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Nattpappan #1

Нощният татко

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Julia's mother is a nurse, working the night shift. A young writer eagerly signs up for the job as a baby-sitter. At first Julia is furious about the arrangement, but is gradually won over by the kind though eccentric young man and calls him her 'Night Daddy'. They are sharing midnight snacks, training his pet owl, and tending an exotic tropical plant known as the Queen of the Night.

108 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

4 people are currently reading
76 people want to read

About the author

Maria Gripe

56 books197 followers
Maria Gripe, born Maja Stina Walter (25 July 1923, Vaxholm, Uppland – 5 April 2007, Rönninge), was a Swedish author of books for children and young people, often written in a magical and mystical tone. In 1946 she married the artist Harald Gripe, who created cover illustrations for most of her books. His illustration career, in fact, began in connection with his wife's debut as author of I vår lilla stad ("In our little town"). Maria Gripe's first major success was Josephine (1961), the first of a series of novels that later included Hugo and Josephine and Hugo. During most of her adult life Maria Gripe lived in Nyköping, where an adaptation of her book Agnes Cecilia was filmed. After a long period of dementia Maria Gripe died at 83 in a nursing home in Rönninge outside Stockholm; her husband Harald had predeceased her by 15 years. Their daughter Camilla Gripe is also a children's author.

Much of her writing, particularly the later works, is suffused with a supernatural or mystical element. This change in her writing style from her less mature work was partly a result of the influence of Edgar Allan Poe, Charlotte and Emily Brontë, and Carl Jonas Love Almquist, and partly a reaction to violence in entertainment that had begun to gain ground in cultural expression; Gripe sought to manufacture plot tension in less overt ways. A prominent feature of Maria Gripe's writing is a respect for individuals and their unique characteristics, a trait which is especially perceptible in the social realism of the Elvis series, which she co-wrote with her husband Harald in the 1970s.

Gripe wrote 38 books, translated into 30 different languages, making her one of Sweden's most prolific writers. Her last published book is Annas blomma ("Anna's Flower", 1997). Several of Gripe's books have been filmed, such as Glasblåsarns barn (The Glassblower's Children), Agnes Cecilia: en sällsam historia ("Agnes Cecilia: a singular history") and the "Shadow" series, directed by Anders Grönros in the 1990s. Kjell Grade directed Hugo and Josephine in 1967, while Kay Pollak filmed Elvis! Elvis (Elvis and his friends) in 1976 and Flickan vid stenbänken ("The girl on the stone bench") became a television series in 1989. Dramatized versions of Tordyveln flyger i skymningen ("The dung-beetle flies at dusk"), Agnes Cecilia, Tanten ("The Aunt") and Svinhugg går igen ("The backbiter bitten") have been produced as radio serials. She also wrote the original Swedish television script for Trolltider ("Magic Time", 1979).

Stockholm University Literature professor Boel Westin praised Maria Gripe to a writer for Svenska Dagbladet, declaring that her Shadow books presented an exciting narrative that enabled readers to feel as if they were participants: "She has meant a lot. She renewed children's prose."[1]Literary researcher Ying Toijer-Nilsson, who wrote a biography Skuggornas förtrogna ("Confidant to shadows") of the author, echoed the remarks, saying that she would miss "the warm and humorous human being who was Maria Gripe." The biographer continued: "She has done a lot for the children's book world, and she got her readers to think about philosophy, about the world and about death." Toijer-Nilsson pointed out that Gripe's books also have "a significant tendency to support the social advancement of women." Her books have won many awards, including the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1974, and she was the 1979 Swedish winner of the Dobloug Prize for Swedish and Norwegian fiction.

