Reviews

Salka Valka by Halldór Laxness

hollandadaokurgezer's review

3.0

Salka Valka is the first book of Icelandic literature I have read. Although the author is a Nobel Prize winner and deserved an award after this work, I could not like Salka Valka. In my opinion, this is not one of those books that we can claim that everyone will absolutely love. It may be a good choice for those who have a special interest in the subject and place. I would like to briefly talk about the book for those who may be interested. The novel, which begins as the story of a mother and daughter forced to live in a fishing village in the cold geography of Iceland due to lack of money, turns into a love story dominated by political and religious debates after a point. Poverty, ignorance, ignorance of women, Bolshevism, communism, socialism, religious debates and the blinding aspects of love are mentioned in the book. The lack of agitation in the author's narration, beautiful descriptions and simple language make the book a little more readable.

As for why I didn't like the book, even if Salka Valka was originally intended to be portrayed as a strong character unlike her mother, considering the end of the book, I think that the power attributed to Salka could not find a real response. The love plot in the book did not give me a real feeling and it was obvious to me that it was fiction.

zero_anixter's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

graco's review against another edition

4.75

Bleak, stark and full of dark wintry days and smelly fish

readingonfogo's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

danywever's review against another edition

3.0

Iceland serial melodrama at its finest

crystalreading's review against another edition

4.0

Salka Valka shows a vivid picture of an Icelandic fishing village. The main character is a feisty individual named Salka that lives through the economic changes in the village. In the beginning, everything feeds through the local store and the entire economic system is controlled by one man. This is later challenged due in part to Salka.

The story pulled me along and while I didn't always agree with Salka's thinking, I always admired her.

gwak's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

nornors's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Pregnancy

amelieoboken's review against another edition

hopeful sad slow-paced

4.0

sydn3y3's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

5.0

first book i’ve read that takes place in iceland. deals with feminism, socialism, existentialism. and romance, which was heartwrenching! a girl’s coming of age and her journey with individualism vs community. the descriptions of the icelandic landscapes were beautiful

2025 update: i was just informed that there is a writing form called the Icelandic saga, which borrows a lot from oral tradition. which makes the style of Salka Valka make sooooo much sense. Bumping my 4.5 stars to 5 stars, hands down