Halldór Laxness
Vintage Classics
2022 (1931)
560
Paperback
Modern Classics
Xmas Gift
Late one snowy midwinter night, in a remote Icelandic fishing village, a penniless woman arrives by boat. She comes with her daughter, the young but gutsy Salka Valka. The two must forge a life in this remote place, where everyone is at the mercy of a single wealthy merchant, and where everything revolves around fish. After her mother's tragic death, Salka grows into a fiercely independent-minded adult - cutting off her hair, educating herself and becoming an advocate for the town's working class. A coming-of-age story, a feminist tale, a lament for Iceland's poor - this is the funny, tender, epic story of Salka Valka.
I have read nearly all of Laxness' books available in English (I think I only have one more to go), and Salka Valka was another great story. While perhaps not my favourite among Laxness' works, I thought it was a stunning portrayal of a small community who are isolated at first but then find themselves caught up in events of the wider world. Salka was a compelling heroine; although, her taste in men was so appalling I wanted to try to talk some sense into her a number of times. Nonetheless, she was a fierce and wonderfully crafted character who leapt out from the page. Between the vividness of the characters and the wonderful depiction of the village and its workings, this book created a gripping narrative that held my attention to the end, even when I was reading while sick and not feeling at my best. I am giving it 4.5 stars.
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