World Light

by Halldór Kiljan Laxness
World Light  
published 2002 by Vintage
binding Paperback
isbn 0375727574   (isbn13: 9780375727573)
pages 624
description As an unloved foster child on a farm in rural Iceland, Olaf Karason has only one consolation: the belief that one day he will be a great poet. The in...more
date added
12-19-06



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 51)



Abi
Abi rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
05/10/08

bookshelves: icelandic-literature
Read in January, 2007
recommends it for: Anyone
This is a novel about truth, beauty and art, to put it simply. It is abstract and often bizarre in both style and content; those looking for gritty realism should not read World Light.
The story is of Olafur of Ljosavik, an orphan mistreated by his foster family and who spends much of his childhood lying in bed immobilised by illness until he is cured by an elf. It follows his entire life from early childhood, through many love affairs, a tortured marriage, several children, struggles with pov...more
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Kris
Kris rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
02/04/08

Read in February, 2008
Between exquisite wretchedness at the beginning and a short sweet fade at the end, this is definitely a funny book–especially the seance scene, Petur Dhrihross, Olafur clueless in Reykjavik, and great minor characters. Ljosvikingur is certainly not a likable character, but you never know what is going to come out of his mouth. All Laxness needs to be translated!
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Valerie
Valerie rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
08/13/07

Read in June, 2007
When I run out of the Laxness works that are available in English, I will have to learn Icelandic.
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Dean
Dean rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
07/25/07

Read in January, 2004
Didn't do it for me like the others--
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Everette
Everette rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
01/13/08

 

Sister
Sister marked it as to-read
12/27/07

bookshelves: fictionintranslation, to-read
 

Trilby
Trilby marked it as to-read
04/27/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

Susan
Susan rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/21/07

 

Laura
Laura rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
09/05/07

 

Daniel
Daniel rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
04/23/08

 

Chris
Chris rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/24/07

bookshelves: icelandic-lit
 

James
James rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
10/13/07

 

Jason
Jason rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
12/19/07

 

Claude
Claude rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
06/19/07

 

Michael
Michael marked it as to-read
12/27/07

bookshelves: to-read
 

Christopher
Christopher rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
06/24/07

 

Lavina
Lavina marked it as to-read
03/26/07

bookshelves: fiction, to-read, translation
 

Gavin
Gavin marked it as to-read
05/10/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

daniel
daniel rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
03/04/07

 

Ryan
Ryan added it
09/30/07

Read in September, 2007
 


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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 4.09 (32 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 4.10 (31 ratings)
number of reviews: 4






other editions

Lumière du monde (Paperback)









quote

"He continued on, on to the glacier, towards the dawn, from ridge to ridge, in deep, new-fallen snow, paying no heed to the storms that might persue him. As a child he had stood by the seashore at Ljósavík and watched the waves soughing in and out, but now he was heading away from the sea. "Think of me when you are in glorious sunshine." Soon the sun of the day of resurrection will shine on the bright paths where she awaits her poet. And beauty shall reign alone." more quotes »