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Joel Gustafsson #4

Die Reise ans Ende der Welt

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Solange er denken kann, hat Joel mit seinem Vater Samuel, einem wortkargen Holzfäller, in diesem gottverlassenen Nest hoch oben im Norden Schwedens gelebt. Jetzt ist er fünfzehn und will endlich seine Mutter kennen lernen, die ihn und Samuel verlassen hat, als er noch ganz klein war. Früher, wenn Joel nach seiner Mutter gefragt hat, hat Samuel immer nur den Kopf geschüttelt und gesagt, er wüsste nicht, wo sie sei. Doch plötzlich gibt es einen Brief und mit ihm eine Adresse von seiner Mutter Jenny.
Joel und sein Vater machen sich auf, sie in Stockholm zu besuchen. Der Aufbruch aus der Stille der Wälder in den Lärm und die Hektik der Großstadt wird für Joel zur inneren Reise in ein neues, selbstbestimmtes Leben.
Warum ist Jenny damals einfach fortgegangen? Was geschieht, wenn er sie nach all den Jahren endlich wieder trifft? Und was wird aus ihm, jetzt, wo er die Schule beendet hat? Wird Samuel wieder zu See fahren und ihn mitnehmen? Als sein Vater das Zusammentreffen mit Jenny hinauszögert, will Joel nicht länger warten. Wie ein Detektiv sucht und findet er seine Mutter und kann ihr endlich die vielen Fragen stellen, die ihn schon so lange beschäftigen ...
›Die Reise ans Ende der Welt‹ ist der unabhängig zu lesende vierte und letzte Band der vielfach ausgezeichneten Joel-Reihe von Erfolgsautor Henning Mankell.

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1998

28 people are currently reading
453 people want to read

About the author

Henning Mankell

268 books3,825 followers
Henning Mankell was an internationally known Swedish crime writer, children's author and playwright. He was best known for his literary character Kurt Wallander.

Mankell split his time between Sweden and Mozambique. He was married to Eva Bergman, Swedish director and daughter of Ingmar Bergman.

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5 stars
167 (34%)
4 stars
178 (37%)
3 stars
109 (22%)
2 stars
22 (4%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Selene.
98 reviews18 followers
June 11, 2011
This book... how can I begin to describe it? I started reading it, by chance, a week away from my high school graduation. Quickly, I read the first two parts. I loved every character, each seen through the eyes of Joel. Gertrude, Simon, Samuel, Sara... They were all dear to me, and in my heart I felt like I loved them as much as Joel did.

Then came the third book. In this one, Joel is growing up. He starts leaving his childish things behind. Gertrude, the dog, the imaginations.. he wants to be tough, to travel, to see the world. Whereas before he was content with his local world, the river, the bridge, the people, he grows restless, not unlike Mother Jenny must have been.

Throughout the books, like life, there were many things left unresolved. Sometimes in life we start stories, but they never find closure, like in The Neverending Story. However, it is never done in an unsatisfactory way, it's just life.

The last book... well, let's just say it hit home. I am moving soon, after living most of my life with my single mother. Looking at Joel's journey is a lot like looking at my past, and a little into my future. I'm not going to be a sailor, that's for sure, but, like him, I hanker to see the world, and live in it.

This book means, for me, much more than the story of four years of Joel's life. It means the journey through childhood... perhaps even through life. If you read this book, be prepared to read a slow story. No magic, except that of childhood. No romance, except that of foolish teenagers kissing in a dark theater. But a lot of growing up, and a lot of life.
259 reviews2 followers
April 7, 2013
When I heard that this was the last book in a series of books for young adults, I didn't know what to think. Wasn't in the mood for a kid's book; I wasn't disappointed.

If this was a coming of age book, maybe it was just what I was looking for. Joel is beginning a new life at fifteen, and so am I at 63. I enjoyed this book, in the same way I look forward to enjoying my journey to the end of the world.

