Reidar Jönsson

Reidar Jonsson's very autobiographical novel, MY LIFE AS A DOG, is a classic of the coming-of-age genre of fiction, but it has its own unique variations on the theme. Set in southern Sweden in the late fifties, the age of early space flights (with dogs and monkeys) and Elvis (as well as "that drip Pat Boone"), Jonsson's story shows a firm sense of place and time. His protagonist, 13-14 year-old Ingemar Johansson, is caught up in the usual maelstrom of raging hormones that is adolescence. His name, the same as that of the then-famous Swedish heavyweight boxer who knocked out Floyd Patterson and reigned ever so briefly as world champion, doesn't make things any easier either. There are plenty of highly comical scenes here that have to do with sexual awakening and early experimentation with girls. But as Ingemar's story progresses, a much darker aspect emerges. The poor kid begins to realize that his mother, invalided by tuberculosis, never really loved him. And his merchant seaman father is hardly ever at home, but somewhere off in the south seas, loading bananas. Boarded out to relatives or the children's home, often separated from his older brother and younger sister, the boy endures a kind of second-hand, unwanted life the best he can, often fantasizing that he is a dog (hence the title), which gets him into even more trouble. The book plunges from the heights of hilarity to the depths of sadness before it's through. Translated ably from the Swedish by Eivor Martinus, it is a compelling read. Swedish director Lasse Hallstrom's film adaptation (available with English subtitles) has also become a coming-of-age classic.

I understand that MY LIFE AS A DOG is part of a trilogy. The sequel, also available in English, is called MY FATHER HIS SON. I may have to snag a copy. I wanna know what happened next. I've had this one on my shelf for a few years now. I'm glad I finally read it. A very worthwhile read.… (mere)