Comments on: Independent People http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:39:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: nick s http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183411 nick s Sat, 06 Jan 2007 08:11:53 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183411 <i>I think it has something to do with all those hours of darkness in the winter that give you nothing better to do than write a novel, play chess, or go out drinking and dancing.</i> Quite the opposite, I think: several factors -- the high price of booze, the size of the nation -- mean that Icelanders tend to double or triple up on jobs, making them pretty eclectic. I think it has something to do with all those hours of darkness in the winter that give you nothing better to do than write a novel, play chess, or go out drinking and dancing.

Quite the opposite, I think: several factors—the high price of booze, the size of the nation—mean that Icelanders tend to double or triple up on jobs, making them pretty eclectic.

]]> By: Kenny Easwaran http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183376 Kenny Easwaran Fri, 05 Jan 2007 23:42:04 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183376 Hasn't Iceland also produced a disproportionate share of the world's pop sensations and chess grandmasters? I think it has something to do with all those hours of darkness in the winter that give you nothing better to do than write a novel, play chess, or go out drinking and dancing. The most interesting fact that I remember from my visit there a few years ago was that their surplus of geothermal energy allows them to avoid snowplows - they just run the central hot water pipes under the streets and sidewalks so that snow and ice never build up! And they can heat greenhouses to be a banana exporting nation! Hasn’t Iceland also produced a disproportionate share of the world’s pop sensations and chess grandmasters? I think it has something to do with all those hours of darkness in the winter that give you nothing better to do than write a novel, play chess, or go out drinking and dancing.

The most interesting fact that I remember from my visit there a few years ago was that their surplus of geothermal energy allows them to avoid snowplows – they just run the central hot water pipes under the streets and sidewalks so that snow and ice never build up! And they can heat greenhouses to be a banana exporting nation!

]]> By: strewelpeter http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183305 strewelpeter Fri, 05 Jan 2007 12:40:01 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183305 <i>An Béal Bocht, you’ll be meaning?</i> No! Clearly he means that they shall face the rising sun, or perhaps Amongst Women. An Béal Bocht, you’ll be meaning?

No!
Clearly he means that they shall face the rising sun, or perhaps Amongst Women.

]]> By: Danny Yee http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183273 Danny Yee Thu, 04 Jan 2007 22:57:49 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183273 <blockquote>One of Gudmundson’s book has been translated into Spanish as “Angeles del Universo”.</blockquote> That's also available in English, as <a href="http://dannyreviews.com/h/Angels_Universe.html" rel="nofollow"><i>Angels of the Universe</i></a> (link is to my review). I enjoyed that, though I don't know that it's in the same class as <i>Independent People</i>. The only other Icelandic literature I've read is <a href="http://dannyreviews.com/h/Sagas_Icelanders.html" rel="nofollow">the Icelandic Sagas</a> (actually just the family sagas, Njal's saga among them) and <a href="http://dannyreviews.com/h/McSweeneys_15.html" rel="nofollow">an issue of McSweeney's devoted to Icelandic short fiction</a>. Any more Icelandic reading suggestions?
One of Gudmundson’s book has been translated into Spanish as “Angeles del Universo”.

That’s also available in English, as Angels of the Universe (link is to my review). I enjoyed that, though I don’t know that it’s in the same class as Independent People.

The only other Icelandic literature I’ve read is the Icelandic Sagas (actually just the family sagas, Njal’s saga among them) and an issue of McSweeney’s devoted to Icelandic short fiction.

Any more Icelandic reading suggestions?

]]> By: John Emerson http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183268 John Emerson Thu, 04 Jan 2007 13:03:43 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183268 I'll second the Njal recommendation. It seems far superior to any other European fiction before 1300 except maybe Beowulf. (Chaucer and Boccaccio were later). Perhaps I just like the saga conventions better than the romance conventions -- the fundamental romantic premise of the romances annoys me. I’ll second the Njal recommendation. It seems far superior to any other European fiction before 1300 except maybe Beowulf. (Chaucer and Boccaccio were later). Perhaps I just like the saga conventions better than the romance conventions—the fundamental romantic premise of the romances annoys me.

