 followersAstrid Anna Emilia Lindgren, née Ericsson, (1907 - 2002) was a Swedish children's book author and screenwriter, whose many titles were translated into 85 languages and published in more than 100 countries. She has sold roughly 165 million copies worldwide. Today, she is most remembered for writing the Pippi Longstocking books, as well as the Karlsson-on-the-Roof book series.
Awards:
Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (1958)
Awards:
Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (1958)
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September 28, 2016Our Russian friend K, like me a hardcore Karlsson fan, came round for dinner tonight. As it inevitably does these days, the conversation turned to the dismal subject of Lyin' Crooked Donald Trump. It appeared that we were going to rehearse the same tired old arguments yet again, but K suddenly had a blinding flash of insight: TRUMP IS KARLSSON!!!
Of course... as soon as you see it, nothing could be more obvious! The incessant boasting! The naked greed and manipulativeness! The shameless, almost psychotic lying! All delivered with a mischievous twinkle in his eye that makes everyone (well, almost everyone) happy to forgive him his many flagrant transgressions! Damn it all, he even LOOKS like Karlsson!
Anyway, now we know how to stop him. Some brave person just has to get close enough to poke his comfortably rounded paunch in the right place. Then, ZAP! we'll see the propeller come out of his back, and he'll fly back into the story to meet Lillebror, who must be missing him horribly.
I wonder if Hillary's figured it out as well? She looked almost too confident in last night's debate...
Of course... as soon as you see it, nothing could be more obvious! The incessant boasting! The naked greed and manipulativeness! The shameless, almost psychotic lying! All delivered with a mischievous twinkle in his eye that makes everyone (well, almost everyone) happy to forgive him his many flagrant transgressions! Damn it all, he even LOOKS like Karlsson!
Anyway, now we know how to stop him. Some brave person just has to get close enough to poke his comfortably rounded paunch in the right place. Then, ZAP! we'll see the propeller come out of his back, and he'll fly back into the story to meet Lillebror, who must be missing him horribly.
I wonder if Hillary's figured it out as well? She looked almost too confident in last night's debate...
October 31, 2015
The Great Karlsson Experiment
Having read the Swedish original and the English and German translations, I had to get the French one too. (I wish I could read it in Russian, but my command of the language is insufficient). Out of the four I can appreciate, it seems to me the relative quality is pretty clear. In Swedish, it's a masterpiece. In German, it's nearly as good. In French, it's okay but not really anything special. And in English, it's disappointing.
Not, who's read it in English, pours scorn on my opinions. How can I know it's funnier in one language than another? I just know, it's bleeding obvious, but as usual with humor it's hard to justify my claims. Things don't get funnier when you explain them.
So, here's the Great Karlsson Experiment. (World's best experiment in comparative translation studies, guess what that is?) If you have read Karlsson in at least two languages, please message me to say what your ranking is. I will compile statistics and find out how well people agree. I predict there will be good correlation... but experience tells me that you are often surprised when you actually look at the data!
If you want to read it for free online, here are links for Swedish, German, English and Russian. It's nice and short - I just read the French version, which certainly didn't take more than a couple of hours. And if you've got kids of an appropriate age, pretty much everyone says it's a great bednight book.
Data! I want data!
Having read the Swedish original and the English and German translations, I had to get the French one too. (I wish I could read it in Russian, but my command of the language is insufficient). Out of the four I can appreciate, it seems to me the relative quality is pretty clear. In Swedish, it's a masterpiece. In German, it's nearly as good. In French, it's okay but not really anything special. And in English, it's disappointing.
Not, who's read it in English, pours scorn on my opinions. How can I know it's funnier in one language than another? I just know, it's bleeding obvious, but as usual with humor it's hard to justify my claims. Things don't get funnier when you explain them.
So, here's the Great Karlsson Experiment. (World's best experiment in comparative translation studies, guess what that is?) If you have read Karlsson in at least two languages, please message me to say what your ranking is. I will compile statistics and find out how well people agree. I predict there will be good correlation... but experience tells me that you are often surprised when you actually look at the data!
If you want to read it for free online, here are links for Swedish, German, English and Russian. It's nice and short - I just read the French version, which certainly didn't take more than a couple of hours. And if you've got kids of an appropriate age, pretty much everyone says it's a great bednight book.
Data! I want data!
March 9, 2012
The early Astrid Lindgren books are hysterically funny, and work equally well for both child and adult readers. The problem is that the two audiences don't find the same things amusing. My Swedish wife said that her grandmother sometimes read this book aloud to her when she was a very small girl. Every now and then, Grandma would have to stop, she was laughing too much. Elisabeth tells me she'd glare at her and say "Shut up and READ!"
In this book, Lillebror (literally, "little brother"), is about seven years old, and the youngest of three siblings. 17 year old Bosse just sits in his room and practices on his damn guitar, and 15 year old Bettan has discovered boys, so no one wants to play with him. The family isn't surprised when Lillebror makes up an imaginary friend called Karlsson, a little man who lives in a house on the roof and can fly around with a handy propeller that he has attached to his back. Except, as you no doubt guessed, Karlsson actually exists. He's just a bit shy about letting other people see him. Karlsson is one of Lindgren's finest creations, and that's saying a good deal. He's an appalling egotist, shamelessly manipulates Lillebor in the most transparently obvious ways in order to get food and other treats, and immediately goes off into a sulk if his wishes are crossed. He's also a pathological liar, and doesn't even seem to understand the concept of responsibility. Somehow, it's done in such a clever, ironic way that you can't help loving him all the same, just as Lillebror does. You have to admire the author's skill.
Karlsson is always getting Lillebror into various imaginative kinds of trouble. My favorite episode is the bit where Bettan has invited her new boyfriend, Pelle, back home for the evening. She's cajoled the rest of the family into going out (it's completely clear that she's planning a make-out session), but Lillebror's too small, so all she can do is offer him a reasonable bribe to stay in his room. But she's reckoned without Karlsson, who cross-examines Lillebror about the exact wording. He's just promised that Bettan won't see him for the rest of the evening, so if they both go into the living room, covered by a blanket, he's keeping to the letter of the contract, right? So they sneak out quietly and find that the lights are turned down real low, and Bettan and Pelle are on the couch with their arms around each other. As they come in, Pelle is just asking her if she likes him, and Karlsson seizes his chance to join in the conversation.
