And so we reach the final week of my project to read Nordic lit with a visit to Iceland. I think Harry’s getting fed up of being used as a prop for my books.
My Icelandic TBR is a select small pile, my review of my gateway book will be posted tomorrow. I’m currently taking a break from reading purely novels in translation to read Sarah Moss’s account of her year spent with her family in Iceland, Names for the Sea, it’s going to be interesting.
As to which book to read after that, I’m gravitating towards Butterflies in November by Auður A. Ólafsdóttir, who was recommended to me, I forget by whom, sorry. That book, being published by Pushkin Press, will also link in with Read Indies 2, hosted by Lizzy and Karen which starts tomorrow. I’m not in a hurry to read more by Icelandic great Halldór Laxness though after my experience with Under the Glacier some years ago – but do try to persuade me if you want!
Can you recommend any other modern novels or NF by Icelandic authors to me?
Moss’ Names for the Sea sounds really interesting. I’ll have to check it out.
I’ve only read one book by an Icelandic author, Miss Iceland (read last year but not reviewed), which I liked a great deal. I’ll be interested to see your reaction to Ólafsdóttir’s Butterflies in November, if you go that route.
Harry is a great prop. Please try to persuade him to continue for at least another week . . .
The Moss book is quite similar to the Helen Russell book on living Danishly, minus the Hygge, but very much enjoying it. I think it’ll definitely be the Ólafsdóttir book next.
Well, nice pile. I have added And the Wind Sees All to my wishlist (currently split from my blog one, need to combine them again now birthday is passed), I have read all the others apart from The Women at 1,000 degrees and The Absolution, both too dark for me. I enjoyed Names for the Sea although got a bit cross with the author (will share my review on yours when it comes) and love the Indriðasons (I can take darker books set in Iceland than elsewhere). I can recommend Laxness’ Independent People, though it’s really long and really I think works in the context of having read a few sagas, so that might be a mission too far! I haven’t really got on with the two shorter ones I’ve read, including Under the Glacier!
I’m just over half-way through Jon Kalman Stefansson’s Heaven and Hell trilogy and so will have a triple review of those up before the week is up. Won’t finish my saga volume unless I have absolutely no work in all week, but will note which sagas in it I’ve read. And about to finish Cat Jarman’s vikings book, which has Sweden in it, Iceland mentioned, and is by a Norwegian …
Wow Liz! Thank you so much for your support of this challenge. I’ve totally enjoyed immersing myself in Nordic lit and have been delighted to find it’s not just Scandi crime – although there is a lot of that. I’ll be ready for something else in weeks to come. I’ll look forward to your reviews.
I’ve been loving doing it and having the excuse to bring all these books to the reading pile!
I’m looking forward to your review of the Heaven and Hell trilogy. I can’t remember if I reviewed the first part, which I read last year (knowing me, probably not), but I really must try to get hold of the rest.
Of course I would also recommend our Icelandic author Solveig Palsdottir for her acute social observations and empathy under the guise of crime fiction. She is ruthless about discovering any cracks under the apparently benign and wealthy surface of Icelandic society.
Argh! I should have thought of your Corylus books – will you be doing a paperback edition at all?
We have paperbacks for them all, they are simply not distributed through Amazon, because they take too much of a cut. We are happy to send them out to anyone who emails us directly.
I’d love to read The Fox – will email you.
Absolutely loved Names for the Sea. I hope you do too. Also enjoyed Butterflies in November but was not tempted by the recipies and I’ve spotted And the Wind Sees All in your pile, the only close to cheery Peirene I’ve ever read. Happy reading!
I’ve read some of the Indridason books and did enjoy them, although they went off the boil as many series do. However, the setting was very strongly and vividly captured which was a plus point for me!
I’ve read all the Indridason books in his first crime series. And Heaven & Hell is highly recommended.
I’m also planning on reading Butterflies in November for Read Indies 2! I’ll be interested to see how you find it.
I’m trying to summon up the enthusiasm to eventually tackle the Ragnar Johansson title I have; otherwise all that I can suggest is the title by Sjón, Moonshine, which I reviewed a couple of weeks ago. Sorry not to be more helpful!
Don’t worry – have noted Moonshine in the list. Ragnar Jonasson is good though.
Ragnar Jónasson is as great as is Arnaldur Indridason. Very interesting stories behind the crimes.
I’ve only read the one Ragnar Jónasson, his latest – I need to go back to the earlier ones.
I’ve got Jónasson’s The Darkness to read, but slightly put off by blurbs blabbing about a shocking ending — I’ve resisted stealing a look, however! Amaldur Indridason is not a name I’ve come across before now though.
He was the first Icelandic crime author I came across. I’ve only read the most recent Jónasson which I enjoyed – I need to go back to the start of his series.
Thank you for highlighting these Icelandic authors. All new to me, but will check them out.