Nonni in America, Around the World at 80 Years Old!
Jon Svensson
Chaos To Order Publishing (2021)
ISBN 978-0990723165
Reviewed by Susan Violante for Reader Views (01/2022)
Jon Svensson begins his story when he was a boy in Iceland and got a world map globe. It was then that Svensson began his lifelong love affair with the idea of traveling. At 12 years old, Jon left home to pursue his education with the Jesuits. He traveled to France to begin his education study abroad. During that time, he discovered Jules Verne’s book “Around the World in 80 Days.” He not only loved the book, he decided to visit Jules Verne (who lived in Amiens where Jon went to school), unannounced to discuss the book with him! During his visit, he told Verne that he would become an author like him; and he did. But his dream of traveling the world didn’t happen until he was 80 years old.
Jon Svensson became a Jesuit Priest Scholar who traveled all over Europe as speaker, teacher, and ministry. But he was also known and loved for his stories published in his Nonni series. The opportunity to travel the world finally came when he was 80 years old. He took it and his journey remained recorded in “Nonni in America.” In this translation, the author’s simple and heartwarming voice comes through intact on this narrative work. The places he visited, the wonderful characters he met and even ordeals he went through created a captivating, endearing and colorful couch adventure for all readers. Having grown up myself reading Vespucci, reading this book took me back to the era of the stories I loved during my childhood. It was a time of real adventurers, as they traveled knowing so little of the world, knowing only through the accounts of others… so much different from experiencing a place virtually.
I loved “Nonni in America, Around the World at 80 Years Old!” by Jon Swenson and recommend it as a five star classic to all readers. I am grateful Friederika Priemer brought this jewel to life.
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