When I travel I usually try to read about the city or country I’m going to, and not just travel books, but fiction either written by authors from the country or books set in that place.
For our recent trip I decided to take Independent People by Halldór Laxness with me on the road. I’d read it mainly in the evenings after we’d arrived to our guesthouse, but I always had it near me when we were in the car. We’d stop countless times to take pictures and usually my husband would take a while with the picture taking, setting up a tripod, etc. so after I was done with my picture taking, I’d either sit on a nearby bench, stone, in the car, wherever, marvel at the beautiful scenery in front of me and sometimes I’d read a bit in my book.
Independent People is a sweeping story about an ordinary sheep farmer who is anything but ordinary in his quest to be an independent man and not be beholden to anyone. This strong stance of his of course will not endear him to his wife, his daughter or other farmers. I thought sometimes he took things too far and didn’t acknowledge how his quest for independence also affected those near to him but Bjartur is a memorable character because of this.
The other aspect I really liked about the story was how there was a touch of mysticism and things magical that are interwoven in the story. This is a long novel and very much about description of the sheep, the croft, the valleys and I don’t know if I necessarily would have enjoyed it as much if I hadn’t been in the land where it is set. But let me offer you some quotes and pictures and you’ll see why this book really grabbed me as I imagined I was seeing some of the places he described in the book.
“On a knoll in the marshes stand the ruins of an old croft-house.”
“The hillsides, the dingles, the waterfalls, and the mountains are all friends of his childhood, and never to be forgotten. They are a grand and inspiring sight, some of our mountains.”
“Gvendur of Summerhouses was in town with money in his pocket, a hundred crowns, a thousand, maybe more, and about to take a ship across the Atlantic to see his relations, prosperous gentlefolk.”
“The mirror-like lake and the smoothly flowing river gleamed and sparkled with a silvery, entrancing radiance. The Blue Fells lay gazing up in rapture up at their heaven, as if they had nothing in common with this world.”
I hope I’m not boring you with tons of pictures from my travels. There’s still many more but I may just have to set up a slide show or something. Anyway, how about you, do you try to read books of the places you travel to as well?
What beautiful pictures, Iliana! Now I’m intrigued with Independent People! 😛
What a wonderful idea!! And such stunning pictures; they’re anything but boring!
wowwwwwwwww! The author must have sat at these places and thought of those words right? It is so like he is describing those b’ful pictures for you!
I love this idea! I think I should do this as well 🙂 🙂
No.. no … didn’t get bored on the contrary I think your husband has a GREAT talent with the Camera! What lovely pics 🙂
Please let him know… and I would not mind seeing more pics and more reviews like these 🙂
Gorgeous photos and not boring me at all – keep ’em coming! I’ve had a copy of Independent People for a few years now but still haven’t read it. That darn fear of chunksters. How fun to read it while you were in Iceland!
I don’t always but I do often try to read books of the places I travel. We haven’t done much travelling lately but last year reading Black Rain before visiting Hiroshima certainly made the trip more memorable.
What a great idea! Loved the pictures and how well they fit with the post!
Keep the pictures coming! I love them.
Boring? Heck no…absolutely love seeing them. These pictures are wonderful, keep sharing.
What great ideas–pictures with quotes and to read about the places you’re traveling! Keeping both in mind for the future!
Melody – Thank you so much. It did help that the scenery was gorgeous 🙂
Eva – Thank you! Now I want to do more book reviews in pictures but then that would mean more traveling which I’m all for but I guess I need to win the lottery! haha…
Veens – You should give it a try! You never know. And, thank you so much for the compliments but these are actually my pictures. My husband’s pictures are absolutely stunning. He’s going to put together a slide show of his pictures I believe so maybe I’ll get a chance to show you guys those! 🙂
tanabata – It does make the place and the book more memorable doesn’t it? Honestly I’m not sure I would have picked up Independent People had it not been for our trip to Iceland. And, like I said, if don’t know that I would have savored it as much if I hadn’t seen some of Iceland.
