SJÓN
Iceland
Sjón is an Icelandic novelist and poet born in Reykjavik in 1962. He has won the Literary Prize of the Nordic Literature Council (the Nordic equivalent of the Man Booker Prize) for his novel "The Blue Fox", and his novel "From the Mouth of the Whale" was shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. He won the Icelandic Literary Prize for his novel "Moonstone: The Boy Who Never Was". As a poet, librettist and lyricist, he has published nine books of poetry, four operetta librettos and has written lyrics for various musicians. In 2001, he was nominated for an Oscar for Björk’s songs from Lars von Trier's "Dancer in the Dark". His novels have been published in 35 languages. He is the President of the Icelandic PEN Center. He lives in Reykjavik with his wife and two children.
KORNGULT HÁR, GRÁ AUGU (RED MILK)
Translation: Gjurgjica Ilieva
The novel, which is a kind of biography and mystery, tells the story of Gunnar Kampen, the founder of the Icelandic anti-Semitic nationalist party that was connected with a wide network of related groups around the world. As a young boy, Gunnar was interested in people and current issues at home and abroad. He lives with his caring mother, his two sisters and his brother, who shower him with love and care, and he himself is a caring brother and son. But in the spring of 1958, he founded the anti-Semitic political party of nationalists and began contributing to the fast-growing world organization of neo-Nazis.
In a text that oscillates from poetic images from childhood to dark thoughts, Sion examines the protagonist's life course. At the same time, the question arises as to whether Gunnar Kampen is as simple as it seems at first glance. A provocative novel about the mysterious Icelandic neo-Nazi and the global obsession with this doctrine. A masterfully written masterpiece that will haunt you for a long time.
Other books in Macedonian:
From the Mouth of the Whale
Translation: Gjurgjica Ilieva
From the Mouth of the Whale is an Icelandic saga for the modern age. The action takes place in 1635. Iceland is a world darkened by superstition, poverty and cruelty. Scholars admire the horn of a unicorn, poverty secretly worships the Virgin, and books and people end up being burned at the stake. Sjon introduces us to Jonas Palmasson, a poet and self-taught healer, exiled to a desert island for heretical behavior, where he recalls his gift for curing "female diseases", the exorcism of a ghost on the distant coast of Snjafjol, the maddened massacre of innocent Basques whalers by local villagers, as well as the death of three of his children. Palmason's story resonates across centuries and cultures, it is an epic story through which we see the world through different eyes.
"The Blue Fox
Translation: Gjurgjica Ilieva
The cold landscape of Iceland is the setting for this magical story, which is part mystery, part fairy tale. Basically the novel follows two loosely connected stories over a few days in 1883. Baldur Skagason is on a hunt and is following an elusive fox. Naturalist Fridrik Fridriksson struggles to provide a future for his protégé, a young woman with Down syndrome whom he rescued from a shipwreck several years ago.
The human characters and the blue fox are not only deeply connected, but equally fascinating because of what they represent and the way they affect each other.
The uniqueness of "The Blue Fox" lies in the poetic language and in the way the story is built, scene by scene. The effect is almost hypnotic. You'll read it wishing it wouldn't end, though a subtle twist at the end will bring the lines together smoothly and cleverly.
The winner of the Nordic Booker Prize is the perfect introduction to a world-class literary talent.