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5 stars
29 (17%)
4 stars
57 (34%)
3 stars
64 (38%)
2 stars
11 (6%)
1 star
4 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Ivan Stoikov - Allan Bard.
100 reviews29 followers
March 16, 2011
Great, modern tale about a lonely girl and a writer who has to stay with her at night, while her mother is at work... Very well-written story about friendship, trust, good and evil in the modern world, and the glorious, magical things everyone of us could find even today.
Profile Image for Mandy.
478 reviews5 followers
October 23, 2010
I read this in fifth grade and i just remember really liking it and thinking most of my classmates would not appreciate it.
Profile Image for Michelle Llewellyn.
529 reviews10 followers
September 14, 2013
This is an odd book. I came across the title in my non-fiction reading about the changing dynamics of family life. Written just before I was born in 1974, The Night Daddy is the simple story of a young girl and her dreamlike relationship with an unnamed adult man referred throughout the book only as "Night Daddy". Nothing inappropriate ever takes place between them. I found the entire story rather heartbreaking hence my two star rating-I don't like this story's suggestion to all the lonely children out there missing a father figure in their lives that it's OK to settle for such a dangerous substitute. Rape culture was taboo in the 70's.
Night Daddy has no named profession except writing a book about stones-a work in progress-and if Night Daddy was ever married or currently in a relationship with another grown up the reader is never told. Needing work, Night Daddy sees an ad in the newpaper for a nighttime babysitting job so the girl's mom, a nurse, can work the night shift.
At first the girl is annoyed about needing a babysitter. She resents this man being in her apartment. She tells the reader up front that mommy is not married and that she's GLAD she has no Daddy, and she certainly has no need for a "Night Daddy". She won't even tell him her name, so he names her Julia. Julia never asks the Night Daddy HIS name, apparently making her a sandwich and tucking her in at night are the only requirements of the job for Night Daddy. The narration switches back and forth between chapters as Julia and Night Daddy tell the reader the story of how they met and their developing platonic relationship. Both grow quite fond of each other, respect and even like each other. Their time together is spent conversing in different philosophical subjects-wrong vs. right, the existance of stones, animals and people-while persuing various hobbies like knitting and horticulture. Julia becomes troubled when her classmates, secure in their traditional nuclear families, make fun of her for "inventing" her own night daddy.

By the end of the book Night Daddy is calling Julia his "Night Daughter" and the two have decided to write a book about the reality of night daddies in attempt to proove to the world that a relationship like this is a good thing as Julia explains, "We've got to PROVE it. That night daddies are REAL daddies..that they EXIST," (148). An opinion this reader will respectfully disagree with.
Because this book is now out of print, I wouldn't recommend trying to find a copy-it's not worth reading-a sweet, innocent story that does nothing more than provide an escape from today's cold, harsh, 21st century reality of fatherless families.
Profile Image for Стоянка.
Author 56 books24 followers
July 6, 2020
Книга, която откривам около 30 години след времето, в което би трябвало да съм я чела. Открих я по толкова невероятен начин, че самото му случване би трябвало да е сюжет на друга книга на Мария Грипе.

Просто опитвах да си спомня книга, която съм чела в детството си. Помнех отделни елементи от сюжета, името Юлия и един слънчоглед, стара къща и банда хулигани, но почти всичко останало ми се губеше. Търсене в Гугъл не помогна особено, доколкото авторката не е особено популярна у нас през последните години.
Все пак по посочените ключови думи ми изскочи книгата "Нощният татко", за която имах бегли спомени, че съм чувала в ранните си ученически години, но със сигурност никога не бях чела. И когато започнах да я чета, се оказа, че е свързана с книгата, която търсех. Споменаваха се същите герои, но повествованието е от гледна точка на Юлия.

