Guðberg Bergsson’s novella Missir (Loss) was recently published in French translation as Deuil. The book, translated by Eric Boury, is published by Métailié and dedicated to “the generation of eternal youth.”

The book, described as a bleak narrative, deals with ageing and the abundance of new life in spring. Critic Egill Helgason was among those to praise the work. “A beautifully written work... restrained in its description of an individual who must come to terms with the fact that it’s all over... The agenda—describing the loneliness and decline of a man’s twilight years—is accomplished respectively and in good taste,” he said.

Click here for more information in French.

The Story of the Blue Planet, a children’s book by Andri Snær, was also recently released in English. Both books received positive reviews in Village Voice and Publishers Weekly, and the New York Times, respectively.

Other recent releases of Icelandic books in English include Viktor Arnar Ingólfsson’s crime stories Engin spor (English title: House of Evidence) and Season of Witch by Árni Þórarinsson.

Also, former Iceland Review features writer and co-writer of the film A Little Trip to Heaven Edward Weinman recently released his debut novel, thriller The Ring Road. Described by the author as a blend of crime and dark fantasy, the book was named a Nook First Pick by Barnes & Noble.

In a Daily Life column published earlier this week, Edward summarized the plot: “The story takes place after a glacial volcano awakens with a series of eruptions, stranding ex-cop Hobson at 66° North where human behavior is as unpredictable as the weather. Hobson’s quickly ensnared in a bizarre murder investigation involving Gummi, a road-weary homicide detective; Jon Kari, an amoral entrepreneur; Snorri, a brutal pimp; and Úlfar, a homicidal sheep farmer.”

The book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and at theroguereader.com

ZR