A review by margaret21
Red Milk by Sjón

4.0

This is the story of Gunnar Kampen, who grew up in Iceland a towards the end of WWII in a family fiercely opposed to Nazi oppression. The story depicts a happy enough conventional childhood which progresses towards his job in a bank. And yet ... he comes into contact with Fascist ideas and ideals, and soon becomes a leader of Iceland's under-the-radar Nazi movement. There are many allusions to actual figures and events in which the fictional Gunnar becomes implicated. Allusions too to Gunnar's grandfather, whom he eventually learns was convicted of treason. Perhaps his great-grandfather was a Nazi? The book goes out of its way to portray Gunnar as a young Mr. Average, whose political proclivities are hard to spot in society at large, while pointing out those aspects of Iceland's recent history that make it possible for Gunnar to entertain the views that he has. Gunnar, however, has cancer, and dies while he is still young ... on the very first page of the book. An unusual and compelling book, showing the mindset of a young man sucked into a belief system now regaining some political traction throughout Europe.