A saga reader visiting Iceland now, expecting blood-thirstiness or violence from the population, is in for disappointment. He finds instead a mild, harmonious, democratic welfare state, just and literate, almost without murder, theft, or any violent crime. Doors are left unlocked and lost billfolds returned to strangers.
Jan 15, 2007
Still True Today
Bill Holm, Prairie Days (originally published as The Music of Failure), 1985:
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5 comments:
...if you ever get the chance to see Bill Holm speak, take it, he usually has some Iceland-related guests and/ or anecdotes. I see Fish Can Sing on your book list, what a magical work! (What a magical author!) Thanks for stopping by Flippism Is The Key, your comment was much appreciated. As you can probably tell from my link list, I am also suffering from an Icelandic infatuation...
PB:
I can tell.
My Icelandic infatuation began with: 1) Bill Holm (Coming Home Crazy), and 2) Fish Can Sing.
I was able to meet Bill Holm this summer in Iceland. If you click on "Holm" at the bottom of this entry, it will bring up all of my postings about him.
Is it proper blogetiquette to post a comment on an old posting? I wanted to ask how your wife is liking World Light,which I am reading right now.
... comment anytime, I usually pick up on them through my e-mail first. She loves World Light but is "reading it slowly so it won't end so soon." I had just read it in December (and I bought it in Mals og Menningar- how devoted is that!) and it's a stunner- another great ending, but maintains its strangeness throughout. I think I've read all of Laxness' translated novels, Paradise Regained is probably the most "difficult" work to read, unless you are interested in Mormonism in 19th century Iceland. They're all great (as I'm sure you know!) but Fish might be the most beautiful. Have ever you been to a production at the National Theatre in Reykjavík?
PB,
No, I haven't been there, although I admired the architecture. We had only 3 days in Reykjavik. Must return!
Have you been to Gljufrasteinn, Laxness' home? For me it was a very moving experience to visit there.
... not as yet, it seems that my Icelandic visits average once every three years, so maybe 2009?
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