I love to read Henning Mankell; this book came at the right time and pleased me. Immensely.

ck
181 reviews2 followers
January 28, 2018
A Surprisingly good read

Maybe it's not a children's series of books after all. Serious topics are addressed. Henning Mankell is a wonderful writer
Profile Image for Montse.
163 reviews5 followers
December 7, 2025
Una historia emocionante y conmovedora que nos lleva a acompañar a Joel, un joven valiente y decidido, en su viaje de crecimiento personal, donde tendrá que madurar y aceptar cómo son sus padres, investigando su pasado y como esto le influye en su manera de ser y de enfrentarse a cualquier desafío que se presente en su camino.
Conoceremos a otros personajes entrañables que se unen a Joel en su aventura, como un amigo, un anciano misterioso, una mujer sin nariz y otros compañeros de viaje que tienen un impacto significativo en su vida.
-"La infancia había acabado. Joel había iniciado el largo viaje de salida. Y en algún sitio sobre su cabeza flotaría para siempre un perro con sus alas invisibles".
A través de esta historia que engloba cuatro novelas ("El perro que corría hacia una estrella" , "Las sombras crecen al atardecer", "El niño que dormía con nieve en la cama", "Viaje al fin del mundo"), el autor nos invita a reflexionar sobre el sentido de la vida, la importancia de la amistad y el valor de enfrentar nuestros miedos.
Profile Image for Христина Мирчева.
44 reviews
October 19, 2018
Към края романът набира скорост до трогателния момент, когато изоставеният съвсем като малко дете Юел, вече 15 годишен, с предстоящо първо плаване по море, обяснява на надвесения от влака дръпнат, тромав и нерешителен Самюел, лош или добър - негов баща, до колко трябва да преброи, за да бъде сигурен, че картофите са сварени, и как трябва да накисва загорялата тенджера със студена вода, за да може по-късно да я измие.

"До 200 нали, трябва да броя до 200", провиква се Самюел от потеглящия влак. Самюел, които никога не е варил картофи или каквото и да било, хъркащия пиян Самюел със старата чанта с протрита дръжка.

Години след това Юел се връща за последно в родния си град, за да постави върху потъналия в сняг гроб на баща си кокосов орех, носен чак от далечна и топла Африка. Едно пътешествие до края на света.
Profile Image for Julio Mora.
46 reviews
July 14, 2023
Maravilloso, profundamente emotivo, me hizo viajar a varios momentos en mi vida, me ayudó a reencontrarme con la infancia y con los momentos alegres y tristes de la vida. Me dejó sin palabras, uno de los mejores libros que he leído este año y en muchísimo tiempo.

Con este review me refiero a la saga completa resumida en un único libro con igual portada y llamado del mismo nombre que el último de los 4 libros. Es un libro que me sumergió en su historia, me hizo viajar y olvidar dónde estaba y dónde iba.

Recomendadísimo
Profile Image for DW.
548 reviews9 followers
March 8, 2024
Was für ein deprimierendes Buch! Es ist das trauriges Buch für Kinder, das ich je gelesen habe. Die Mama ist Weg. Der Papa ist krank. Sie legen das Telefon auf, ohne zu sprechen. Sie brüllen auf der Straße. Samuel kann der Realität nicht ins Augen sehen. Joel wird Seemann, Samuel geht es schlechter, Joel kehrt nach Hause zurück, Samuel stirb. Nach die Beerdigung, verlasst Joel das Dorf und mustert mit anderer Reederei an.

Ich habe das Buch zu Ende gelesen, nur weil es genau auf meine Leseniveau war.
Profile Image for Hortensia.
345 reviews12 followers
June 17, 2017
Es el final de la serie de Joel Gustafsson y ha sido el más emocional de todos, he llorado como una "Magdalena".

Ha sido una historia realmente hermosa, con sus altibajos como la vida misma. Amo al ya no tan pequeño Joel, tan adulto en su niñez y tan niño en su primera juventud. Él y Samuel son personajes realmente inolvidables.

