Questions and background links for Independent People discussions

Here are some questions some of our INL Reads! readers have posed about our first book, Independent People.

W.D. Valgardson blogs on Laxness and Independent People

This is a wonderful meditation on Laxness, the nature of genius, the novel “Independent People,” and Icelandic society’s uneasy relationship with all of the above. It is a great opening to formulating your own thoughts or discussions on the novel.

http://wdvalgardsonkaffihus.blogspot.com/2011/10/independent-people-for-christmas.html


An Icelandic “Lord’s Prayer”

At a moment in “Independent People,” when the community of sheep farmers was faced with another death, they searched for a way to honor the deceased. They passed around a borrowed copy of Hallgrimur Pjetursson’s “Passion Hymns,” only to discover that none in their party attend church frequently enough to know the tune of the chosen hymn. Reaching deeper into memory, Old Thorthur of Nithurkot was asked to recite the “Lord’s Prayer.”

Great Passages in “Independent People”

As you read “Independent People,” it is impossible to not be impressed with Laxness’ incredible use of language and imagery, which holds true even in translation. I hold up the following passage from the J.A. Thompson translation where Bjartur of Summerhouses lays out his philosophy of life for the visitors to his humble turfhouse.

Thoughts on the first INL Reads! launch

INL READS
by Gwen Mann

Halldor Laxness’s Independent People, the book chosen by the INL Reads! organizing committee is the first book to be read in the series by Icelanders and anyone else who loves Icelandic literature. We’ll then discuss the book on line, in local  Icelandic clubs and any other way that the conversation should go.

INL Reads! Book Selection Announced at the INL/NA Convention

This is the announcement text for INL Reads! as presented at the INL of NA Convention in Edmonton:

Icelandic National League of North America Reads!

The Icelandic League of North America (inlofna.org) is interested in all things Icelandic. This blog is narrowing that focus, by looking for the book (fiction or non-fiction) that will be the initial work in our INL Reads project.