Heart's Delight

A bus pass A postcard A German grammar book A potted plant A packet of seeds A page from a songbook A record An empty plastic box A package of condoms A wadded-up sheet A frayed American flag A black notebook A wrapped package with a curly ribbon A movie ticket A razor blade and a bottle of blue pills What could a sixteen-year-old Swedish boy have to do with all those objects? You'd be surprised. This book is told by a teenage boy. Is he a boy? He has loved before, but he has yet to get his license or experience the "real world". He goes nameless throughout the entire story, which adds to the constant question of manhood or childhood. And what does a movie ticket and a wrapped package with a curly ribbon have to do with it? The book starts with him spending a night alone, reviewing the past year in his mind as a movie starring himself and a girl. The girl. Like most teenage boys, he has fallen in love. She, however, was not in love. The novel focuses on this boy and the objects that still connect him to his past lover. He feels a burning desire to rid himself of those memories. What to do with the bus pass? The record? The sheet? This book will keep you up at night. You'll be wide awake at 3 a.m., gnawing at your fingernails. Why did he have to destroy the that? Why did he need to get rid of it? Every obstacle this boy goes through will have an impact on your entire day. Why? Why won't he listen? Why won't he move?! WAKE UP!

This is one book that I could read over and over. I read Heart's Delight in one day, and loved it so much. This is actually a book that was translated from sweedish, into English. The main character in this book is about 17, and is heartbroken by his true love, for which he calls "Heart's Delight". A mysterious redhead, who he sees every week on the city bus to school. Eventually, they get to know eachother, and fall in love. Later, the book talks about teenage sex, and how beautiful it was for him the first time, with heart's delight. It's later in the book that you find out what happens, which drives the boy to commit suicide. The only one who can save his life is Heart's Delight, also known as Ann-Katrin. This book is writen beautifuly, you should definently read it.

By far, the best book ive ever read. Not your usual sappy teen love story where girl meets guy and they end up happily ever after, or the typical drama of a teen couple having sex and getting pregnant. this novel is unique and lovely, beautiful ,yet sad love story, it will make you cry. i especially reccomend it to all you girls who think that boys have no emotions. wonderful story, anyone who has a true love, or has had a true love and lost it, should read thsi book. Nilson writes beautifully without being overabundant with words, he used the right amount and the right words, great writing style, has even inspired me to begin writing.

This was such a wonderful book, with a twist, being told from the end, as the main guy takes us back to the beginning of a doomed relationship with a girl he meets on the bus and all the way through. Buy it now, you'll thank us later.

I love the way Per Nilsson writes - he doesn't use any extra words. I really felt like I could understand what the main character was thinking (and let's be honest, sometimes it's hard to undertand what guys are thinking). I totally cracked up when he was in the store trying to buy condoms but was too embarassed. And I *wish* my first time had been like that!I'm still wondering if Ann-Katrin gets pregnant. The way Nilsson writes it, you really can't tell. Every time I'm convinced she got pregnant I think about it again and I'm sure she didn't. That's really the best thing about his writing - he doesn't tell you what to think. It's the same thing with the phone call he gets. Is it his mom or is it Ann-Katrin?This is one of the best books I've read. I definitely recommend it. And I really want to know if you think she got pregnant!!!