А книжката, която търсех и бях чела в детството си е "Елвис Карлсон". :) Спомнях си я като приятна книжка с доза мистерия и малко тъга. Но като цяло не е тъжна - напротив. Тя (оказа се) е щастливият завършек на историята от "Нощния татко", но това го разбирам чак сега - 30 години по-късно.
Profile Image for Zeynab.
198 reviews61 followers
June 5, 2019
با خودم عهد کرده بودم که دوماه منتهی به کنکور کتاب غیر درسی نخونم .‌با شکنجه تا خود دیروز به این عهد وفادار بودم اما امان از کتابهای باقی مونده از نمایشگاه که صدات میزنن :(
و اما این کتاب، از نویسنده اش کتاب هوگو و ژوزفین رو خونده بودم و این هم مثل اون ، چقدر فوق العاده میتونه درونیات کودکانه رو‌نشون بده! جایزه هانس کریستن اندرسن حقشه واقعا !
خلاقیت های خاص خودشم داره .همین بابای شب ! که مادر دختره که شبکار بوده برای اینکه شبا تنها نباشه براش یه بابای شب استخدام میکنه که فقط شبا باباش باشه . و‌ داستانهایی که براشون پیش‌میاد :)
دوسش داشتم . حالم رو خوب کرد . برم به ادامه عهدم وفا کنم!!!
Profile Image for Elin.
272 reviews1 follower
March 4, 2024
Lite mysig. Märkligt att ”Nattpappan” aldrig får något namn men att flickan tilldelades ett namn när hon inte vill berätta sitt eget.
Profile Image for Miro.
129 reviews34 followers
June 30, 2024
A story about two loners and one therapy owl that is delightfully subtle and unabashed in its portrayal of the value of family you choose.
252 reviews12 followers
Read
February 4, 2022
موضوع و گسترش آن خوب و گیرا است اما یک سوم پایانی افت می کند و پایان بندی سرهم بندی شده است. در داستان دیگر خانم گریپه هم همین گونه بود. ترجمه نیاز به ویراستاری دارد و جاهایی گویا درست نیست.
Profile Image for Mohsen.
31 reviews7 followers
February 1, 2019
مثل بقیه کتاب‌های کانون موضوعات مهم را برای کودکان باز می‌کند بدون آنکه لحن نصیحت-گونه داشته باشد. کتاب از زندگی کودکی با مادر مجرد می‌گوید. به بچه‌ها نشان می‌دهد که رفتار و گفتارشان با بچه‌ای در این شرایط چه تاثیری روی او خواهد داشت.
Profile Image for Sahar Tehrany.
7 reviews2 followers
July 3, 2018
محبوبترین کتاب کودکی (و بزرگسالی) من!
Profile Image for Linn J.
960 reviews19 followers
January 18, 2020
Läste boken då Gripe är en duktig författare. Nattpappan var en underlig berättelse. Den var gullig men en väldigt gammal modig stil. Dagens barn och ungdomar skulle nog inte riktigt förstå charmen av denna bok, för språket är gammalmodigt och långsökt. Men det finns en charm med berättelsen.

Som läsare får man lära känna ”Julia” och hennes syn på hemligheter, livet och vänskap. Hennes ”Nattpappa” visar sig vara en otroligt konstig filur som älskar att läsa och skriva om stenar, men Nattpappan är även snäll, väldigt snäll och förståelig. Nattpappan är figuren som uppvisar att man måste vara förståelig mot barn och ge dem utrymmet att uppvisa sin mognad och intelligens. I berättelsens gång får man veta hur Nattpappan och Julia kom i kontakt med varandra och hur deras nätter kan se ut. Sedan kan man diskutera hur bra det är att Julia är vaken om nätterna för att fika med Nattpappan.

Läste inte ord för ord men tyckte den var rätt trevlig ändå. Gripe skriver på ett sätt som är underligt men ändå intressant. Relationen mellan barn och vuxna är väldigt underliga och ifrågasättande, och det uppvisas väldigt tydligt i Gripes romaner. Exempelvis, hur kan Julias mamma bara låta en främling komma in i deras hus?! Deras enda kontakt var via ett telefonsamtal och knappt där fick Julias mamma tillräckligt med information om honom, förutom att han var trött och sömning och gärna vill sova i en säng. Dåtidens tankesätt var visserligen vänlig men tycker ändå det är lite märkligt...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Bahman Bahman.
Author 3 books242 followers
March 7, 2021
در سوئد، اغلب خانمهای مسن که کار نمی کنند،‌ روزها داوطلبانه به نگهداری بچه های کوچک خانواده های دیگر می پردازند و “مادر روز“ خوانده می شوند. اما اینکه در برابر آن، “بابا شب“ هم وجود داشته باشد، به عهده شماست که قضاوت کنید.
جولیا به اصرار مادرش بود که پذیرفت بابای شب داشته باشد؛ چرا که مادرش پرستار بود و مجبور بود شب تا صبح در بیمارستان باشد و اینکه می ترسید جولیا را شبها تنها در خانه بگذارد. از طرف دیگر، بابای شب هم که در یک نیمه اتاق بسختی زندگی می کرد، دلش می خواست یک رختخواب داشته باشد که شبها بتواند راحت بخوابد. این گونه بود که داستان جولیا و بابای شب آغاز شد.
Profile Image for Natalia Malkovska.
10 reviews17 followers
Currently reading
June 30, 2025
"Истинската ��айна, казва тя, се познава по това, че става по-скрита колкото повече се говори за нея. Можеш да си говориш, цяла вечност, а тя само расте ли расте и ти става весело като я разказваш. Да — едва тогава наистина забелязваш колко много крие в себе си. Тя е безкрайна.
Лошо е да премълчиш такава тайна. Не е полезно, казва Юлия. Може да стане обратното. Сподавиш ли я, ще ти стане тъжно. Тя ще почне да се свива в своя тих затвор и додето разбереш колко голяма е била, току-виж — изчезнала."
Profile Image for Paℓe mooŋ.
280 reviews7 followers
September 12, 2022
از اون کتاب‌هاییه که فازِشون رو نمی‌فهمم. یعنی اصلا متوجه نمی‌شم که علت نگارشش چی بوده و قراره به چه نتیجه‌ای برسه.