100% recomendable.
Profile Image for Stacie.
2,377 reviews
July 6, 2018
The best of the lot of henning mankell’s Joel Gustafson books. The series ends sadly but with hope - as all childhood’s do. I’ll miss Joel - he is almost as wonderful as Kurt. Read as the “childhood” theme for the Davenport Public Library reading challenge - and my Goodreads reading challenge (goal two) completer.
Profile Image for Theodor.
22 reviews
February 2, 2022
Had this book lying in my shelf for a long timer and never read it. Last Saturday I choose to give it a try. I can’t lie, I read it in less then 24 hours.
It’s a great book and I couldn’t stop read. The story hooked me very fast and the ending made me a bit emotional (not many books manage to do that).
If you are looking for a good book, then I can recommend you this one!
67 reviews
December 30, 2018
Una historia infinita en su intensidad y en sus miradas. Una búsqueda eterna, donde la muerte puede venir a molestar. Un viaje al fin del mundo que existe y que no existe. Una infancia que inventa los porqués y una adultez que pretende silenciarlos. También, para mí, un legado. Gracias Bettina!
Profile Image for Monica abarca melo.
407 reviews4 followers
May 4, 2019
¡Que hermosos y profundos los libros de este autor que no son de la serie de novela negra!
1 review
May 5, 2019
Sehr bewegend und schön. Die Geschichte eines Schicksals von viel einsamkeit geprägt zu sehen und dann das schöne darin zu finden fand ich sehr wertvoll.
Profile Image for ksiazki.klaudii.
189 reviews
November 18, 2022
kompletnie nie spodziewałam się tak przesiaknietej nostalgią historii. przysięgam, że pod koniec ściskało mnie za gardło. dziwnie przykra historia, którą pochłania się w bardzo szybkim tempie.
Profile Image for Jana Rösler.
Author 1 book3 followers
January 12, 2025
Warum fallen mir dauernd Bücher, wo es auch um Krebs geht, in die Hände?
Profile Image for Петър Панчев.
883 reviews145 followers
November 25, 2015
Пътешествието на Юел към порастването
Цялото ревю тук: http://knijenpetar.blogspot.bg/2015/1...

„Пътуване до края на света“ („Емас“, 2014, с превод на Ева Кънева) е последната книжка за Юел и неговата трогателна история на възмъжаването. Момчето е вече на петнайсет и започва да осъзнава цялата отговорност на живота, който има. Хенинг Манкел е решил най-после да подари на героя си така мечтаното пътуване, което се явява и като развръзка в поредицата. И четирите книжки за Юел („Кучето, запътило се към далечна звезда“ (http://knijenpetar.blogspot.bg/2014/0...), „Сенките растат със здрача“ (http://knijenpetar.blogspot.bg/2014/0...), „Момчето, което заспа под снега“ (http://knijenpetar.blogspot.bg/2014/1...) и настоящата) представят една твърде позната, но често пренебрегвана страна от живота на детето – неговата чувствителност към промените на околния свят и изборите, които трябва да направи. Това може да звучи странно, но в много малко детско-юношески книги съм виждал тази трудна за преглъщане тъга, която е неотменна част от всяко порастване. Затова и съм сложил книжките в жанра „драма“, без да имам и капка съмнение, че това е правилно.

Юел вече осъзнава, че от самия него зависи нещата да се случват и да търпят развитие. Едно странно писмо, получено от баща му, го изненадва с новината, че майка му, която ненадейно ги е изоставила преди години, се намира в Стокхолм и си има нов приятел. (Продължава в блога: http://knijenpetar.blogspot.bg/2015/1...)
Profile Image for Daniel Buitrago.
33 reviews2 followers
January 5, 2015
Henning Mankell, aparte de habitar este mundo para hacer de él algo mucho mejor, no deja de ser un magnífico escritor, ¡y prolífico!

En los noventa se dedicó, aparte de a sus creaciones policíacas, a los 'lectores jóvenes'. Estos días estoy con las dos piezas que me restaban para completar su tetralogía de Joel, dentro de la piel de este preadolescente que vive en una aldea de crudos inviernos entre bosques suecos. Junto a su padre, un leñador que antes fue marinero, sueña con hacerse algún día de nuevo a la mar y se pregunta qué habrá sido de su madre, de la que apenas conoce cuatro detalles. Entretanto, se marca objetivos, explota su imaginación haciéndose cientos de preguntas sobre la vida cotidiana, choca contra el mundo de los adultos y se mete en más de un problema.

