Comments on: MY ICELAND: the Christmas books

By: Elín

Elín — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:32:49 +0000

Well, I guess I am going to be the first Icelandophile to admit that The Great Weaver from Kashmir (Laxness) was at the very top of my Christmas wish list. I received that and Michael Pollan´s In Defense of Food, a must-read for anyone working in the food industry or those concerned about the detrimental effects of agricultural policies in the U.S. I also received a lovely package from Iceland, containing Saga Búnaðarsambands Suðurlands 1908-2008 by Páll Lýdsson, published posthumously, and a booklet entitled Sveitarfélagið Árborg, Afmælisrit 1998-2008 both as this is where my “people” come from. I agree, so many books, so little time. I really need to turn off the t.v.

By: alda

alda — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:05:37 +0000

Leighton – if you’re in the UK, then Arnaldur Indriðason’s books should be widely available. They’re very popular.

As for the Northern Lights, the best time I’d say is October-December. January-February also, but it seems to me that I see them far more often in the autumn. In the other months it tends to be too light or not cold enough for them to appear.

By: Leighton

Leighton — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:40:04 +0000

Alda,

I’ll have to hunt around in the bookstores here for those and see if any catch my eye. Outside the sagas, Laxness is the only Icelandic author I’ve read (knowingly). The first I picked up at the big wool mill/shop at Mosfellbaer (?the Álafoss factory) – tells you something about the Icelandic love of literature if you can pick novels up in a craft shop! But I believe Laxness grew up around there.

Picking up on Mary from California’s book present, when is the best time (and place) to see the Northern Lights in Iceland?

Best Regards and hope you have a Prosperous New Year,

Leighton

By: Mary from California

Mary from California — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 03:12:00 +0000

My husband gave me The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide by Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer. I am afraid it will tempt me to spend money on a telescope, but it is a lovely book. Actually, the one time I was in Iceland was on an astro tour for the purpose of seeing the Northern Lights.

Happy new year! I enjoy your blog so much!

By: alda

alda — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:32:30 +0000

Thanks for sharing, all!

Jen – I bought that book at Eymundsson … well, actually my daughter’s boyfriend went on the errand for me on Christmas Eve Day and had to fight the hordes for the last copy (or so he says). But I’m sure they’ll have more in stock elsewhere.

By: Grif

Grif — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:59:49 +0000

I got some money … always goes to buying music CDs (Emiliana Torrini’s latest CD was sold out… rats :/ ) and a crate of some good red wine.
Enjoying them both at the moment

With the left over money I plan to buy a Icelandic children story book … got to practice my (currently still bad) Icelandic knowledge

cheers

By: Crista

Crista — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:45:34 +0000

Let’s see…my husband got an Icelandic cookbook for himself (we’ll try a recipe or two for New Year’s Day), I got him a phenomenal book called “Birdscapes”, which is basically a pop-up book with sound for adults, and our littlest girl got a whole bunch of picture books, including the ever-popular Fancy Nancy. Has Fancy Nancy made it to Iceland yet? The books are a riot.

And although it isn’t actually books, I got Icelandic language CDs! I’m excited, but I know I’ll never be able to speak it without my flat Midwestern accent…

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:34:40 +0000

Hi Alda!

Merry Crimbo. I got a book by Paul Hawken called Blessed Unrest. We saw him speak a couple of weeks ago í Þjóðmenningarhúsinu and he was very inspiring, so I am looking forward to reading it. I got my husband a book called What It Is by Lynda Barry, which has gotten some really great reviews for inspiring people to be creative, in writing or art or whatever they do. I was wondering where you bought Brevis Commentarius de Islandia, as it sounds very interesting and I was planning to give it as a late birthday present for someone. Thanks!

By: Tristan

Tristan — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:58:37 +0000

I’m looking for Icelandic novels in English translations too. I enjoyed Silence Of The Grave by Indriðason but thought Voices wasn’t very good and the translation was pretty terrible. I tried Independent People but couldn’t finish it – sorry!

By: alda

alda — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:50:00 +0000

Joey – I’ve read about 3/4 of one of them … wasn’t terribly impressed so I abandoned it. To be fair, though, crime novels are not my favourite genre.

And Merry Christmas to you, too.