Marg – It helps that Laxness does a lot of describing in that book 🙂
aka nik – I’ve got tons more so let’s see what I can come up with!
Carl V. – Thank you so much! I haven’t updated my pictures file here on my blog but definitely need to and once I get them all ready I’ll let you guys know.
Tiffany – It’s pretty fun to do and I’m going to try and keep that in mind for future travels! 🙂
I love the photographs! I do love reading books that are set in the places I travel. It somehow opens up things in a way that your standard travel guide doesn’t do. It makes the place somehow feel more personal. I especially like reading novels that took place a long time ago. Like reading Northanger Abbey when in Bath, remember that?!!
I am definitely enjoying the photos. I do often try to read something about or set in the place I’m going. It doesn’t always work out, but it can make travel more meaningful.
This sounds like a great book and I love this review in pictures.
Very cool! I love the review in pictures!
I LOVE how you incorporated the pictures in your review! I read The Fish Can Sing by Halldór Laxness a few years ago and I’ve been meaning to read more by him ever since. I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for Independent People.
I don’t think I could ge tired of your photos or hearing about your trip! I was expecting though to see one photo of you reading the book with sheep in the background or something 😉
You did an amazing job with working those photos into your review. I really want to read that book…excellent job by you and thanks so much
Christine – Oh I so remember that girl. Actually I think that’s what started my wish to read something from the place. Can you believe it’s been so long since that summer? We should plan another Girl’s European Vacation! 🙂
Tara – It really does make the trip more memorable doesn’t it? I think I tend to remember the novels more when I get to do that.
Serena – It was a good book. Long but worth it and just an interesting view on a different place and time.
Amy Reads Good Books – Thank you! 🙂
Nymeth – I definitely want to read another of his books and am curious if they are similar. I wonder if he incorporates Icelandic legends in particular like he did in this one.
Stefanie – Ah, the sheep – I so should post some pics of sheep! They were everywhere 🙂
Diane – Thank you! I had a good time putting this together and now I want to do it again with another book but I guess that means I need to plan another trip 🙂
Glad to find another Laxness reader! All of his books are very good, most are tremendous. Here is a link to his titles available in English:
http://flippistarchives.blogspot.com/2007/12/top-ten-laxness-in-translation.html
The Fish Can Sing is perhaps the most enjoyable.
Definitely not boring photos Iliana! Am loving vicariously travelling through them – keep them coming!
Wow – those pictures are amazing. Sounds like an interesting book that I need to check out. When I was younger & wanted to be so independent, my dad would tell me the people who declare how independent they are, are the ones who need others the most, and that it takes a stronger person to reach out for help.
Professor Batty – I love your list! Thank you so much for leaving me a link. I probably won’t pick up another Laxness book just yet as I like to space out my authors a bit but I definitely want to read more by him!
Karen – Thank you! And, you are getting ready for a trip right? You’ll have to post some pics!
Lisa from Lisas yarns – Thank you so much. I love what your dad said and actually I’m thinking of that and how it relates to the book. I can see that our hero should have accepted help at times because being too independent cost him a lot.
You could never bore me with your gorgeous photos!! What a great idea to post them with quotes from the book. They go together perfectly!
I don’t usually read books about the location I’m visiting until after I’ve been there. It’s fun to revisit the area once I’m home. I especially love to read about the Pacific Northwest. Which reminds me. I still have a couple of books set in that area that I bought two years ago! Time to read them, don’t you think? 😉
I cannot with you more! Travelogues and books set in the places of my destinations are great sources to discovering points of interests that are off the beaten path! My companion of the trip to Cambodia was a book called The Civilization of Angkor, which had been an amazing reference to the history and architecture of the ruins.
Lovely photos. Do keep sharing. Too bad we can’t always visit the places we read about–that would be fun. I have a book by Laxnor–it’s nice to have visuals to go along with it!
What beautiful pictures! You’re not boring me at all with them. Making me jealous maybe, but bored no. ;P