Smarti's review
Independent People
by Halldór Kiljan Laxness
I'm excited to finally read this. Has been sitting on my shelf far too long and it takes place in Iceland - how exotic is that? :-)
Smarti's review
Independent People by Halldór Kiljan Laxness
Smarti's review
rating:
bookshelves:
1001-books,
literatur-nobelpreis,
romaneab1900
It has been a long time since I have read a book that has meant so much to me. This reading experience literally transported me to the harsh landscape of Iceland and I was right there with the characters. Bjartur, the lonesome farmer, self-proclaimed independent protagonist is a man full of mistery. It is easy to hate him but yet I think one needs to take into consideration the more than harsh circumstances. Ultimately, his aim to be independent and to raise an independent family is a noble one although one doomed to failure. The most compelling figure of the novel was, for me, Asta Solillja, the daughter and yet not the daughter of Bjartur. The relationship between those two is one that I was following with the greatest compassion, anger and regret throughout the novel.
As I said, it has been a long time since a novel has touched my heart in the way "Independent People" has done. Laxness is for sure one of the great writers of the 20th century and one worthy of the nobel-pr...more
As I said, it has been a long time since a novel has touched my heart in the way "Independent People" has done. Laxness is for sure one of the great writers of the 20th century and one worthy of the nobel-pr...more
I'm excited to finally read this. Has been sitting on my shelf far too long and it takes place in Iceland - how exotic is that? :-)