"Bettan likes all the boys, so why wouldn't she like you!" he says triumphantly. And Bettan gets very satisfyingly mad as she chases the pair back to Lillebror's room, shouting that she's going to kill that horrible little kid. If you've got a little brother or a big sister, you're going to love this book.
In this book, Lillebror (literally, "little brother"), is about seven years old, and the youngest of three siblings. 17 year old Bosse just sits in his room and practices on his damn guitar, and 15 year old Bettan has discovered boys, so no one wants to play with him. The family isn't surprised when Lillebror makes up an imaginary friend called Karlsson, a little man who lives in a house on the roof and can fly around with a handy propeller that he has attached to his back. Except, as you no doubt guessed, Karlsson actually exists. He's just a bit shy about letting other people see him. Karlsson is one of Lindgren's finest creations, and that's saying a good deal. He's an appalling egotist, shamelessly manipulates Lillebor in the most transparently obvious ways in order to get food and other treats, and immediately goes off into a sulk if his wishes are crossed. He's also a pathological liar, and doesn't even seem to understand the concept of responsibility. Somehow, it's done in such a clever, ironic way that you can't help loving him all the same, just as Lillebror does. You have to admire the author's skill.
Karlsson is always getting Lillebror into various imaginative kinds of trouble. My favorite episode is the bit where Bettan has invited her new boyfriend, Pelle, back home for the evening. She's cajoled the rest of the family into going out (it's completely clear that she's planning a make-out session), but Lillebror's too small, so all she can do is offer him a reasonable bribe to stay in his room. But she's reckoned without Karlsson, who cross-examines Lillebror about the exact wording. He's just promised that Bettan won't see him for the rest of the evening, so if they both go into the living room, covered by a blanket, he's keeping to the letter of the contract, right? So they sneak out quietly and find that the lights are turned down real low, and Bettan and Pelle are on the couch with their arms around each other. As they come in, Pelle is just asking her if she likes him, and Karlsson seizes his chance to join in the conversation.
"Bettan likes all the boys, so why wouldn't she like you!" he says triumphantly. And Bettan gets very satisfyingly mad as she chases the pair back to Lillebror's room, shouting that she's going to kill that horrible little kid. If you've got a little brother or a big sister, you're going to love this book.
December 25, 2024
Karlsson wohnt auf dem Dach und kann mithilfe eines kleinen Propellers auf seinem Rücken fliegen. Eines Tages lernt er Lillebror kennen. Lillebror freut sich; mit Karlsson kann er jede Menge Abenteuer erleben. Aber immer, wenn er Karlsson seinen Eltern vorstellen will, ist dieser verschwunden.
😊 Schöne und abenteuerliche und fantasievolle Geschichten von Karlsson und Lillebror, wobei Karlsson nicht immer sympathisch erscheint. Er ist sehr eigensinnig und eingebildet, auch egoistisch. Trotzdem kann man ihm irgendwie nicht böse sein.
Ich mag die Geschichten; sie erinnern an die eigene Kindheit.
😊 Schöne und abenteuerliche und fantasievolle Geschichten von Karlsson und Lillebror, wobei Karlsson nicht immer sympathisch erscheint. Er ist sehr eigensinnig und eingebildet, auch egoistisch. Trotzdem kann man ihm irgendwie nicht böse sein.
Ich mag die Geschichten; sie erinnern an die eigene Kindheit.
March 25, 2010
Pasti ada hal yang memancing tawa saat membaca buku anak-anak. Kepolosan mereka dalam memandang sebuah hal, yang sering kali luput dari perhatian orang dewasa, sering tercetus dalam celetukan dan pertanyaan mereka yang sulit untuk dijawab.
Lillebror, misalnya. Bocah berusia tujuh tahun yang bernama asli Svante Svantesson punya pertanyaan dan pernyataan yang membuat saya tertawa terbahak-bahak saat membacanya. Misalnya ini:
Boleh tidak aku menikah dengan Ibu saja?” tanya Lillebror.
“Rasanya tidak bisa deh,” kata Ibu. “Ibu kan sudah menikah dengan Ayah.”
Benar juga ya…pikir Lillebror dalam hati.
“Aku benar-benar tidak beruntung, kenapa sih Ayah dan aku harus jatuh cinta pada orang yang sama?” tanya Lillebror dengan agak kecewa.
Atau ini:
Ibu, memangnya aku lahir di Stockholm sini, ya?” tanya Lillebror.
“Ya, benar,” kata Ibu.
“Kalau Bossed dan Bettan, mereka lahir di Malmö, ya?”
“Ya, mereka lahir di sana.”
“Dan Ayah, Ayah pernah cerita Ayah lahir di Göteborg, kan?”
Ya, aku anak kelahiran Göteborg,” kata Ayah.
“Dan Ibu, di mana Ibu lahir?”
“Di Eskilstuna,” kata Ibu.
Lillebror merangkul leher ibunya erat-erat. Beruntung sekali ya, kita semua bisa bertemu!”
Layaknya kebanyakan anak bungsu yang usianya terpaut jauh dengan kakak-kakaknya, Lillebror selalu dianggap ‘kecil dan tak akan pernah jadi besar’ oleh orang tua dan kedua kakaknya. Semua yang ia ungkapkan selalu ditertawakan (yang saya yakin karena memang betul-betul lucu), atau dianggap khayalan belaka.
