Three Quirky Reads

I guess lately I've been in the mood for some non-standard reads. All three of these were fun and quirky and highly original (and all from my TBR -- yay!).

I picked up Icelander by Dustin Long a few years ago at Half Price Books based on the cover and the blurb.

A Nabokovian goof on Agatha Christie: a madcap mystery in the deceptive tradition of The Crying of Lot 49 ... an intricate, giddy romp steeped equally in Nordic lore and pulpy intrigue.

This book was actually one of the ones that had been on my TBR the longest so I decided it was time to get to it. I don't even know how to explain the plot though. There's a real-life adventurer family and a fictional literary account of their exploits and a supernatural Icelandic race that lives underground. The story is told from different viewpoints that weave around a murder and lead toward the revelation of a secret nemesis. It's very strange but also strangely compelling. It reminded me of a Jonathan Carroll novel but more scattered.

The Alchemaster's Apprentice is a stand-alone novel set in the Zamonian world created by German author Walter Moers. His books are some of my favorite stories ever and this one was no exception. It's the story of Echo the crat (a cat that can talk in any language to any creature) and the countdown to the end of his life. His caregiver has died and he's slowly starving to death until he is taken in by the evil Alchemaster (like a magical tyrant). The Alchemaster promises to fatten up the little crat with the most delicious foods ever imagined under one condition -- at the next full moon, he will be allowed to kill the crat and harvest his fat.

I know this sounds super strange but it's actually a beautiful tale with tons of suspense and action but also lots of thoughtful musing. All of Moers books are incredibly readable so I have to also give credit to his English translator, John Brownjohn.

Finally, I happened to be browsing the shelves at my favorite indie, Third Place Books, and they had Cannonbridge featured face-out on the science-fiction/fantasy shelves. It's the third book from Jonathan Barnes, an author that I have greatly enjoyed in the past (you may have heard of The Somnambulist and possibly The Domino Men). This is a book that caters to readers of classics as the titular character mysteriously appears at various times through history to the likes of Byron and Shelley, Dickens, and Wilde and becomes a famous author in his own right. Modern day Cannonbridge historian Toby Judd begins to suspect something is very wrong just as his tidy little life starts falling apart. What follows is an adventure of classic proportions.

This story was not quite as good as The Somnambulist and I think it was because of the ending (which I obviously can't talk about). Still, it was an exciting read and I was happy to find that I was able to identify almost every classic author visited! It also made me want to go back and reread Barnes' other two books which are some of my quirky favorites.

Reading off the well-trodden path,
K

New-ish Release: From the Mouth of the Whale

Ever since hearing about The Blue Fox, I've wanted to read something by Sjón (a.k.a. Sigurjón Birgir Sigurðsson). There's just something unique about Icelandic literature and From the Mouth of the Whale is a perfect example of it. Set in 1635, it is the story of Jónas Pálmason, also known as Jónas the Learned, whose education also ended up being his downfall when he angered a local magistrate. This book contrasts the structure and order of natural history with the unpredictability of man.

Different from other Icelandic books I've read, there's almost no reference to the gods of old but, instead, this novel touches on one of the more recent religious conflicts of the island nation -- the change from Catholicism to Lutheranism in the mid sixteenth century. Though there are some horrific events in this ever-shifting story, overall it's a magical book.

Treasuring hearth and home,
K

New in Paperback: The Tricking of Freya

My literary journey into the myths of Iceland last year with the novel Ice Land was a satisfying initiation to the history and mythology of the country.  Christina Sunley's The Tricking of Freya was the perfect introduction to Iceland's present.  Incorporating the myths and values of the past, we journey both to New Iceland in Manitoba, Canada and also the motherland.

Written by a twenty-something named Freya, the novel is an account of her childhood with her widowed mother, Anna, and their visits to Gimli, an Icelandic settlement on the shore of Lake Winnipeg.  In Gimli are Amma Sigga, her grandma, and Aunt Birdie, Anna's wild spinster sister.  Anna and Freya live in Connecticut as Americans but when they finally travel to Gimli when Freya is seven years old, Siggi and Birdie begin teaching Freya about her Icelandic heritage and her ancestral links to some of Iceland's best-loved poets.  Even her grandfather, Olafur was known as Skald Nyja Islands, the Poet of New Iceland.  As they return each summer, Freya becomes swept up in the culture of a foreign country but also in the drama that emanates from Birdie.

