The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1994, Page 57

SPRING, 1994
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
167
“Boys will be Boys.” Feeling
confused? Check under “Rela-
tionships,” “Communication between
the Sexes,” or “Sexuality.” Frus-
tration might be philosophically
assuaged by "The Right to Rule” or
“The Double Standard.” And you will
undoubtedly find useful sections
concerning “The Family Man,” “The
Working Man,” “Vulnerability,” and
“Aging.” As a finishing touch, the
illustrations by Kathryn Adams add
humour and grace to this gift-sized,
fit-in-your-pocket hardcover volume.
But perhaps there are few things
men would rather not know women
think, such as that “old boyfriends...
make excellent cat-sitters” (Erika
Ritter). Yet who could argue with
Dorothy Dix when she observes that
“the reason husbands and wives do
not understand each other is
because they belong to different
sexes?” Occasionally Wylie slips in a
remark which will bring some readers
up short. Quoting from an
International Labour Organization
study, Wylie lets us know that “men
own 99 percent of the world’s
property and earn 90 percent of its
wages, while producing only 55
percent of the world’s food and
performing only one-third of the
world’s work.”
In real life men, like women, do
not act according to simplistic stereo-
types, a home truth which Wylie has
kept in mind while choosing these
quotations. Men are not always made
the fallguys for women’s banter.
Affection, too, creeps in, as Anna
Ford expresses: ‘The things I parti-
cularly like about men are their
differentness, their simplicity, their
cleverness, their ability to amuse and
re-tell life better than it is, their sense
of fun, their intelligence, their
dependence on women, their boy-
ishness... their charm, their inse-
curity, their character and, above all,
when they reveal it, their gentleness
and vulnerability.” Yes, we are
different sexes, yet oddly, we have the
strangest affinity for each other.
“ For all who love literature,
and especially tlhose who wish
to refresh their feelings for
Canadian-Icelandic literature,
this booh is a must.”
— Emil Bjarnason
Aurora • Arora
A bilingual edition of poetry by Guttormur I. Guttormsson
Collectors’ Limited Edition - $29.95*
Deluxe hardcover, acid-free linen texture paper,
laminated full-colour dust jacket,
Highly revered for his writing, Guttormsson received many honours
including the prestigious Decoration of the Grand Knight Commander
of the Falcon with Star and a Gold Medal for the purity of the use of the
Icelandic language.
Translators of Icelandic poetry face the enigma of trying to convey
the phrasing and yet maintain the delicate rhyme and meter of each
poem. This volume contains a cross-section of Guttormsson's finest
poems in their original Icelandic form. Accompanying each poem is an
English translation crafted by the bravest and most successful translators
to-date. These translators are. in fact, poets in their own right. Those
who are able to read both languages will enjoy comparing the original
to its translation.
*AvaiIabIe from: Mary Scorer Boobs (Wpg.), Tergesens' Store (Gimli)
and Whitby's boobstore (White Rocb) or by mail.
Canadian orders: $35.50 each includes GST & mailing costs.
U.S.A. orders: $ 28.50 US each includes mailing (money orders only)
Send your cheque or money order made payable to:
HEATHER IRELAND
940 Younette Drive, West Vancouver, BC, V7T 1S9, CANADA