The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1994, Page 54

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
SPRING, 1994
follows Kristin Thorsteinsdottir, the
lifestyle described will have been very
similar for most of those who made
the decision to emigrate from Iceland
to Canada just prior to the turn of the
century.
The second block of the story deals
with the pioneer experience during
the first part of the twentieth century.
This could be described as the
“homesteading era” as it took place in
Manitoba’s Interlake area near
Lundar. Again, though the story is
specific to Kristin and her husband,
Hjortur, it is universal to all of our
grandparents and great-grandparents
who homesteaded on the rural
Canadian prairies.
The third and final block of the
story is more autobiographical. It
deals with the author’s coming of age
and the role played by amma in the
young woman’s life. The story pivots
through the rather transient youth
that Evelyn experienced, but
maintains its touch with the home
base that is amma’s place throughout
the narrative.
With this book, Evelyn has created
an incredible heirloom for her family.
She has also let us share in the story
by choosing to allow the public
release of the book. The experience of
the young Icelandic woman running
away from home to elope with her
young man to the new world makes
for a great story, fact or fiction. The
descriptions are both vivid and
detailed. The reader can imagine the
family farmstead in Iceland; the
setting out; the journey to Canada.
We feel Kristin’s emotion and anxiety
of wanting a reconciliation with her
family when they finally come to
terms with her elopement.
The reader will experience the
hardships of the early pioneers
through Evelyn’s filter. She does not
permit the reader to see any despair
or failure. She only talks of the
strength and determination of people
who were not afraid of challenge and
would not accept defeat. We know
there must have been incredible
physical and emotional hardships
faced in learning to survive in a
strange, lonely land. Evelyn’s story
recounts cold winters, hot summers,
illnesses and adversity, but only in a
very matter-of-fact way which does
not allow the reader to feel sorry for
her family. They were not people who
would accept pity.
In my opinion, the best part of the
story is what Evelyn does as she
evolves Kristin’s biography into her
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