Under the Glacier

by Halldór Laxness | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingrainbow3wing of Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on 10/5/2019
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4 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingrainbow3wing from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, October 5, 2019
Book burble: “ A marvellous novel about the most ambitious questions… It is also the funniest book ever written” –Susan Sontag, from the introduction

Nobel laureate Halldór Laxness's Under the Glacier is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, a wryly provocative novel at once earthy and otherworldly. At its outset, the Bishop of Iceland dispatches a young emissary to investigate certain charges against the pastor at Snæfells Glacier, who, among other things, appears to have given up burying the dead. But once he arrives, the emissary finds that this dereliction counts only as a mild eccentricity in a community that regards itself as the center of the world and where Creation itself is a work in progress.

What is the emissary to make, for example, of the boarded-up church? What about the mysterious building that has sprung up alongside it? Or the fact that Pastor Primus spends most of his time shoeing horses? Or that his wife, Ua (pronounced 'ooh-a,' which is what men invariably sputter upon seeing her), is rumored never to have bathed, eaten, or slept? Piling improbability on top of improbability, Under the Glacier overflows with comedy both wild and deadpan as it conjures a phantasmagoria as beguiling as it is profound.

“If there were any justice in the literary world . . . this amazing little volume would inspire a cult following. . . . Under the Glacier is hilarious. . . . A luminous tale of timeless mythic profundity.” –Salon

UNDER THE GLACIER - HALLDÓR LAXNESS (1968) (Trans: Magnus Magnusson 1972) (Intro: Susan Sontag 2004) | ISBN: 9781400034413 (US PB) | Publisher: Vintage (Mar 2005) | Cover design: Ingsu Liu | Cover painting: Lousia Mattiasdottir / Courtsey Salander-O’Reilly Galleries, New York
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EDITED: Sunday 10 March 2024 --- It seems I only wrote a registration journal entry (JE) but no review or release JE's. Perhaps I was in a rush? I distinctly recall loving the painting on the books cover, being delighted the book was a modern Icelandic classic, being in fits of frustration puzzling over the content, and being mystified that Susan Sontag found it funny. I wish I'd loved it but it didn't connect with my head.

Journal Entry 2 by wingDelphi_Readerwing at Delphi - Δελφοί , Fokida Greece on Tuesday, November 12, 2019
I received this book as part of an amazing parcel sent to me from rainbow3, through the Book&Bookmark Sweepstakes!

Tons of amazing bookmarks, booklabels, release bags and stickers, a pencil case, a handy reusable mesh bag, two books, all wrapped up in a very beautiful parcel came my way today! The photo doesn't do justice to this brilliant treasure trove.

Thank you very much for the thought and effort you put into preparing and sending this great parcel rainbow3! All the items are fabulous while both the books are new to me and seem very interesting! What a treat!

Journal Entry 3 by wingDelphi_Readerwing at Delphi - Δελφοί , Fokida Greece on Wednesday, December 4, 2019
This was a quick and very enjoyable read. To be honest I find it hard to describe. Sometimes I felt some things were lost in translation or the dialogues/plot went so surreal that I wasn't sure what I was reading, but I often laughed out loud and I had a good time reading the book! Very original and pleasant!

Thank you once again rainbow3 for sharing!

Journal Entry 4 by wingDelphi_Readerwing at First Sentences VBB, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Monday, May 18, 2020

Released 3 yrs ago (5/19/2020 UTC) at First Sentences VBB, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Under the Glacier is travelling again, now to meet the person who chose it through the First Sentences Virtual Bookbox—Round 18!

And then... who knows?
Good Luck little book and Don't forget to write your news from time to time!

First Sentence: The bishop summoned the undersigned to his presence yesterday evening.

Journal Entry 5 by wingBookworm-ladywing at Madrid, Madrid Spain on Wednesday, June 24, 2020
And here it is!!
I am quite intrigued about the posts about it, so I'm looking forward to reading it.
Thanks for the cute bookmark! :)

Journal Entry 6 by wingBookworm-ladywing at Madrid, Madrid Spain on Sunday, October 3, 2021
Reserved for Greenbadger's Alphabet VBB.

Journal Entry 7 by wingBookworm-ladywing at Madrid, Madrid Spain on Monday, October 4, 2021
Reserved for rahar109, who picked it from the Alphabet VBB.

Journal Entry 8 by wingBookworm-ladywing at Madrid, Madrid Spain on Friday, October 8, 2021

Released 2 yrs ago (10/8/2021 UTC) at Madrid, Madrid Spain

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent today to rahar109, who picked it from the Alphabet VBB.
Enjoy! :)

Journal Entry 9 by wingrahar109wing at Ash Vale, Surrey United Kingdom on Sunday, October 17, 2021
Arrived safely in the post.
Thank you.

Journal Entry 10 by wingrahar109wing at Ash Vale, Surrey United Kingdom on Saturday, March 9, 2024
What a weird book!
One minute I wanted to hurl it as far as possible, the next I wanted to read on to see what happenes next. I still can't decide whether or not I liked it. Hopefully the next reader will cope better!

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