SALKA VALKA by Halldór Laxness | Book Review 

I visited my great grandmother years ago in a small fishing village on the southern coast of Iceland. She lived in the same little wooden house her entire adult life. Bedrooms just big enough to hold a small bed. I love being Icelandic and never fail to be awed every time I visit.

The knowledge is never ending, my man. I'm over here taking notes on sharpening up my reviews and I love the context and history you give here.

I picked this up a few weeks ago based on the fact that Laxness is so well regarded, and the amazing job that Archipelago has done with so many of their other titles. Now I can’t wait to read it!

Great discussion. This is really interesting to me as someone from a country that was colonised by the British (initially with the East India Company). Equally, I prefer novels that focus on the daily lives of 'ordinary' people - to me that is the best way to experience a different culture and time. Female-centric narratives are another big plus for me - the last extract you read in particular was so hard-hitting. Thanks for discussing this translated work. (I would have probably looked it up based on the awesome quote in your thumbnail haha) Happy reading!

Brilliant discussion, Sean! I love Laxness. I have fond memories of reading World Light, in Spanish, many years ago. The Fish Can Sing has been next on my list by him for a very long time now. I'm so happy to see Salka Valka is in print again! Right after reading World Light, I found a copy of the 1936 Houghton Mifflin edition, but I may check out this new translation. The old one was not even based on the original novel, but on the Danish edition. Thank you for this great video!

Totally cool, you and your recommendations are a find

Great stuff, as usual. Had never even heard of the author before. Got it wishlisted now. Can always hope! I tend to like ideologues being pit against one another. Sounds totally up my alley. Though satire is always a roll of the dice… seems serious enough.

Takk fyrir mjög áhugaverða umræðu.

Like the review,very much. Im also a medievalist stuck in this modern world. Im American in Russia. Eleven years now. A friend was visiting Iceland and I begged him to get SV. Ive read everything else by Laxness except this, some of the reciews pf it, feminist novel, feminist this or that had me wary...it is feminist ,but more than that is what you said, I agree, it is a coming of age novel AND a coming of age novel of Iceland. I was a Communist in PNW from 86-98, we grew up 3 rd world in America , a few times starving,literally. Dirt poor, no clothes except what we had on,so to read SV, when she gets the new dresss and is aware of her poverty, her place in the world, that she is made fun of--- so was I, so mich so I hid it and only remembered as I read of the towns children making fun of her, a group of boys, asked if I needed money, I said no, they placed me against a wall and began pitching pennies at my bare chest. They began throwing them. I was red welted and crying. There were many more instances that were worse--- so, as an american,expat in Russia, I resd this and it hits home, like IP, in both books, I sense a taste of not social realism but magical realism, even a hint at it...the boy in SV describing his mothers disappearance, how it probably was trolls and ogres, the mythmaking of prepubescent children, how they see the world--- a magical place , of saints and of demons--- in IP the ghost of the witch, his floating down the river after his sheep, many instances of magical realism, of this unbelieavbke realism taking the story along the horse of social realism, Ill watch the rest of your video later...after I finish SV. Where are you located? Do you read Russian literature? BTW, while looking for SV here I saw dozens of copies...in Russian. He was immensely popular here during CCCP.