Epilogue of the Raindrops

Goðheimar bernskunnar

by Einar Már Guðmundsson, Bernard Scudder (Translator)

A fascinating and distinctive voice from an unexpected quarter."" - Ian McEwan. A novel of magic realism, akin to much of Latin American fiction. Recounts the construction (and deconstruction) of a suburb, the spiritual quest of a mouth-organ-playing-minister, the havoc wreaked by long-drowned sailors, and an ale-oiled tale told beneath a whale skeleton, while the rain falls and falls.

Genres: Fiction

148 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Einar Már Guðmundsson received a B.A. in Comparative Literature and History from the University of Iceland in 1979, after which he moved to Copenhagen to do graduate work in Comparative Literature at the University of Copenhagen.

Einar's first book, the collection of poetry Er nokkur í kórónafötum hér inni? (Is Anyone Here Wearing the Korona Line?), appeared in 1980. In 1985 he received first prize in a literary competition held by Almenna Bókafélagið, Book Publishers and Book Club, for the novel Riddarar Hringstigans (The Knights of the Spiral Staircase). His books have been translated into several languages and the widely acclaimed novel Englar alheimsins (Angels of the Universe) received the Nordic Council's Literary Award in 1995. Friðrik Þór Friðriksson's movie which is based on the book premiered in Reykjavík on New Year's day in the year 2000.
Einar is currently living in Reykjavík. He is married and has five children.

Reviews

[Changeling72 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read the text as part of my Icelandic Literature course during my final year at uni. On re-reading it, I found it not the easiest book to follow, since there is no clear narrative as such. Set in his native Iceland, Gudmundsson's text owes a lot to that nation's rich story-telling tradition as he paints a sodden, ethereal, twilight world in which the divisions between 'our' world and the 'other side' are blurred. In doing so, the author creates a uneasy juxtaposition between the tradition of elves, trolls and ghosts and established religion. Indeed, it helped that, also as part of the afore-mentioned Icelandic Literature course, I have read several of the sagas, elements of which appeared in Epilogue. Not the easiest of reads, but definitely worth sticking with.

[Maria Bache · Rating 5 out of 5]

Det regner med - ja, med vand fra himlen, som det er normalt i regnvejr (selv om dette er et mindre skybrud). Det regner OGSÅ med sære syner, skønne skrøner, drama, fortid og meget andet. Myter, landnam, overtro, elver, hellige klipper, besjælet natur, drifter, et skvæt mørkepip, genfærd, knuste drømme og barske realiteter blander sig i en nats styrtregn og henter stumper af fortiden ind som spor og erindringer. Romanen er kort og kompakt som en saga, fortalt associaltivt som en skrøne.

[Astrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

C’était très très particulier. Il faudrait que je le lise une seconde fois dans quelques mois pour avoir un avis final sur le sujet.

[Jules]

DNF — c’est un peu trop perché j’y arrive pas