Reykjavík Grapevine - 05.12.2014, Page 32

Reykjavík Grapevine - 05.12.2014, Page 32
FOOD Go Read A Book! Hallgrímur Helgason Award winning author, painter, poet and social critic. Best known for the generation-defining ‘101 Reykjavík’. ‘Butterflies In November’ Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir This was just released in the States. A charming tale, a rainy road trip. ‘Moonstone’ Sjón Atmospheric and gay! Steinar Bragi Widely considered one of Iceland’s foremost contemporary authors. His latest novel, ‘Kata’, is currently mak- ing waves in Iceland. Seek out the English translation of ‘Women’. ‘Blue Fox’ Sjón A great writer, beautifully translat- ed by Cribb. ‘Reply to a Letter from Helga’ Bergsveinn Birgisson A rather clumsy title in English, but a great novel on love and bestial- ity. I recommend it even though it’s published by Amazon Crossing, but please, let this be the last coin you put into the black void of BEZOS. ‘The Ship’ Stefán Máni An epic book on evil and seafaring, at times so male that it veers into gay erotica, beautifully. ‘Children In Reindeer Woods’ Kristín Ómarsdóttir Lyrical in the best sense of the word, playful, profound and humor- ous. Do it. ‘The Creator’ Guðrún Eva Mínervudóttir. A gripping meditation on dolls and what it means to play with them and make babies with them. Jónína Leósdóttir Celebrated author and playwright. Her most recent book, ‘Við Jóhanna’ (“Jóhan- na And I”), details her relationship with her wife (and former Icelandic PM) Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, and will reportedly be avail- able in English sooner rather than later. I think there should be a law that says everyone must get a book for Christmas. It doesn’t have to be a hard-back, brand new or expensive. There are plenty of good, older books to choose from. 'Independent People' Halldór K. Laxness Books by our Nobel laureate are an absolute must for anyone who wants to acquaint themselves with Icelandic lit- erature—and this novel is a great start- ing point. 'The Little Book of the Icelanders' Alda Sigmundsdóttir. A humorous look at Icelandic society and all our strange quirks—like babies sleeping outside in winter—in fifty min- iature essays. Any crime thriller by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir or Arnaldur Indriðason Both Yrsa and Arnaldur are excellent crime writers and, for those unfamiliar with their works, just close your eyes, reach out and buy the first one you touch. 'Flowers on the Roof' Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir and Brian Pilkington A perfect gift for young children, a fun story and fantastic pictures. 'Does anyone actually eat this?' Nanna Rögnvaldardóttir A hilarious account of traditional Icelan- dic food, like sheep’s heads and rams’ testicles, by our best-known food writer. But no recipes, you’ll be glad to hear. Sjón One of Iceland’s most successful and re- spected contemporary authors. Seek out ‘Moonstone’ (as recommended by his peers on this very page), also, go to the previous spread to read our interview with him. 'Silence of the Grave' Arnaldur Indriðason This is Arnaldur’s masterpiece of the Erlendur cycle of novels. The author's own sense of justice, bordering on rage against the exploiters of the weak in so- ciety, is wonderfully channelled through his life-weary but diligent detective. While this novel about domestic vio- lence depicts contemporary Reykjavík in a sure way, it is Arnaldur’s evocation of the city in the 40s, during the Brits’ friendly occupation, that shines and should bring out envy in all of his self- respecting (or is it self-doubting?) col- leagues. 'The Fish Can Sing' Halldór Laxness A funny, intelligent and moving novel about an orphan raised by two old peo- ple in Brekkukot, a fisherman’s cot at the south-west end of Tjörnin in Reyk- javík. Young Álfgrímur—for that is the orphan’s name, bestowed upon him by his mother as the only thing she gives him before leaving him for good—is dis- covered to have a voice so lucid that he can reach “the pure note” needed to la- ment the dead and console the living at funerals, where he practices his art. His counterpart is Garðar Hólm, an Icelan- dic singer whose fame abroad is end- lessly recounted in the newspapers of Reykjavík, where no one has ever heard him sing. But living among the misfits and outcasts that are also sheltered in Brekkukot provides a lesson that he takes with him when he also leaves Reykjavík to sing for the big world. 'Gaga' Ólafur Gunnarsson A brilliant novella about a meek man who immerses himself in Edgar Rice Burroughs’s pioneering sci-fi novels about John Carter’s adventures on the planet Mars. He reads them to the point of waking up in the Martian capital. The city is cleverly disguised as Reykjavík by its freakish inhabitants. And things start going wrong, horribly wrong. This slender book with its nod to the great Quixote is one of my favourite Reykjavík novels. Photo Natsha Nandabhiwat Compiled Gabríel Benjamin Some of our favourite local writers recommend some of their favourite local books (that are available in English) for your benefit! All you need in one place www.handknit.is ONLY SWEATER SELECTION, NO KNITING MATERIAL Gallery Restaurant - Hótel Holt Bergstaðastræti 37, 101 Reykjavík Tel: +354 552 5700 www.holt.is - gallery holt.is Tuesday - Saturday open 12 - 2pm and 6 - 10:30pm closed Sundays and Mondays S i n c e o p e n i n g i n 1 9 6 5 T h e G a l l e r y R e s t a u r a n t i n H o t e l H o l t h a s b e e n t h e p r e m i e r d e s t i n a t i o n for fine dining in Icel and The restaurant offers Icelandic Christmas lunch and dinner from the 21st of November 3 course lunch menu 5500 ISK 5 course dinner menu 9500 ISK 32 The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 18 — 2014LITERATURE

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