]]> By: Earle http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183265 Earle Thu, 04 Jan 2007 08:15:22 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183265 nnyhav (post 2) is right about the Icelandic Sagas. In addition to Egil's Saga, Njal's Saga and Grettir's Saga contain some of the most interesting characters (most of whom are real historical figuresfrom the 9th - 11th centuries) I've come across anywhere. It's a pity these works are not better known in the states, especially since the English translations by Magnus Magnusson and others are so accessible. nnyhav (post 2) is right about the Icelandic Sagas. In addition to Egil’s Saga, Njal’s Saga and Grettir’s Saga contain some of the most interesting characters (most of whom are real historical figuresfrom the 9th – 11th centuries) I’ve come across anywhere. It’s a pity these works are not better known in the states, especially since the English translations by Magnus Magnusson and others are so accessible.

]]> By: John Emerson http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183259 John Emerson Thu, 04 Jan 2007 05:13:03 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183259 One of Gudmundson's book has been translated into Spanish as "Angeles del Universo". One of Gudmundson’s book has been translated into Spanish as “Angeles del Universo”.

]]> By: Walt http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183255 Walt Thu, 04 Jan 2007 03:48:33 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183255 Maybe a more efficient procedure would be to retrospectively reassign nationalities? Laxness would make a fine Brazilian. Maybe a more efficient procedure would be to retrospectively reassign nationalities? Laxness would make a fine Brazilian.

]]> By: Mike Hobart http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183253 Mike Hobart Thu, 04 Jan 2007 03:38:47 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183253 I have only read about Laxness previously on the website of the Iceland Daily News. He tended to be mentioned fairly often a few years ago, but I guess he's taken for granted now. Iceland and my home Tasmania have some vague similarities, but we have yet to produce a Nobel prize winner. Of course I haven't finished my third novel yet, so watch this space..... I have only read about Laxness previously on the website of the Iceland Daily News. He tended to be mentioned fairly often a few years ago, but I guess he’s taken for granted now.

Iceland and my home Tasmania have some vague similarities, but we have yet to produce a Nobel prize winner. Of course I haven’t finished my third novel yet, so watch this space…..

]]> By: John Emerson http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183249 John Emerson Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:29:16 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183249 No one should get any more Nobels until China, India, Indonesia, and Brazil get their share. I regret failing mentioning that I also hate the Island of Man, along with all the other island coutries, including Australia whose claims to be a continent are absurdly inflated. No one should get any more Nobels until China, India, Indonesia, and Brazil get their share.

I regret failing mentioning that I also hate the Island of Man, along with all the other island coutries, including Australia whose claims to be a continent are absurdly inflated.

]]> By: trane http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183244 trane Wed, 03 Jan 2007 13:05:30 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183244 If you are interested in further ventures in beautiful poetry-filled Icelandic prose, I would very much recommend Einar Már Gudmundson's "Footsteps in the Sky" [Fótspor á himnum]. Unfortunately and strangely, however, the book is to my knowledge not yet available in English. Therefore my recommendation is more so that you might remember it x years hence when the English translation is available. I would go so far as to say that the Danish translation which I have read is in the top five of books I have read in my own language. If you are interested in further ventures in beautiful poetry-filled Icelandic prose, I would very much recommend Einar Már Gudmundson’s “Footsteps in the Sky” [Fótspor á himnum]. Unfortunately and strangely, however, the book is to my knowledge not yet available in English. Therefore my recommendation is more so that you might remember it x years hence when the English translation is available. I would go so far as to say that the Danish translation which I have read is in the top five of books I have read in my own language.

]]> By: Jamie http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183243 Jamie Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:37:22 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183243 [11] Ah, now I understand why that cozy-looking little Icelandic restaurant over on the west side folded up so quickly. [11] Ah, now I understand why that cozy-looking little Icelandic restaurant over on the west side folded up so quickly.

]]> By: Mrs Tilton http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183242 Mrs Tilton Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:32:30 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183242 Or <i>Artemis Fowl</i>? Or Artemis Fowl?

]]> By: nick s http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183240 nick s Wed, 03 Jan 2007 10:51:27 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183240 <i>And we still have another guy to spare who didn’t win one, but apparently wrote this quite important novel.</i> <i>An Béal Bocht</i>, you'll be meaning? And we still have another guy to spare who didn’t win one, but apparently wrote this quite important novel.

An Béal Bocht, you’ll be meaning?

]]> By: Danny Yee http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183236 Danny Yee Wed, 03 Jan 2007 05:30:20 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/02/independent-people/#comment-183236 I won't repeat myself - check out <a href="http://dannyreviews.com/h/Independent_People.html" rel="nofollow">my review of <i>Independent People</i></a>. I won’t repeat myself – check out my review of Independent People.

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