Cerita Lillebror tentang Karlsson Si Manusia Atap, misalnya. Karlsson dianggap hanya seorang teman khayalan Lillebror, teman yang biasa dimiliki anak kecil. Karakter Karlsson memang unik. Ia memiliki baling-baling di punggungnya, yang akan berputar bila ia menyalakan tombol saklar yang terletak di pusarnya. (Jadi ingat baling-baling bambunya Doraemon)
Karlsson memang bukan teman yang menyenangkan. Ia rakus sekaligus pelit, jahil dan licik, serta pembual besar. Tapi bagi Lillebror, Karlsson adalah segalanya. Bersama Karlsson, Lillebror bisa mendapatkan petualang yang paling menyenangkan, dibanding bersama Kirre dan Gunilla, sahabat yang seusia dengannya. Karlsson tidak pernah menganggap Lillebror sebagai anak kecil, dan menanggapi omongan Lillebror dengan serius. Satu pelajaran bagi saya, untuk menerima orang lain secara terbuka dan apa adanya mereka.
Berbagai usaha Lillebror untuk meyakinkan orang tua, kedua kakak, dan teman-temannya tentang kehadiran Karlsson Si Manusia Atap yang rakus dan jahil itu selalu sia-sia. Tak ada yang percaya. Lillebror bahkan harus adu jotos dengan Kirre, sahabatnya, hanya karena Kirre mengejek Lillebror berbohong tentang keberadaan Karlsson.
Kemahiran Astrid Lindgren memainkan daya khayal anak-anak telah menyihir saya sejak saya mulai bisa membaca. Fantasi-fantasi yang ia paparkan tentang manusia yang tinggal di atap gedung apartemen ini, atau cerita tentang bocah berkaus panjang bernama Pippi, atau persahabatan kakak beradik Madicken dan Lisbet, sama sekali berhasil menyingkirkan kesan menggurui atas pesan-pesan moral yang terkandung dalam cerita-cerita yang ditulisnya.
Cerita yang aslinya berbahasa Swedia ini pun diterjemahkan dengan apik, menggunakan bahasa yang mudah dimengerti oleh anak-anak usia menjelang remaja. Meskipun begitu, ada yang menganjal bagi saya: to have butterfly in my stomach adalah kiasan untuk menggambarkan rasa mual kan ya, bukan berarti kupu-kupu beterbangan dalam perut :P.
Lillebror, misalnya. Bocah berusia tujuh tahun yang bernama asli Svante Svantesson punya pertanyaan dan pernyataan yang membuat saya tertawa terbahak-bahak saat membacanya. Misalnya ini:
Boleh tidak aku menikah dengan Ibu saja?” tanya Lillebror.
“Rasanya tidak bisa deh,” kata Ibu. “Ibu kan sudah menikah dengan Ayah.”
Benar juga ya…pikir Lillebror dalam hati.
“Aku benar-benar tidak beruntung, kenapa sih Ayah dan aku harus jatuh cinta pada orang yang sama?” tanya Lillebror dengan agak kecewa.
Atau ini:
Ibu, memangnya aku lahir di Stockholm sini, ya?” tanya Lillebror.
“Ya, benar,” kata Ibu.
“Kalau Bossed dan Bettan, mereka lahir di Malmö, ya?”
“Ya, mereka lahir di sana.”
“Dan Ayah, Ayah pernah cerita Ayah lahir di Göteborg, kan?”
Ya, aku anak kelahiran Göteborg,” kata Ayah.
“Dan Ibu, di mana Ibu lahir?”
“Di Eskilstuna,” kata Ibu.
Lillebror merangkul leher ibunya erat-erat. Beruntung sekali ya, kita semua bisa bertemu!”
Layaknya kebanyakan anak bungsu yang usianya terpaut jauh dengan kakak-kakaknya, Lillebror selalu dianggap ‘kecil dan tak akan pernah jadi besar’ oleh orang tua dan kedua kakaknya. Semua yang ia ungkapkan selalu ditertawakan (yang saya yakin karena memang betul-betul lucu), atau dianggap khayalan belaka.
Cerita Lillebror tentang Karlsson Si Manusia Atap, misalnya. Karlsson dianggap hanya seorang teman khayalan Lillebror, teman yang biasa dimiliki anak kecil. Karakter Karlsson memang unik. Ia memiliki baling-baling di punggungnya, yang akan berputar bila ia menyalakan tombol saklar yang terletak di pusarnya. (Jadi ingat baling-baling bambunya Doraemon)
Karlsson memang bukan teman yang menyenangkan. Ia rakus sekaligus pelit, jahil dan licik, serta pembual besar. Tapi bagi Lillebror, Karlsson adalah segalanya. Bersama Karlsson, Lillebror bisa mendapatkan petualang yang paling menyenangkan, dibanding bersama Kirre dan Gunilla, sahabat yang seusia dengannya. Karlsson tidak pernah menganggap Lillebror sebagai anak kecil, dan menanggapi omongan Lillebror dengan serius. Satu pelajaran bagi saya, untuk menerima orang lain secara terbuka dan apa adanya mereka.
Berbagai usaha Lillebror untuk meyakinkan orang tua, kedua kakak, dan teman-temannya tentang kehadiran Karlsson Si Manusia Atap yang rakus dan jahil itu selalu sia-sia. Tak ada yang percaya. Lillebror bahkan harus adu jotos dengan Kirre, sahabatnya, hanya karena Kirre mengejek Lillebror berbohong tentang keberadaan Karlsson.
Kemahiran Astrid Lindgren memainkan daya khayal anak-anak telah menyihir saya sejak saya mulai bisa membaca. Fantasi-fantasi yang ia paparkan tentang manusia yang tinggal di atap gedung apartemen ini, atau cerita tentang bocah berkaus panjang bernama Pippi, atau persahabatan kakak beradik Madicken dan Lisbet, sama sekali berhasil menyingkirkan kesan menggurui atas pesan-pesan moral yang terkandung dalam cerita-cerita yang ditulisnya.
Cerita yang aslinya berbahasa Swedia ini pun diterjemahkan dengan apik, menggunakan bahasa yang mudah dimengerti oleh anak-anak usia menjelang remaja. Meskipun begitu, ada yang menganjal bagi saya: to have butterfly in my stomach adalah kiasan untuk menggambarkan rasa mual kan ya, bukan berarti kupu-kupu beterbangan dalam perut :P.
