Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

bibliophile222 t1_j9kevbl wrote

I'm surprised Independent People by Halldor Laxness hasn't been mentioned yet! It's pretty grim, but excellent.

11

Dave272370470 t1_j9kgyl8 wrote

Yep. Very worth reading: a grim but evocative encapsulation of a landscape and the people who lived there. It reads like something out of pre-history, but it takes place about 100 years ago.

5

NoLemon5426 t1_j9kmvlv wrote

I really enjoy his writing, but I feel in each book I've read that there are subtle cultural and political themes or undercurrents that are lost to those of us who are not Icelandic. I just feel like I miss some things that probably lend understanding or depth to the story because of not being familiar with the political climates at the time of the writing. Also he had a political arc himself, and I've read others express how this manifests in his writing. But again, an Iceland-centric arc, a context that many don't have access to.

That being said I think his writing is still worth reading even when it's weird (parts of The Atom Station) for example. The Fish Can Sing is actually my favorite, the breadths of characters and all of their personalities are impressive. I spend a lot of time in Iceland and so in some ways the characters feel familiar to me, composites of people I've met and even Icelandic friends and their families. So this makes this book more understandable.

4

doeverystupidthing t1_j9pesa0 wrote

I agree. I read The Atom Station and it was very good, but I felt like I was missing a lot of historical context.

1

theevilmidnightbombr t1_j9km4wc wrote

I bought a copy ahead of a trip to Iceland in 2018. Thought to start it at home then read on the trip. We had such a whirlwind, jam-packed 6 days there I never had a chance! Still lingers on my TBR pile.

3

wordyshipmate82 t1_j9lpd02 wrote

Just read this, the main character is such a horrible human, yet the story is compelling.

2