4.5 out of 5 stars
Iceland is a place of ice and fire, it has a brief summer before the long winter draws in again and the winter storms bring the snow back. It sits above two of the tectonic plates and this means there are continuous earthquakes and volcanos. The landscape is devoid of trees and it can look alien in appearance, I have seen amazing photos of the black sand beaches there.
She was only supposed to be in Iceland for a week or so, but when the anthropologist and filmmaker, Sarah Thomas went there in 2008, little did she know that she would be for another five years. She was seduced by its bleak and beautiful landscapes and whilst that was hooking her in, she fell in love.
She makes a home there, learning the language and the culture and understanding that the Icelandic people have a unique perspective on the world and life. They made her welcome, but being an outsider meant that it was a struggle at times especially when Bjarni was working on a trawler.
A significant part of the book is her relationship with Bjarni, he is like the island she has chosen to live on, slightly strange and enigmatic and their relationship builds with intensity until the point where it unravels. She writes with both passion and awe about the elemental place that she has chosen to live. There was something touching about this beautifully written travel memoir that really got to me, I felt that I saw the people and the place through different eyes with her insight. Well worth reading.
Ooh, a must-read for me and how did I not know about it?? And she learns the language (unlike Sarah Moss, still cross about that years on). As you know, I love Iceland and am looking forward to returning soon, and love reading about it, too.
I am amazed that you haven’t heard of it!