May 7, 2021
Karlsonu līdzī kā Pūku var lasīt atkal un atkal. Neapnīk ne bērniem, ne tētim.
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February 5, 2022Karlson s krova - mali, debeli, sebični i razmaženi čovečuljak s motorom i propelerom na leđima - za decu je prosto megazabavan i srećno uživaju u njegovim nevaljalstvima i opuštenom uništavanju pokućstva od čijih se posledica izvlači izjavom "to je ovozemaljska stvar!" i naravno uključivanjem propelera. Neki se u početku prepoznaju u Bati koji je najmlađe dete i zato se često oseća malko ugnjeteno, a onda postepeno počnu da shvataju da im je možda bliži Karlson, durljivi čičica u najboljim godinama(TM). Neće svako dete da reaguje jednako oduševljeno na tu spoznaju, samo da vam kažem.
Ali zaista. Ako postoji majstor za dečji način razmišljanja, to je Astrid Lindgren. I to dvostruko: dete koje čita Karlsonu (ili mu čitaju) više puta će zapitati nešto na šta se odgovor nudi već u idućoj rečenici ili idućih pola strane; odrasli koji čita primetiće detalje koji tako lepo odražavaju dečji pogled na svet (ako ja svojim roditeljima vredim milion kruna, zašto neće da mi kupe psa kad prvoklasan pas košta samo dvesta kruna? gde je tu logika???)
Ali zaista. Ako postoji majstor za dečji način razmišljanja, to je Astrid Lindgren. I to dvostruko: dete koje čita Karlsonu (ili mu čitaju) više puta će zapitati nešto na šta se odgovor nudi već u idućoj rečenici ili idućih pola strane; odrasli koji čita primetiće detalje koji tako lepo odražavaju dečji pogled na svet (ako ja svojim roditeljima vredim milion kruna, zašto neće da mi kupe psa kad prvoklasan pas košta samo dvesta kruna? gde je tu logika???)
November 9, 2015
In 1942, Crockett Johnson created the cartoon Barnaby, in which we see Mr O'Malley through the eyes of a boy who wishes for a fairy Godmother, but instead is presented with a short, fat, flying, conceited and not altogether competent fairy Godfather.
The cartoon was a big hit within the Left intelligentia in the US. Dorothy Parker adored it, Duke Ellington was chuffed to be part of one of the strips. He even wrote a letter to the editor of PM to say so. The Roosevelts were avid followers. It was syndicated - not a big syndication by US standards, but nonetheless to newspapers which had a combined readership of 5.5M or so. It was a cartoon strip for adults that kids read. Johnson was a cartoonist's cartoonist, original - perhaps radical - in his technical vision of the strip and highly influential on those who came after him in the US.
The influence of this cartoon was, however, by no means limited to that country. When the editor of The Daily Mail in the UK saw it, he wanted one like it. This led to the creation of Flook, an indispensable part of the cartoon scene in the UK for over forty years. However much Flook may have been inspired by Mr O'Malley, however, and despite its subversive role as a cartoon for adults read by children, Flook is different enough in looks and character that one needs to have the inspiration pointed out.
Not so in the case of Karlsson. Here Astrid Lindgren has taken the figure of Mr O'Malley in a way that one could say is nothing short of brazen. It has prompted me to write to an expert on Johnson, curious to know what he had to say about Lindgren's take, a word I use advisedly. Mr O'Malley even has the stock phrases that are so important to the nature of Karlsson. Different ones, of course - Cushlamochree - an exclamation of surprise meaning 'pulse of my heart'.
Same physical qualities, though they fly by different methods, and same character. That is not to say, however, there is no difference in output. Barnaby is an intellectual cartoon with a sophisticated take on the politics of the period, (which is not to say that it was always political). Perhaps that is why Barnaby has been the influential publication whilst Karlsson has been the popular one. Lindgren has taken the intellectual content out of Barnaby and created something that is straightforwardly for children.
Rest here:
https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpre...
The cartoon was a big hit within the Left intelligentia in the US. Dorothy Parker adored it, Duke Ellington was chuffed to be part of one of the strips. He even wrote a letter to the editor of PM to say so. The Roosevelts were avid followers. It was syndicated - not a big syndication by US standards, but nonetheless to newspapers which had a combined readership of 5.5M or so. It was a cartoon strip for adults that kids read. Johnson was a cartoonist's cartoonist, original - perhaps radical - in his technical vision of the strip and highly influential on those who came after him in the US.
The influence of this cartoon was, however, by no means limited to that country. When the editor of The Daily Mail in the UK saw it, he wanted one like it. This led to the creation of Flook, an indispensable part of the cartoon scene in the UK for over forty years. However much Flook may have been inspired by Mr O'Malley, however, and despite its subversive role as a cartoon for adults read by children, Flook is different enough in looks and character that one needs to have the inspiration pointed out.
Not so in the case of Karlsson. Here Astrid Lindgren has taken the figure of Mr O'Malley in a way that one could say is nothing short of brazen. It has prompted me to write to an expert on Johnson, curious to know what he had to say about Lindgren's take, a word I use advisedly. Mr O'Malley even has the stock phrases that are so important to the nature of Karlsson. Different ones, of course - Cushlamochree - an exclamation of surprise meaning 'pulse of my heart'.
Same physical qualities, though they fly by different methods, and same character. That is not to say, however, there is no difference in output. Barnaby is an intellectual cartoon with a sophisticated take on the politics of the period, (which is not to say that it was always political). Perhaps that is why Barnaby has been the influential publication whilst Karlsson has been the popular one. Lindgren has taken the intellectual content out of Barnaby and created something that is straightforwardly for children.
Rest here:
https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpre...
December 30, 2017
This was the first time I read this book in English and I certainly did think that the translation changed it. It didn't make Karlson's personality as charming and cute as I knew him to be. It seemed clumsy and sometimes awkward.
I used to like Karlson more than Pippi, but now, once I have read it I feel like in the English versions I like Pippi more.
