Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

We have two months to explore the works of these two outstanding Icelandic authors, Gunnar Gunnarsson and Halldór Laxness .
Both were nominated for the Nobel Prize in 1955-Laxness was the winner.
Although Gunnarsson was Icelandic, he wrote in Danish, for two reasons-he was educated there and he wanted to reach a wider audience.

Which books are you planning to read?

I've downloaded Independent People by Halldór Laxness, and will start with that.

It looks like English translations of books by Gunnar Gunnarsson might be a bit more difficult to find.

I read Independent People a few years ago. The main character is an interesting creation.

Rosemarie wrote: "I read Independent People a few years ago. The main character is an interesting creation."

Intriguing; I'm looking forward to this one. I really like Orkney authors (like George Mackay Brown, Edwin Muir, Eric Linklater, Robert Rendall and more recent ones like Amy Liptrot) and they all reference Icelandic and Scandinavian influences.

John wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "I read Independent People a few years ago. The main character is an interesting creation."

Intriguing; I'm looking forward to this one. I really like Orkney authors ..."

I read, too, a few years ago. I was intrigued by the plot. Though, it was one of my favorite books.

I'vr read Laxness' Under the Glacier and didn't like it at all, but I'm willing to try another. This time it will be Independent People.

For Gunnar Gunnarsson, he's go ta trilogy composed of
1,Skepp och Himlen (Ship and Heaven)
2.Natten och Drömmen (The Night and the Dreams)
3.Den Oerfaren Resenären (The Unexperienced Traveler)
but these I cannot find on GR, in English or Swedish. I've made a loose translation of the book titles. I don't know hos to add them on GR. If anyone could help me do this I'd be appreciative.

Project Gutenberg has two books by Gunnar Gunnarsson available in English.

Ships in the Sky could be the first book, Chrissie.
The second book is The night and the dream,, but the third book isn't there. The Danish title is Der uerfarne rejsende.

I've read the past month an Icelandic author - Jón Kalman Stefánsson - with the title A Tristeza dos Anjos

I read Heaven and Hell by the same author. He's of a different generation than our two authors, much younger, but it's good to see that Icelandic literature is still going strong.

Rosemarie wrote: "We have two months to explore the works of these two outstanding Icelandic authors, Gunnar Gunnarsson and Halldór Laxness [authori..."

True--there isn't much of an Icelandic reading population! Denmark ruled Iceland for hundreds of years, then from 1918 to 1944 there was a intermediate stage. Iceland only became fully independent republic in 1944 after hundreds of years of rule by the Danes.

FYI, Iceland is the first country with recorded beginnings and was first formed as a republic back in the triple digits with a looser government structure than the US.

I'm not sure if as many Icelanders learn Danish now, but they all learn English and are quite good at it.

Thanks, Rosemarie! At least two are registered.

Rosemarie can you see if there exists an English title for Laxness' book På tunet därhemma. He writes about his childhood when his family first lived out in the country outside of Reykjavik? Secondly are there follow up books. I'm having trouble finding this because of the different languages.

I've found a German title to begin with, Auf Der Hauswiese: Roman which On the Home Meadow.
I'll do some more research later today.

Rosemarie, thanks! I'm more interested in reading it than Independent People! I might just go ahead and give it a try.

Rosemarie, I talked to the library and I know now that two books follow På tunet därhemma. The two following are Ung var jag fordom and Greklandsåret. They have all three at Legimus--hurrah! I'll read these three first and then decide if I want to read Independent People. That they are autobiographical appeals to me.

That is terrific news, Chrissie! Happy reading!

Having read Halldór Laxness' Independent People (dark and dense, but 5 stars) and World Light (inconsistent in tone, but still 3.5/4 stars) I decided to read a relatively lighter Laxness and so have started The Fish Can Sing. I do enjoy it so far, although Laxness is still a slower read for me. Slow, but generally worth the time and effort.

Later this month or next, I plan to read Gunnar Gunnarsson's 90 page novella The Good Shepherd . This is the cover of The Fish Can Sing

I have begun Ships in the Sky by Gunnar Gunnarsson, the first of a semi-autobiographical trilogy. It very well brings forth how it is to be Nordic.

So far I have read Íslandsklukkan/Iceland's Bell by Laxness which was an interesting but challenging read. It tells about Iceland at the end of 17th Ct. Horrific poverty, struggle under Danish rule, some very charismatic characters but the story line is not linear and quite challenging to follow. But I enjoyed it though, so I plan to read Independent People.

As for Gunnarson I am pretty sure I have read Borgslægtens historie/ Guest the One-Eyed and Edbrødre/ The Sworn Brothers: A Tale of the Early Days of Iceland in my teens and found them both romantic and adventurous. Do not remember a lot unfortunately. Maybe a reread is due. :)

Thanks for letting us know how challenging Iceland's Bell is, Inese.

I find Laxness more difficult to read than Gunnarsson.

I have finished Laxness' The Fish Can Sing and here is my review. I was underwhelmed: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here's a review of my earlier-read World Light that I just recently wrote. It was a notch better than the singing fish book due to more beautifully written narrative passages: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read Independent People before I joined Goodreads but wrote a mini-review after I joined because of how memorable the book was: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Brian. I've read only Independent People and I do agree with your review. The main character is something else!

I'm comparing Gunnar Gunnarsson's Kirken på Bjerget - bd.1+2+3 with Halldór Laxness' autobiographical trilogy that begins with På tunet därhemma. Gunnarsson's is written under the guise of being fiction. Both are in the first person narrative. Laxness was born about a bit more than a decade later. I adored Gunnarsson's trilogy. Life has been hectic--haven't had time to write a review yet.

Laxness' is good too, but a bit different in style--more academic and factual but less personal.

I'm comparing the two Icelandic authors Gunnar Gunnarsson and Halldór Laxness, by reading their respective autobiographical trilogies. First I read Gunnarsson' s and loved it. Now I'm reading Laxness'. I've finished the first of his trilogy--På tunet därhemma.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm reading the second now--Ung var jag fordom.

So far, I definitely prefer Gunnarsson. Here is my review of his autobiographical trilogy Kirken på Bjerget - bd.1+2+3: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished The Good Shepherd by Gunnar Gunnarsson. It was a pleasant easy read. The writing is not complex and the reading flows easily. In comparing styles with Laxness, I found Gunnarson's to be clearer and easier to read while Laxnesss was more complex and capable of some beautifully descriptive passages.

Based on what I've read, Laxness can at times attain true greatness with his writing but often will get too caught up with his satire and humor, which I don't find that effective. Gunnarsson is easier and more enjoyable but nothing I read indicated greatness although I'd have to read more to have this be a valued opinion. I also presume that, like his writings. Gunnarsson's personality is more enjoyable than Laxness'

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

So now that we are reaching the end of June, what is the consensus? I know that I prefer Gunnarson over Laxness!

It's very hard to get the works of Gunnarsson here in Canada.
I did buy an ebook collection of short stories, 7 best short stories: Iceland, at a very good price. It included a short story by Gunnarsson. Overall it's a good collection and only cost two dollars.

Rosemarie wrote: "It's very hard to get the works of Gunnarsson here in Canada.
I did buy an ebook collection of short stories, 7 best short stories: Iceland, at a very good price. It included a shor..."

What a pain that Gunnarsson is so hard to get ahold of!

I'm going to look for his works in used book stores but it might take a while until I find any.