Las novelas son un magnífico acercamiento a la psicología juvenil, partiendo desde los once años de Joel hasta que éste llega a los dieciséis. Me gusta el estilo de Mankell, aquí conciso, como es habitual, nada artificial, transmitiendo con humor e ingenuidad todo lo que al chaval se le cruza por la mente. El perro que corría hacia una estrella, Las sombras crecen al atardecer, El niño que dormía con nieve en la cama y Viaje al fin del mundo, títulos todos traducidos al castellano en la Editorial Siruela. Últimamente los cuatro se han recogido en un volumen de DeBolsillo llamado como el último de ellos, Viaje al fin del mundo.
Profile Image for Kelsier/Roona .
179 reviews
May 12, 2022
Joelin 15-vuotispäivä lähestyy ja koulun päättyminen jännittää. Tulevaisuus on hämärän peitossa, sillä Samuel-isä välttelee päätöstä yhteisestä merille lähdöstä. Yllättävä kirje ohjaa Joelin unelmien löytöretkelle, etsimään kauan kateissa ollutta Jenny-äitiä. Joel saa kokea sekä löytämisen iloa että menettämisen tuskaa. Joelin kasvutarina huipentuu kirjasarjan neljännessä, itsenäisessä päätösosassa. Palkituissa teoksissaan Henning Mankell kuvaa myötäeläen ja runollisen kauniisti 1950-luvun ruotsalaiskylässä asuvan Joelin matkaa lapsuudesta aikuisuuden kynnykselle. Kirjasarja on lukemisseikkailu, jonka ei soisi päättyvän ja joka kiehtoo kaikenikäisiä.

Minä itken täällä. Ihana Joel ja ihana lopetus tälle sarjalle! Pitkään meni ennen kuin luin tämän viimeisen osan, mutta kannatti odottaa. Joel on niin varhaiskypsä pohtiessaan, että tiettyjen asioiden ajatteleminen on lapsellista, mutta että hänellä on oikeus ajatella niitä kuitenkin eikä muiden mielipiteistä tarvitse välittää, varsinkaan, jos muut ei niitä ajatuksia kuule.

Mankell kirjoittaa kivan filosofisesta ja ajattomasti, että helposti unohtaa, että tapahtumat sijoittuvat 1950-luvun lopulle. Pikkukylän meininki on ihan samanlaista kuin meillä oli 1990-luvulla (no, meillä ei ollut rahasta puutetta).

Joel löysi äitinsä ja isänkin juonikaarelle saatiin lopetus. Hän pääsi myös merimieheksi, mitä oli aina halunnut. Ja oikeastaan kirjan lopussa hänen seikkailunsa aikuisena vasta alkoivatkin.
Profile Image for Jo Bennie.
489 reviews30 followers
November 27, 2014
15 year old Joel Gustafson lives with his lumberjack father Samuel in the far north of Sweden, so far north that it snows on his graduation day in June. Joel cooks for his father, his mother Mummy Jenny left when he was only a baby. Samuel and Joel spend hours poring over world maps together dreaming of this time Joel will be old enough to leave school and sign on as a sailor, and they can sail away from the cold north together. But then a letter for Samuel arrives telling him where Mummy Jenny is and the pair take an overnight train journey south to Stockholm to find her. Joel's life begins to shift and change, Joel is coming of age, Samuel is ageing and the docks and the ships and sea are close at hand.

At first I found the writing in this story quite stilted and alien but by the end I was fully engaged. Mankell's story of a boy stepping out into the world and the aching sadness of the narrative is slow burning but memorable.
Profile Image for Alcheme.
54 reviews
April 30, 2008
El libro compila los cuatro libros de la serie que narra el paso de la infancia a la juventud de Joel, un niño que vive con su padre en un pequeño pueblo rural de Suecia. Realmente está bien narrado, las aventuras ocurren sin extravagancias, podría pasarte a ti....
En general las historias de paso, de fin de la niñez, me dejan un poco triste. Sé que se inicia otra vida, pero la nostalgia del tiempo pasado me ataca...
Es un buen libro, con una buena historia.
Profile Image for Michael Carlson.
616 reviews1 follower
December 19, 2015
I enjoyed all four books in this YA series by Mankell. By writing about a boy between the ages of 12 and 15 (which represents the end of his schooling), Mankell brings his coming-to-age to light.
A good read.
Profile Image for MelbourneSharonB.
90 reviews4 followers
July 3, 2016
Totally engaging read. It is the only one I have read in this 'series' - and that is fine. It completely stands alone. Though now I'm keen to read the first one. A great read for adventurous readers aged 13 to adults.
632 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2016
I love Joel. This wasn't my favorite of the four, but it was well done. Henning Mankell always seems to make endings kind of sad. The end of Wallander was sad, and this was kind of sad. But you know Joel will triumph in his life.
Profile Image for Izzy C.
9 reviews1 follower
August 30, 2011
Loved the end to the Joel Gustaffason stories. A fitting conclusion, sad and emotional, a great deal more emotive than the book before When The Snow Fell.
Profile Image for Mariana.
Author 4 books19 followers
March 24, 2012
A awesome end to a wonderful coming-of-age series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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