ضمنِ اینکه اصلا به نظرم استخدام یه مرد «کاملا غریبه» به عنوان پرستار یه دختربچه واقعا کار منطقی‌ و معمول و عادی‌یی نیست! حتی اگر اون کشور سوئد باشه. و اونم مرد عجیب و درونگرایی که جغد داره! ولی کل این داستان روی همین ایده‌ی بعید می‌چرخه و داستان دخترک رو با پرستار شبانه‌ش (بابای شبانه‌ش) بیان می‌کنه.

لینک مطالعه از طاقچه:
https://taaghche.com/book/125815
Profile Image for Faeze.
10 reviews
December 31, 2021
خیلی کتاب شیرینی بود برام. شاید اولین بار که شیرینی کتاب خوندن برام ملموس شد، خوندن این کتاب تو دوازده سالگی بود.
Profile Image for Croissante .
14 reviews
March 22, 2022
This may not be one of the best books I've read, but it's a favourite. I don't know why, I just know I feel heavy thinking about Julia and her Night dad.
14 reviews
October 10, 2023
Maria Gripe hadde en unik egenskap i og sette seg inn i barns tanker og skjebner. N ordet dukker opp her dessverre, men Oppfatter ikke at Gripe stiller
spørsmål som er upassende her
Profile Image for Lisa.
1,108 reviews3,290 followers
October 21, 2023
Maria Gripe is the author of my childhood that still makes my heart beat faster each time I enter her universe. Quiet, subtle, deep, funny!
Profile Image for Bettina Lippenberger.
Author 15 books13 followers
September 7, 2021
Meine Meinung:
Julia hat seit kurzem eine Nachtpapa. Obwohl sie den gar nicht wollte. In Wirklichkeit heißt sie gar nicht Julia, das ist der Namen den ihr Nachtpapa ihr gegeben hat.  Nun aber will sie ein Buch mit ihm schreiben, einen Schlüsselroman. Das möchte der Nachtpapa aber nicht. Wird sie ihn überzeugen können?

Persönlich finde ich, ist Julia für ihr Alter sehr schlau. Denkt kluge Gedanken. Sie lässt sich nicht so leicht was vormachen. Gleich zu Beginn habe ich einen schönen Begriff gefunden, den ich so noch nie gehört habe. Zitat: "Wenn es draußen dunkel ist und sternt..."
Der Nachtpapa ist etwas seltsam. Er haust in einem  Zimmer, dass er mit einem Steinkauz teilt.
Julias Mama sagt er, er wäre sein Wecker. Auf einer Schwindelei, ein Arbeitsverhältnis aufzubauen, gefällt mir nicht.
Der Umgang zwischen Julia und dem Nachtpapa, der über Steine ein Buch schreibt, ist freundlich fast freundschaftlich zu nennen.

Julia Schwierigkeiten mit "Ulla und Die" sind nachvollziehbar und genau so, sicher in der heutigen Zeit noch zu finden.

Schreibstil:
Ehrlich gesagt sind mir manchmal die Gedankengänge zu verschwurbelt. Es sind keine klar geradeaus gedachte Gedanken, sondern oft um die Ecke gedachte. Deshalb habe ich das Empfinden das es ältere Leser/innen benötigt um den Text an mancher Stelle zu verstehen.

Mein Fazit:
Eine interessante Idee, die mich aber als Leserin nicht packen konnte.
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