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The Icelandic book catalog has made it´s way to all homes in Iceland, it is a yearly ritual to sit down with the catalog and decide whitch books you would like to read and mark the one you would like for Christmas in a way that members of your family can´t possibly miss.
Oh, the joy of the annual book catalog. This year it has over 600 titles, every book published in Icelandic this year.
40 original children books,
121 translated children books,
67 original fiction for adults,
70 translated fiction for adults,
36 poetry books (1 translated)
then there are the art and photagraphy books, biography - autobiography, interview books (always popular) history, geography, inspirational books, cookbooks and other misc. non-fiction.
A bit over the top for a population of 260.000.
My favorite Icelandic author Gyrðir Elíasson has 1 new collection of short stories, a book of poetry and a translation. It is actually one of the most interesting translation this year, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, I have not read it in yet but I´m told that it is a wonderful story for both children and adults.
So many books so little time.
3 comments:
Iceland has an extremely high literacy rate and a high population of artists of all kinds doesn't it?
I've read Tuck Everlasting, it's really good. the end was a little frustrating to me, just warning you. there was a movie too. two of my friends and i read the book and then went to see the movie. we were planning to do that for a lot of books but this one was as far as we got. i would recommend the book more than the movie. it's short and satisfying.
speaking of short and satisfying, i started Ella Minnow Pea last night and it's all i can think of today. i can't wait to put the kids to bed and sit down to read more tonight. the letter J has just been outlawed.
and speaking of movies based on books, i saw a 1960's version of "Day of the Triffids" yesterday. well, i didn't actually see the whole thing, it was so terrible.
literacy rate is very high that is true, and a large population of people that think they are artists...
...although some would argue that if you think you are an artist you are, no matter what other people may think.
Happy reading.
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