The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1994, Blaðsíða 55

SPRING, 1994
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
165
autobiography. She acknowledges the
standards and the old world values
that have shaped her own life and
personality. She pays a huge tribute
to her amma by describing all that
was good and noble in Kristin’s
character. She goes on to explain
what she has learned from her amma
and how she has tried to live up to
the standards set by her mentor. It is
truly a touching tribute.
When I first acquired the book, I
did not immediately read it. Having
spoken to the author during the time
she was preparing her manuscript, I
knew what the book was about. I was
unsure of whether or not I wanted to
pry into this family’s personal life. I
felt shy. However, once I got up the
courage to meet the family, so to
speak, my apprehension was gone. I
did not feel as if I was intruding. I felt
that Evelyn invited me into the family.
She tells the story as if the reader
were part of the family and should be
allowed in. All of us who have grand-
parents or great-grandparents who
emigrated from Iceland will feel a
kinship with Hjortur and Kristin.
The book suffers in that the author
did not have the opportunity to proof-
read the final pre-publication copy. As
a result, there are numerous typo-
graphical errors that detract from the
otherwise careful research and
presentation. None the less, I can only
wish Evelyn were in my family. I
would dearly love to have a book like
this that would keep forever the story
of the family’s immigration to Canada
and such a rich narrative of their
experiences. The Palsson family have
a wonderful legacy for their children
and their children’s children.