This book made me think about stuff though. A lot of the story shows the value adults (and children sometimes) give to things, while they are nothing of importance really. What joy is it to have the most wondrous things if they are never used? It's like having a beautiful book, but never opening it to see the pictures and read the tales. And this book talks about it - savouring things for special moments - is not for Karlson and that is a great lesson to have from this book.
It did bring back childhood, but I so disliked the translation, I can't help but believe that in a different language this book would score more from me. Oh, and I didn't like the illustrations either.
I used to like Karlson more than Pippi, but now, once I have read it I feel like in the English versions I like Pippi more.
This book made me think about stuff though. A lot of the story shows the value adults (and children sometimes) give to things, while they are nothing of importance really. What joy is it to have the most wondrous things if they are never used? It's like having a beautiful book, but never opening it to see the pictures and read the tales. And this book talks about it - savouring things for special moments - is not for Karlson and that is a great lesson to have from this book.
It did bring back childhood, but I so disliked the translation, I can't help but believe that in a different language this book would score more from me. Oh, and I didn't like the illustrations either.
December 19, 2011
My co-worker bought it recently for her 6 years old daughter and we started to reread it out loud in the middle of the office, laughing and cheering like kids. Our boss portrayed Karllson and our office manager managed to be Freken Bok. Just 20 pages of this book and bunch of so called ‘adults’ returned to their childhood.
Brilliant, kind and humorous book.
Brilliant, kind and humorous book.
May 12, 2017
Stupid in English. Reading reviews of those who have read it in other languages, I can tell that the original has more word-play, more heart, more humor... and probably more episodes.
Just one example. In Swedish the boy is (iiuc) Lillebor/ Little Brother. Elsewhere he's apparently Smidge, which also means little. In English he's just plain Eric.
Just one example. In Swedish the boy is (iiuc) Lillebor/ Little Brother. Elsewhere he's apparently Smidge, which also means little. In English he's just plain Eric.
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November 14, 2025Ik heb persoonlijke beef met Karlsson. Wie denkt hij wel niet wie hij is? Een volwassen man met een klein kind, wat een rare vriendschap. Wat deed hij op dat dak? Hoe vliegt hij met die propellor? Hoe valt het hoedje niet af? Waarom is hij zo ontiegelijk arrogant en constant bazig en kritisch en aan het gaslighten en guilt trippen. Hij is voor een volwassen man zo kinderachtig, en neemt nooit de verantwoordelijkheid. Zijn ego is ter grootte van Rusland. Ik haat hem.
Het boek zelf is prima tho
Het boek zelf is prima tho
October 8, 2008
This has been my favorite growing up, and I will definitely read it to my children. It's a shame that it's virtually unknown to American audience.
June 29, 2020
Така и не бях чела Карлсон като дете и сега реших да поправя това, когато настана време моето дете да я чете. Е, май наистина съм минала отдавна времето за тази книга и Пипи ще си остане завинаги единствена моя любимка. Карлсон повече ме дразнеше отколкото ми беше забавен, а това, че все Дребосъчето го отнасяше беше много несправедливо. Вярно е , че сега разсъждавам от гледната точка на възрастен, но това дребно човече е просто един умел манипулатор и егоистично к****е, което винаги иска не само всички бонбони и лакомства да са за него, ами и цялото внимание. Та не съм впечатлена.
March 29, 2021
I didn't remember Astrid Lindgren wrote this book until I read Pippi.
I wrote that and immediately remembered the scene from the animated movie from my childhood when Karlsson says "What about me? I am better than a dog."
I need to reread this book!
I wrote that and immediately remembered the scene from the animated movie from my childhood when Karlsson says "What about me? I am better than a dog."
I need to reread this book!
May 29, 2017
Мразех го като дете, успя да ме изнерви и сега. Карлсон със сигурност е най-дразнещият персонаж в историята на световната литература.
December 1, 2011
it might be bad taste to bring up a cartoon when reviewing a book - но кто ещё из бывших Советских сразу слышит голос Ливанова при одном взгляде на обложку?
I feel sorry for anyone who hasn't read this (why is it so rare in English!?!?) This book is just .. soo.. AWESOME!! Forget a lame imaginary friend - this kid has a chubby lil troublemaker glutton who has a lil propeller on his back and start-button on his tummy! ♥♥
...my inner 8-year-old is filling up with glee from only looking at that line
I feel sorry for anyone who hasn't read this (why is it so rare in English!?!?) This book is just .. soo.. AWESOME!! Forget a lame imaginary friend - this kid has a chubby lil troublemaker glutton who has a lil propeller on his back and start-button on his tummy! ♥♥
...my inner 8-year-old is filling up with glee from only looking at that line
October 30, 2011
„Как може на света да съществува такъв красив и умен, и прилично дебел, и храбър, и прекрасен във всяко отношение мъж, какъвто си ти, Карлсон!“
http://www.knigolandia.info/2011/03/b...
Ето и го и него – топпакостникът, достоен за сравнение само с Емил от Льонеберя, а по начин на мислене неоспоримо брат на Пипи Дългото чорапче. Но ако тя е щедра и сияйна, Карлсон е нагло и лакомо хлапе, което някога ме разсмиваше, а сега ме повече издразни с безкрайния си егоизъм.
http://www.knigolandia.info/2011/03/b...
Ето и го и него – топпакостникът, достоен за сравнение само с Емил от Льонеберя, а по начин на мислене неоспоримо брат на Пипи Дългото чорапче. Но ако тя е щедра и сияйна, Карлсон е нагло и лакомо хлапе, което някога ме разсмиваше, а сега ме повече издразни с безкрайния си егоизъм.
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October 8, 2008My favorite childhood book
March 24, 2009
I read this a number of years ago and hated it. What bothered me--appalled me, really--was that this young boy is being encouraged to disobey his parents and sneak out with a strange man who is his neighbor. Granted, this book was written in a more innocent era, and what is allowed in European children's books seems to be rather different from what is allowed in children's books here in the U.S. I notice that in the new illustrations Karlson is depicted as younger, rather than as a little old man with a mustache, as in the original illustrations. I wasn't aware that there are 2 other Karlson books. I love Astrid Lindgren's books generally, and grew up with Pippi Longstocking. However, this book, in my opinion, has to be her worst!
