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The Fish Can Sing
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
19 posts | 3 read | 13 to read
The Fish Can Sing is one of Nobel Prize winner Halldr Laxnesss most beloved novels, a poignant coming-of-age tale marked with his peculiar blend of light irony and dark humor. The orphan Alfgrimur has spent an idyllic childhood sheltered in the simple turf cottage of a generous and eccentric elderly couple. Alfgrimur dreams only of becoming a fisherman like his adoptive grandfather, until he meets Iceland's biggest celebrity. The opera singer Gardar Holms international fame is a source of tremendous pride to tiny, insecure Iceland, though no one there has ever heard him sing. A mysterious man who mostly avoids his homeland and repeatedly fails to perform for his adoring countrymen, Gardar takes a particular interest in Alfgrimurs budding musical talent and urges him to seek out the world beyond the one he knows and loves. But as Alfgrimur discovers that Gardar is not what he seems, he begins to confront the challenge of finding his own path without turning his back on where he came from. From the Trade Paperback edition.
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Emilymdxn
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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All feeling very grey in England today. New March 2020 style strict lockdown, which makes me feel blah even though it‘s not a big legislative change from where we were before. Reading poignant Icelandic novels in the dark to fit personal and National mood ☔️

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MariaW
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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Not only did I visit one museum of famous Icelandic writers, but two! This is the actual home of Halldor Laxness, which was transformed into a museum. Some of the rooms haven‘t been touched since he died. #halldorlaxness #laxness #iceland #icelandiclit #icelandicliterature

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WanderingBookaneer
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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All the books I wanted to read while aboard the Rotterdam. I‘ll probably borrow them from the bookstore later.

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BookishMe
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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Mehso-so

Finally I completed #Iceland for #readaroundtheworld
& #LitWorld2018GB, on a quick trip to library in town, with view of lush greenery through glass walls.
The meandering tales surrounding the central characters (aptly described 'weird novel' on cover) were too disjointed for me. The bucolic setting was beautifully painted tho. #FinishingFebruary 4

Now, off to #Turkey with Vida & traipse thru other faraway #foreign places. #ReadingResolutions

GatheringBooks oooh. loving that heart of green!! 6y
BookishMe @GatheringBooks Yes yes 😍😍 we are so blessed with such green pockets all over the tiny island 6y
27 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BookishMe
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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#Iceland #titles for #readaroundtheworld turned up mostly #Nordic crime thrillers. Not keen on a thriller for now and Laxness seemed suitable.

Started Independent People earlier. Intrigued by Icelandic folklore, and 'verdant meadows'. But easily distracted me will take ages to complete the epic novel.
Then his other book on Overdrive captivated me with the 1st chapter. Reserved a paperback to set on a shorter journey with this #Icelandic tale

GatheringBooks woohoo!! perfect for #LitVoyage2018GB too! :) 6y
BookishMe @GatheringBooks ABSOLUTELY!! 6y
BookwormM I really enjoyed Independent People and plan to read more Laxness 6y
BookishMe @BookwormM I too hope to read more of his books. 6y
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Bibliogeekery
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
Pickpick

This book took me a long time to read and isn't something I ever would have picked up if I wasn't in Iceland. It was really a lovely little story of an Icelandic community told through a young man's narration. It's whimsical at times, stark at others. It was a great book to chip away at while traveling through Iceland.

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Bibliogeekery
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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Iceland 😍!

Robothugs 😻😻😻 7y
70 likes2 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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Iceland 😍!

Alfoster So pretty!😍 7y
julesG 🌈😍 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 💕 7y
See All 7 Comments
Librarianaut Beautiful! 7y
moranadatter Wow! 7y
mjdowens Gorgeous 7y
charissharpe Stunning 💚 7y
88 likes7 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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Iceland 😍!! (Can't stop posting these - sorry!)