It's hard to decide where to start in praising this novel.  I could begin with the unique voice of Freya, a somewhat unreliable but also very sympathetic young woman.  Her first-person account is somewhat jarring and raw but also real.  Or perhaps I could discuss the literary history of Iceland, a country that has a current literacy rate of 99 percent.  This is a nation that reveres and values its poets and writers.  There is also the unique geography and weather of this volcanic island nation.  The variety of terrain on this small piece of land is astounding and the presence of endless summer days and neverending winter nights is a testament to the heartiness of its inhabitants.  And let's not forget the group of Icelanders that relocated to Canada and formed a "New" Iceland.  These brave men and women created a place where they could celebrate their heritage but also build a more prosperous future.  And finally, there is the family relationship between three generations of women who have each lived unique lives.  All rely on the bonds of family and history to keep them grounded but sometimes this is not enough.

I still feel I haven't even touched on much of what I learned from and felt about this novel.  It was an incredible journey and only increased my fascination with and love of this distant land.  This will likely be on my list of best novels I've read this year.  In case you don't trust my gushing praise of this novel, here are some other reviews from Marie (Boston Bibliophile), Rebecca (The Book Lady) and 1MoreChapter.

Bless, bless,
K


Support our site and buy The Tricking of Freya on Amazon or find it at your local library. We received a review copy from a publicist.

A Unique Travel Opportunity

I know that some of you are already familiar with Christina Sunley's novel set in Iceland, The Tricking of Freya.  She is currently wrapping up a book tour there (the novel was translated into Icelandic) and has a blog set up for the tour.  If you're interested in some entertaining and heartwarming stories, some unique food offerings and, of course, some very beautiful photos, head on over to see Christina's Book Tour in Iceland.  I will be reviewing the book in a few weeks and I'm quite excited about it!

And while I'm talking up Iceland, check out this video from Inspired by Iceland -- it's amusing and showcases the beautiful country at the same time.  Fair warning: there are a couple of bare bums in the video so please don't watch it if you are offended by bums.


Inspired by Iceland Video from Inspired By Iceland on Vimeo.

A one-woman tourist board,
K

New Release: Ice Land

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you may remember that I am fascinated with Iceland. I have a thing for a few Icelandic bands and I think it's a beautiful island country. I would love to visit some day. However, I have read very little fiction that takes place in Iceland. When I saw an offer for Betsy Tobin's Ice Land, I jumped on it. Though I didn't totally fall in love with the story, I fell even more in love with Iceland through this book.

Set around AD 1000, there are a few narratives weaved together to form this book. First, we meet Freya, the Norse goddess of love. In Tobin's vision, Asgard is located behind a mountain in an unreachable part of Iceland. Freya learns from an old seer that it is her destiny to find a powerful and precious necklace, the Brisingamen, crafted by the dwarves that live in the extended reaches of the volcano Hekla. Then we join Fulla, an orphaned girl living with her grandfather. She is soon coming to the age of marriage just as her grandfather is considering the end of his way of life as Christianity spreads on the island. The final main character that we follow is Dvalin, son of the Dwarf King and a swan goddess. He is one of the four makers of the Brisingamen and he was also the best friend of Fulla's father.

The narrative switches chapter by chapter between these three characters and intersects where their journeys cross paths. This is one of the shortcomings of this book. The narrative switches too frequently at first to let the reader engage with any of the characters. It is like a soap opera with one short scene at a time. Yet once the stories are better established, the movement is not as noticeable. I've read some complaints about the terseness of the writing but I think it's meant to have the same cadence as the old stories, the Icelandic Myths and Norse mythologies. It definitely reads more like an oral history written down. Again, it takes a bit of getting used to but then it fades away into the background.

I think the main strength of the book is the author's love for Iceland. It comes through in every description of the land and the people. I have seen many photos and videos of the country and I feel that Tobin really succeeded in confirming my mental picture of the landscape. If you enjoy mythology and a bit of fantasy, this could be a good fit. This book will be released next Tuesday, August 25th.

Imagining a stone-lined natural hot spring on a cool afternoon,
K


Support our site and buy Ice Land on Amazon or find it at your local library.

Music Is My Other Love

Here's another factoid about me. The only thing I love more than books is music. After high school I worked at a couple of different music stores and I was a band geek and a church choir singer when I was younger. I also had the mandatory piano lessons and I wish I had a piano again.

Anyway, tonight I skipped reading and watched Screaming Masterpiece, a documentary about modern Icelandic music. I am a big fan of a few Icelandic bands -- Sigur Ros, Mum, Bjork, Amiina -- and I might be looking up a few others. There is some footage of Iceland in winter which is unbelievably beautiful. Recently I watched a movie about the band Sigur Ros and their footage was Iceland in spring and summer which is amazingly green and textured. My brother and sister-in-law and I have a goal to get to Iceland sometime soon, preferably when we can hear some amazing Icelandic music.

Singing in tongues,
K


Buy Screaming Masterpiece on Amazon or rent it on Netflix like I did.