July 28, 2017
Heerlijk boek een mannetje met een propeller op zijn rug. Echt een boek om je fantasie te laten gaan. Een avontuur om met hem mee te reizen. Ook een personage waar je meerdere verhalen bij kunt verzinnen. Ik had namelijk dit boek bij mij op een vakantie met mijn kinderen. Omdat het toen meerdere keren regende hebben we nadat dit boek was uitgelezen gewoon zelf een verhaal verzonnen met karlsson in de hoofdrol.
July 27, 2023
Astrid Lindgren's "Karlsson on the Roof" is a delightful adventure filled with humor and imagination. The mischievous Karlsson's escapades, along with the lovable characters, create a timeless story that captivates both children and adults.
Want to read
August 24, 2014Really really enjoyed the copy I read in Grade 6, translated into Chinese with absolutely wonderful illustrations. Now, after finally finding a copy in English, and so many years later, I started reading it and didn't share the same feeling.
November 14, 2022
კარლსონს ჩემს პატარა დაიკოს ვუკითხავდი ღამღამობით, გავაანალიზე რომ იმაზე მეტად მანიპულატორი და პრობლემატურია ვიდრე მახსოვდა, მაგრამ ასტრიდ ლინდგრენმა კიდევ ერთი ბავშვობა გაალამაზა.
November 7, 2012
Awalnya saya ingin sekali membuang buku ini di bab-bab awal. Bagaimana tidak? Ini buku anak-anak dan saya mempunyai pemikiran sebagai berikut.
Kalau saya punya anak dan membaca buku ini kemudian dia mengikuti jejak kenakalan Karlsson, saya takkan habis pikir. Semisal pada saat anak saya merusak mainannya atau hampir membakar seluruh rumah, anak saya akan beralasan yang melakukan adalah Karlsson (atau bisa saja kelak bernama lain, tergantung khayalan anak-anak saya kelak), atau menjawab seperti Karlsson “Itu semua hanya barang duniawi, tidak apa-apa”. Well, rasanya saya bisa gila. Membayangkan punya anak seperti itu saja saya sudah sangat gusar. Hahaha...
Ada juga tentang kelicikan Karlsson dalam hal bertaruh. Karlsson terus-menerus menipu Lillebror, tapi pada akhirnya Lillebror berhasil juga makan sebuah permen karamel. #ikutsenang =)) Yang paling saya suka itu bab yang menceritakan petualangan Lillebror dan Karlsson di atas atap. Seru sekali, soalnya mengingatkan saya yang sampai usia 20-an masih suka main ke atap. :p Di sini, kebencian saya pada Karlsson agak berkurang. :D
Apa pun bentuk kenakalan dan kelicikan Karlsson, akhirnya semua termaafkan oleh saya (loh, kok saya yang maafin? yah, karena Lillebror sudah memaafkan Karlsson tanpa syarat sejak awal :D). Suatu hari datang dua pencuri ke rumah Lillebror dan berhasil diusir oleh Karlsson yang sedang bermain hantu-hantuan. Apa sih arti beberapa kantong permen karamel dibandingkan dengan uang belanja ibu, bros ibu yang diberi oleh nenek, juga peralatan makan yang terbuat dari perak? #kokkesannyaperhitunganyah? =))
Saya lebih sedih saat Lillebror dijahili kedua kakaknya dibanding saat Lillebror diperdaya oleh Karlsson, mungkin karena saya yang sama-sama anak bungsu seperti Lillebror mengerti bagaimana rasanya. :p Di sini Lindgren berhasil bikin saya mengenang kecengengan saya semasa kecil dulu. #sekarangmasihpadahal :p
Dari segi cara bercerita saya suka cara Lindgren menyisipkan pesan moral yang ringan untuk anak-anak. Tentang kesopanan, tentang kejahatan tidak boleh dibalas dengan kejahatan, entah bagaimana, Lindgren berhasil membuat saya tetap nyaman membacanya meski sesekali mengulang-ulang beberapa kalimat untuk menegaskan isi pesan tersebut. Beberapa kalimat di bawah ini saya kutip yang menyiratkan pesan moral dan yang membuat saya tergelitik ketika membacanya. :D
“Ibu tutup mata sebentar saja!” kata Lillebror ketika Ibu selesai meletakkan baki kopi di meja kecil di samping perapian.
“Kenapa aku harus menutup mata?”
“Ya, karena Ibu pernah bilang tidak mau melihatku makan gula dan sekarang aku ingin mengambil satu,” kata Lillebror sambil mengambil satu kubus gula. p.34
Seandainya saja semudah itu bicara sama ibu saya dulu. Hahaha..
“Jangan bertopang dagu di meja makan. Itu tidak sopan, tahu?” kata Bettan.
“Urus saja dirimu sendiri,” jawab Lillebror.
“Turunkan sikumu, Lillebror!” kata ibu. “Apa kau mau tambah kembang kol lagi?”
“Tidak, lebih baik aku mati daripada harus makan kembang kol lagi,” kata Lillebror.
“Huss, jangan menjawab seperti itu,” kata Ayah. “Akan lebih baik bila kau menjawab, ‘Tidak, terima kasih’, begitu!”
Apakah begini caranya memerintah anak bernilai seratus ribu juta kronor? pikir Lillebror dalam hati.
“Kalau aku bilang ‘lebih baik mati’ bukankah kalian sudah tahu yang aku maksud ‘Tidak, terima kasih’?”
“Tetapi orang yang punya sopan santun tidak akan bilang begitu,” kata Ayah. “Kau pasti ingin jadi orang yang sopan, kan?”
“Tidak mau ah, aku pilih jadi seperti Ayah saja,” kata Lillebror.