saresmoore Don't apologize! This is incredible! 7y
stargazerblue49 So beautiful 😍 7y
Laalaleighh 😻😻😻 7y
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julesG Don't apologize. Don't stop! 7y
DiruVamp That doesn't even look real!! Please post more we are all living through you right now haha 💜 7y
JenReadsAlot Omg that's amazing!! 7y
valeriegeary Are you sure this isn't heaven? 😄😍 7y
mjdowens Wow and breathtaking! 7y
AbstractMonica Holy Cow!!! Amazing 😻😻😻 7y
Dragon 😍 so beautiful! 7y
Jaimelire Such a gorgeous place. I wanted to go with my family. Your pictures are making the trip closer to reality...temptation! 7y
charissharpe Oh wow, what a beautiful place! 7y
91 likes12 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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I saw this puffin today on a cliff! Iceland 😍!!

saresmoore OH MY GOODNESS! How neat! 7y
Megabooks So cool!! 7y
OrangeMooseReads 😍 awesome! 7y
See All 8 Comments
LeahBergen Love! 7y
Ms.Story 😍 7y
ApoptyGina69 Incredible! Great photo. 7y
Dragon Wow! What a lovely country! 7y
Crystalblu A real Puffin! 7y
87 likes8 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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Reading in my beautiful Airbnb 😍📚! Iceland ❤️

BooksForEmpathy So gorgeous! 7y
Alfoster Wowie😍😀👏👏 7y
JSW You are really selling me on Iceland for vacation!! 7y
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Soubhiville Oh wow! Enjoy! 7y
DebinHawaii That is so gorgeous! 💚 7y
valeriegeary Wowzer! 😍 7y
Abailliekaras Stunning! 😍 7y
JacqMac Beautiful! 💕 7y
Jaimelire Heavenly 7y
Jabberwocky Wow. Just wow. 7y
Merethebookgal Hope you have so much fun!! 7y
mrozzz 😍😍😍 what an amazing reading spot 😏 7y
88 likes1 stack add12 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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Iceland 😍

Dragon So pretty 😀 7y
69 likes1 comment
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Bibliogeekery
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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Reading on the side of a 🌋 volcano with a beautiful view! Iceland for the win!

morgan_krahn So jealous!!! 7y
britt_brooke Stunning!! 7y
LeahBergen 😍😍 7y
71 likes3 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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Iceland! 😍

LeahBergen Wow! 7y
batsy Just spectacular. 7y
Dragon Great photo! 🐉 7y
68 likes3 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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Iceland. Could you be any more charming?? This is the view from my air bnb!

ValerieAndBooks Wow, amazing!! 7y
63 likes1 comment
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Bibliogeekery
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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Bookstore in Reykjavik 😍📚!

coffeewithbooks Beautiful ❤️📚 7y
That-Bookish-Hiker Amazing. 😍 7y
tea.n.books So jealous!! 😍📚 7y
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KassKho Iceland has the most bookstores per capita! So get your fill! 7y
Megabooks 😎😎 7y
My_novel_obsession ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😍 7y
Scorpioseah Wow 🤗 7y
mjdowens 👍👏. Beautiful 7y
janeycanuck We went in to that bookshop when we were there last year! Such a great store 😊 7y
112 likes10 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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This place is SO gorgeous!!! 😍Iceland!

julesG Looks like someone had deer for lunch. Iceland must be spectacular, how long are you staying? 7y
Nonaroo 😍😍😍 It is one of the places I want to visit most. 7y
CoffeeAndABook Wow - amazing!!! 7y
See All 8 Comments
Bibliogeekery @julesG a week! Wish it was so much longer! 7y
Redwritinghood My husband and I have been considering a trip there for awhile. Your posts are motivating me to finally do it! 7y
Bibliogeekery @Redwritinghood it's gorgeous here! Everything is SO expensive though. That's the only thing. 7y
LeahBergen Wow!! ❤️ 7y
BooksForEmpathy Awww enjoy it. Looks like your Airbnb is amazing!! 7y
82 likes1 stack add8 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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Greenland from the plane. Reading this Iceland classic in anticipation of my trip!

britt_brooke Stunning!! 7y
LeeRHarry Enjoy! 7y
LauraBeth Beautiful!! 7y
Laura317 😍😍😍 7y
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Kkhalifeh
The Fish Can Sing | Halldor Laxness
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"A wise man once said that next to losing its mother, there is nothing more healthy for a child than to lose its father." That is a hell of an opening line!