iceland

The Tricking of Freya

admin — Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Tricking of Freya is a multi-generational family story narrated by a girl named Freya Morris, following her life from early childhood through middle age. Freya grows up in suburban Connecticut, but her heart lives in a small village called Gimli, the Canadian settlement of her Icelandic ancestors. In Gimli, her family is revered as the descendants of two of Iceland’s best-loved poets. Freya learns early that Icelanders love words so much that many immigrants carried heavy books in their suitcases as their only belongings. She grows to love words as well, hoping to become a writer in the tradition of her family.

As an adult, Freya lives in New York and is composing a series of letters to the as yet unknown cousin she is desperately seeking. The story of her life is recalled through the events of the family past to present, much as one would update an out of town relative on all the gossip from back home. We see a tragedy that will shape the future of the entire family, as well as lead to Freya’s uncovering a long buried secret that she must try to solve by retracing her steps through the past. The story moves from the history of the immigrant settlers of Gimli to that of the descendants of those who stayed in Iceland, and is rich with the folklore, dialect, and culture of the country.

The story carries you along with Freya through her adventures, with beautiful descriptions of Iceland and its inhabitants, as well as poignant descriptions of family members lost and sought. The “tricking” referred to in the title is a mystery at the core of the story, which the reader solves along with Freya, coming each to their own conclusions about what may be real, what may be believed, and which of those is closer to the truth.

Written by: Melissa Ruiz, May 13th 2010

Sing Along to Songs You Don’t Know

admin — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:59:00 +0000

By Múm

Euphono Records

I have never been one to accept iTunes’ genre classifications of the music I purchase. Yes, the categories can be useful, but they never quite fit with my personal interests. As soon as the tracks are downloaded, I quickly listen to the album and decide where it fits amongst my feisty feminist punk rock, hipster late-night sing-alongs, or classical acoustic sleep inducers (to name a few). Admittedly, I am a little bit of a control freak and perhaps a tad obsessive.

On the other hand, the reductionist labeling of ‘indie’ or ‘pop’ is nowhere near as maddening as the genre given to Múm’s recently-released fifth studio album Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know: “unclassifiable.” What does that mean? Is it insulting, or perhaps, empowering by the very lack of constraints? The queer equivalent of music labeling?

Either way, the group’s new album has clearly demonstrated their ability to evolve with their effortless intermixing of guitar, rhythmic percussion, bizarre electronic grooves and eerie, smooth vocals that produces something within and above the genres of pop, folk and electronica. Arguably their most accessible album, Múm has moved away from their original pure, electronic sound to a more folksy-experimental style. Reading some of the reviews, it is clear that some fans of the original ethereal vocals of the Valtýsdóttir twins (replaced in 2007) have been resistant to the change and the group’s new whimsical, romantic sound. However, while the album definitely has a childish element, the lyrics and vocals are far from cute, with repetitive lines like: “You are so beautiful to us. We want to keep you as our pet.”

Definitely listen to the album and decide for yourself. If you are interested in exploring their earlier albums, you can stream some of the tracks on their MySpace page. While you are online, also check out their webpage to find out about tour dates, watch the music video of their track “Sing Along,” and more. Their new album has something refreshing for both new listeners and old fans alike, especially for those that are willing to grow with the group in their constantly evolving, “unclassifiable” experimental sound.

Written by: Abigail Chance, December 19th 2009

The Importance of Being Iceland: Travel Essays in Art

admin — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:40:00 +0000

By Eileen Myles

Semiotext(e)

Eileen Myles’ The Importance of Being Iceland: Travel Essays in Art begins with travels in Iceland. Myles writes about her own writing and research on art and culture in the little island country. From there, it moves in any number of ways, yet always comes back to an affirmation of life for all of its complications and trials.

Myles is an intensely alive and proud woman, lesbian, and artist with a widely varied and beautiful personal history. She ran for president in 1992, lived in a box in Manhattan for a week, was close friends with Allen Ginsberg, and has been lauded as a post-punk and modern poetry hero. Many parts of The Importance of Being Iceland are written in long, fluid, stream of consciousness paragraphs. The writing is lyrical and smooth while also unsettling. Whenever I’d been reading the book for more than twenty minutes at a time, I felt like I was emerging from a dream.

Included in the book is an interview with Daniel Day-Lewis, an actor well known for his intense need to dive into a role and be in character constantly during a shoot. The two seemed well-suited to each other. Myles seems to live life with an intensity and awareness that others can’t or perhaps don’t. We hear about her time with a therapist, with lovers, and with family, but it is not a memoir in any traditional sense of the word. She discusses art, poetry, literature, and beauty, though it is not a set of critical essays.

The book has an intense amount of detail and incredible storytelling. Life and its varied experiences (including a Björk concert, flossing your teeth, and menopause) are examined and celebrated. The Importance of Being Iceland is profound and passionate. We are never forced to think a certain way about anything; Myles simply introduces us to her way of thinking and details her reasoning for why she thinks that way.

Written by: Kristin Conard, October 10th 2009

My Soul To Take: A Novel of Iceland

admin — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0000

By Yrsa Sigurdardóttir

Morrow

Set in Iceland, My Soul To Take centers around attorney and single mom Thóra, whose chaotic personal life gets even more complicated after a client is suspected of murder. A badly beaten body is found on the beach near her client's new age resort, shattering the peaceful idyll it is known for—or is it?

The deeper practical Thóra digs into local lore, the less she is sure that the place is not cursed. Are the ghosts of dead babies really crying outside her window at the resort? And how does one explain the Nazi memorabilia found in the building's basement? If this sounds like a plot line that is absurdly strung together—well, it is.

My Soul To Take is definitely a page-turner, and Sigurdardóttir is quite talented at creating suspense. However, as much as you want to find out what happens next, you can't help wondering a) if the story flow isn't a bit ridiculous at times and b) why, aside from Thóra, there is virtually no character development.

While the author does make attempts to flesh out a few side plots—among them, the fact that Thóra is becoming a grandmother before she's forty because of her teenage son's irresponsibility and the secret tragedies that one family harbors, largely because of mental illness that is never treated or discussed—the attempts seem half-hearted at best. Several characters who seem to have potential when they are introduced—such as Thóra's new boyfriend, Matthew, who has traveled from Germany to help her solve the case—are hardly given a second thought. Although it's mildly amusing that Matthew is essentially treated like a sex object, it's that much more unbelievable when Thóra muses to herself that she might be falling in love with him.

What's also disappointing is that although the book is touted as "a novel of Iceland," there is very little description of the country's beautiful landscape or local customs. That said, if you're looking for a quick read for a plane flight or long car ride, this might be a good choice. Sigurdardóttir reminded me of an Icelandic Sue Grafton.

Written by: M.L. Madison, August 29th 2009