Ibu, Bosse, dan Bettan tertawa mendengarnya. Lillebror tidak tahu sebabnya, tetapi ia tahu mereka menertawakan Ayah, dan ia tidak suka itu.
“Aku ingin menjadi seperti Ayah karena Ayah baik hati,” jawabnya sambil memberi Ayah tatapan sayang.
“Terima kasih, Sayang,” kata Ayah. “Jadi bagaimana? Kau mau tambah kembang kol lagi, tidak?”
“Tidak, lebih baik mati,” kata Lillebror. p.99-p.100
Bwahahahaha... #gedubrak Lindgren cerdas sekali di sini. Mampu memberi pesan moral di antara lelucon. Saya benar-benar tertawa puas dibuatnya. =)) #lanjutngakak
Tadinya saya beri 3 bintang. Tapi setelah dipikir-pikir, kecerdasan Lindgren tidak layak dinilai sebagai sekadar suka, jadi saya naikkan jadi 4 bintang. #laluhilangdisulapKarlsson
Kalau saya punya anak dan membaca buku ini kemudian dia mengikuti jejak kenakalan Karlsson, saya takkan habis pikir. Semisal pada saat anak saya merusak mainannya atau hampir membakar seluruh rumah, anak saya akan beralasan yang melakukan adalah Karlsson (atau bisa saja kelak bernama lain, tergantung khayalan anak-anak saya kelak), atau menjawab seperti Karlsson “Itu semua hanya barang duniawi, tidak apa-apa”. Well, rasanya saya bisa gila. Membayangkan punya anak seperti itu saja saya sudah sangat gusar. Hahaha...
Ada juga tentang kelicikan Karlsson dalam hal bertaruh. Karlsson terus-menerus menipu Lillebror, tapi pada akhirnya Lillebror berhasil juga makan sebuah permen karamel. #ikutsenang =)) Yang paling saya suka itu bab yang menceritakan petualangan Lillebror dan Karlsson di atas atap. Seru sekali, soalnya mengingatkan saya yang sampai usia 20-an masih suka main ke atap. :p Di sini, kebencian saya pada Karlsson agak berkurang. :D
Apa pun bentuk kenakalan dan kelicikan Karlsson, akhirnya semua termaafkan oleh saya (loh, kok saya yang maafin? yah, karena Lillebror sudah memaafkan Karlsson tanpa syarat sejak awal :D). Suatu hari datang dua pencuri ke rumah Lillebror dan berhasil diusir oleh Karlsson yang sedang bermain hantu-hantuan. Apa sih arti beberapa kantong permen karamel dibandingkan dengan uang belanja ibu, bros ibu yang diberi oleh nenek, juga peralatan makan yang terbuat dari perak? #kokkesannyaperhitunganyah? =))
Saya lebih sedih saat Lillebror dijahili kedua kakaknya dibanding saat Lillebror diperdaya oleh Karlsson, mungkin karena saya yang sama-sama anak bungsu seperti Lillebror mengerti bagaimana rasanya. :p Di sini Lindgren berhasil bikin saya mengenang kecengengan saya semasa kecil dulu. #sekarangmasihpadahal :p
Dari segi cara bercerita saya suka cara Lindgren menyisipkan pesan moral yang ringan untuk anak-anak. Tentang kesopanan, tentang kejahatan tidak boleh dibalas dengan kejahatan, entah bagaimana, Lindgren berhasil membuat saya tetap nyaman membacanya meski sesekali mengulang-ulang beberapa kalimat untuk menegaskan isi pesan tersebut. Beberapa kalimat di bawah ini saya kutip yang menyiratkan pesan moral dan yang membuat saya tergelitik ketika membacanya. :D
“Ibu tutup mata sebentar saja!” kata Lillebror ketika Ibu selesai meletakkan baki kopi di meja kecil di samping perapian.
“Kenapa aku harus menutup mata?”
“Ya, karena Ibu pernah bilang tidak mau melihatku makan gula dan sekarang aku ingin mengambil satu,” kata Lillebror sambil mengambil satu kubus gula. p.34
Seandainya saja semudah itu bicara sama ibu saya dulu. Hahaha..
“Jangan bertopang dagu di meja makan. Itu tidak sopan, tahu?” kata Bettan.
“Urus saja dirimu sendiri,” jawab Lillebror.
“Turunkan sikumu, Lillebror!” kata ibu. “Apa kau mau tambah kembang kol lagi?”
“Tidak, lebih baik aku mati daripada harus makan kembang kol lagi,” kata Lillebror.
“Huss, jangan menjawab seperti itu,” kata Ayah. “Akan lebih baik bila kau menjawab, ‘Tidak, terima kasih’, begitu!”
Apakah begini caranya memerintah anak bernilai seratus ribu juta kronor? pikir Lillebror dalam hati.
“Kalau aku bilang ‘lebih baik mati’ bukankah kalian sudah tahu yang aku maksud ‘Tidak, terima kasih’?”
“Tetapi orang yang punya sopan santun tidak akan bilang begitu,” kata Ayah. “Kau pasti ingin jadi orang yang sopan, kan?”
“Tidak mau ah, aku pilih jadi seperti Ayah saja,” kata Lillebror.
Ibu, Bosse, dan Bettan tertawa mendengarnya. Lillebror tidak tahu sebabnya, tetapi ia tahu mereka menertawakan Ayah, dan ia tidak suka itu.
“Aku ingin menjadi seperti Ayah karena Ayah baik hati,” jawabnya sambil memberi Ayah tatapan sayang.
“Terima kasih, Sayang,” kata Ayah. “Jadi bagaimana? Kau mau tambah kembang kol lagi, tidak?”
