The novel Ósjálfrátt by Auður Jónsdóttir won Fjöruverðlaunin, the women’s literature award, in the fiction category yesterday. Sagan af klaustrinu á Skriðu by Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir won in the non-fiction category and Randalín og Mundi by Þórdís Gísladóttir in the children’s and young adults category.

The award was presented by Minister of Culture and Education Katrín Jakobsdóttir at a ceremony in Iðnó, Reykjavík. This was the seventh time that Fjöruverðlaunin are presented, ruv.is reports.

The jury concluded that Ósjálfrátt described difficult circumstances with warmth and understanding without being sentimental. The narration is considered honest but respectful.

The Icelandic community and the relationships between women: mothers, sisters, daughters, cousins, grandmothers and granddaughters are central to the story.

In her book of the cloister at Skriða, Steinunn is said to shed light on the lives of people who lived and died within its walls. Their roles and suffering is described sensitively and personally without the author’s views taking over.

Randalín og Mundi, which is Þórdís’s first children’s book, is described as a hilarious and well-written story with humorous illustrations, fun characters and circumstances that are bound to make both children and adults laugh.

Click here to read about the winners of the recent Icelandic Literature Awards.

ESA