An Afternoon With Icelandic Authors
Katrine & Elizabeth Handley-Derry, Youth Directors ICCT.
On December 5th, the Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto (ICCT) had its first in-person event in almost two years. Icelandic writer/director Andri Snær Magnason, Icelandic writer and poet Thora Hjörleifsdóttir, and Icelandic writer Einar Kárason joined ICCT members at the home of our president, Gwen Sigrid Morgan. It was exciting to be together and to hear such esteemed guests of Inspired by Iceland up close and personal.
Photo Credits: Elizabeth Handley-Derry and Peter Norman
Each author spoke about their latest novel. Andri Snær shared his inspiration for On Time and Water, a poignant book that highlights the fragility of our planet and the importance of protecting our natural habitats. He recounted how we are all connected to the Earth and to each other through our stories.
Thora talked about her start in writing as a poet and her book Magma, which focuses on turbulent relationships between a younger woman and older man. To Icelanders, Magma has two meanings: one referring to the molten lava beneath the Earth, and the other to peoples’ deep-seated secrets and internal struggles. These themes play out in Thora’s novel which is listed in Oprah’s 2021 Book Club recommendation.
Einar has been a full-time writer since 1978. He started his career with poetry in literary magazines from 1978 to 1980. In 1981 he published his first novel. Einar spoke about his latest novel, published in 2017, Stormfuglar (Stormbirds), and about the connections between Iceland and Newfoundland through the desperate struggle of Icelandic fishermen.
Seeing each other and hearing from great writers was such a treat.
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