“Tidak, lebih baik mati,” kata Lillebror. p.99-p.100
Bwahahahaha... #gedubrak Lindgren cerdas sekali di sini. Mampu memberi pesan moral di antara lelucon. Saya benar-benar tertawa puas dibuatnya. =)) #lanjutngakak
Tadinya saya beri 3 bintang. Tapi setelah dipikir-pikir, kecerdasan Lindgren tidak layak dinilai sebagai sekadar suka, jadi saya naikkan jadi 4 bintang. #laluhilangdisulapKarlsson
June 20, 2013
Макар да е сред класиките в детската литература, Карлсон, който живее на покрива е книга, която, незнайно как, съм пропуснала, въпреки че четях много. И тъй като не съм я прочела, когато е трябвало, за да мога да я оценя по достойнство, сега се наложи на стари години да я чета заедно с дъщеря си. Е, не ми хареса толкова, колкото очаквах, но не смея да дам нисък рейтинг, защото все пак аудиторията на тази книжка е поне с 20 години по-млада от мен :) Затова давам четири звезди /след консултация с дъщеря ми/. През по-голямата си част книжката е сладка и доста забавна, но Карлсон е едно безкрайно дразнещо, самовлюбено, егоистично, прецакващо приятелите си същество--накратко казано--откровено неприятно човече, което, незнайно как, е станало любим герой на толкова деца. Да се застраховам, това не е само мое мнение, споделя го и 6-годишната ми дъщеря, която искрено се възмущаваше всеки път, когато Карлсон се обявеше за "най-най" в нещо. Но пък покрай него винаги се случват забавни неща, а Дребосъчето изглежда направо го боготвори, така че явно си има и своите силни страни. Дребосъчето, от своя страна, е едно симпатично детенце, което направо ти изпълва душата с по детски невинната си мечта--желанието да има свое кученце. На моменти даже ми беше малко жал за него--сигурно не е много лесно да си най-малкото дете в семейството. Но, в крайна сметка, историята свърши щастливо-и дълго-мечтаното кученце беше получено. Сладка книжка, която вероятно щеше да ми се хареса много повече, ако я бях прочела на правилната възраст :)
August 8, 2020
Жегата ви е накарала да се затворите вкъщи? Мъчи ви лятна скука? Спокойствие и само спокойствие! Карлсон от покрива все още е в разцвета на силите си и е готов отново да ви навести в новото луксозно издание на изд. „Пан”. Знаменитата трилогия на Астрид Линдгрен излиза за първи път на български с цветни илюстрации, но това е дреболия, обикновено нещо, за което дори не си струва да се говори. След като така и така празнуваме 75-тата годишнина на Пипи Дългото чорапче, напълно в реда на нещата е да отбележим и 65-тия рожден ден на този виден художник на петлета и коносьор на кюфтенца, кифлички и какао! Да, най-добре веднага да започваме тържеството, иначе току виж рожденикът взел, че се гневрирал едно хубаво. „Три повести за Карлсон” събира всички приключения на един красив, много умен и прилично дебел мъж в разцвета на силите си и доказва, че полетът на фантазията задължително минава над покривите на Стокхолм. Любимо четиво за всички големи и малки Дребосъчета! Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
March 9, 2020
My mother-in-law got me this book for my birthday recently in both it's Russian and English versions. My understanding is that the original Swedish version and the Russian version make Karlson out to be kind of charming and funny and the story itself is whimsical, however that doesn't stand true for the English version. To me, he came off as extremely creepy and inappropriate. He would sneak into the main character's room (Smidge, a 7 year old boy), hide from his parents, and then lie, gaslight and manipulate Smidge at every opportunity. Then they go around town having weird mildly illegal adventures. Karlson was like a very off-putting Roald Dahl adult character mixed a bit with Donald Trump. Karlson is narcissistic, greedy, selfish, ignorant, a thief, and peddles lies as if his life depended on it.
I get children's stories that give a child a real friend that everyone thinks is imaginary and they go off and have adventures together. But this English version is not that. Off-putting and uncomfortable are the words that I would use to describe this book. The illustrations in the Russian book were significantly better than the English version, except Karlson looks even more creepy in the Russian version. There's no winning.
I get children's stories that give a child a real friend that everyone thinks is imaginary and they go off and have adventures together. But this English version is not that. Off-putting and uncomfortable are the words that I would use to describe this book. The illustrations in the Russian book were significantly better than the English version, except Karlson looks even more creepy in the Russian version. There's no winning.
December 31, 2021
I absolutely love this series, and have now read it in several languages. However, as a non-Russian child growing up on the Western fringes of the (soon-to-be-(but-nobody-knew-at-the-time)-former) Soviet Union, this one was notable in that it was one of not that many international children's books available in a Ukrainian translation.
And WHAT a translation it was!
I have since read the book in Swedish too, and really enjoyed it; and the Russian translation was excellent as well (the English translation was, in my opinion, OK. Good, but not as good as some of the others I've experienced)... but that particular translation, that particular GAME the translator played with us and Astrid Lindgren was incomparable. I still remember and randomly quote chunks of it however many years later.
Anyway, I used a line from the book today, and there was a dispute with another aficionado as to whether I remembered it correctly.
And so I've decided that, alas, there was nothing for it. Woe, but I'll have to re-read it.
And because I'm not sure I still have a copy anywhere, I've had to order one.
So that's that. I love the book. I know I love the book. There's not much more to add.
And WHAT a translation it was!
I have since read the book in Swedish too, and really enjoyed it; and the Russian translation was excellent as well (the English translation was, in my opinion, OK. Good, but not as good as some of the others I've experienced)... but that particular translation, that particular GAME the translator played with us and Astrid Lindgren was incomparable. I still remember and randomly quote chunks of it however many years later.
Anyway, I used a line from the book today, and there was a dispute with another aficionado as to whether I remembered it correctly.
And so I've decided that, alas, there was nothing for it. Woe, but I'll have to re-read it.
And because I'm not sure I still have a copy anywhere, I've had to order one.
So that's that. I love the book. I know I love the book. There's not much more to add.
August 18, 2015
My mother used to read this to me (Russian translation) before bed when I was a kid. The amount of times I laughed hysterically with her. This is such a great children's book, as much as I love Disney and fairy tales, if you ever wanna read something to your kids before bed I seriously recommend this story. Not only will your kids laugh, but your stomach will be sore as well. And everyone will go to bed in a good mood. Astrid will always be one of my favorite childhood authors.
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