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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
I loved it. Absolutely loved it. It’s a magnificent book. It’s magical. The way Stefánsson writes is unlike anything else. Sometimes haunting, sometimes tender, sometimes sharp like winter wind. The past and present blur in this book. Time isn’t linear, but it doesn’t feel confusing. It feels like life. The sense of place is incredible. You feel the cold, the quiet, the sea, the sky, the silence. You feel Iceland. And even though I’ve never been there, through this book, I almost have.
Philip Roughton’s translation is excellent. Truly. He brings out so much of the rhythm, the emotion, the strangeness, the magic. I read it in English, which isn’t even my mother tongue but I could still feel how powerful the language was. I could feel how much care went into the translation. And yet, it made me wish I knew Icelandic. Not because the translation was lacking, because it wasn’t. but because the original must be even more immense. That’s what great translation does: it brings you so close, you ache for the rest.
This book reminded me how strong language can be. How it moves through time, through people, through translation, and still holds its magic. If you want to read something that feels timeless, read this book. It’s strange and beautiful. It’s sad and luminous. It’s worth your time.
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
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The pacing was hard for me to get behind at first and I got a bit lost at times. I did up a family tree while reading and it helped keep things straight for me. Not an easy read but definitely worth sticking with.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-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
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No