Wednesday, December 08, 2010

The Blue Fox by Sjon

I'm somewhat at a loss to describe The Blue Fox.  It doesn't fit neatly into any one genre.   Fairy Tale, Fable, Myth, Folk Lore, Revenge Tale...

Very short and poetic (the Icelandic author is a poet and lyricist), the book reads quickly and leaves you thinking.  The setting is Iceland in 1883.



Other reviews:  Beauty Is a Sleeping Cat,   Stuck in a Book


Fiction.  Fairy Tale?  2004.  112 pages.
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6 comments:

  1. IlianaDecember 08, 2010 4:44 PM

    This sounds interesting - in a good way! I wonder if that is a "typical" style of writing for Icelandic authors? I read Independent People by Halldor Laxness and it's a long novel but it incorporated what I'd call magical realism, family drama, history, it was all over.

    I'll have to keep this one in mind!

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  2. CarolineDecember 08, 2010 11:20 PM

    I had to look up quite a few things after reading it. There were so many unanswered questions but it's fascinating still. I think Illiana has a point. Iceland is the oly country that I know of in which the belief in fairies is part of an official religion. The are Christians as well but they have this belief. I still have to read Laxness. But there are some crome and other very modern writers who depict another, a very harsh reality.

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  3. jenclairDecember 09, 2010 8:04 AM

    Iliana - It is an interesting little book. This is my first Icelandic author, but I think the fact that Sjon is a poet has a large influence on both style and content.

    Caroline - I agree about the unanswered questions. I'd like to try another Icelandic author. Any suggestions?

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  4. CarolineDecember 09, 2010 12:10 PM

    I really liked Einar Mar Gudmundsson's Angels of the Universe. I haven't tried Laxness, he is probably very good. If you like crime I reviewed Indriadson not long ago. A bit like Mankell only bleaker. Not magical at all.

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  5. jenclairDecember 10, 2010 7:19 AM

    Thanks, Caroline! I looked for Indriadson at the library, but no copies. I'll look for the others!

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  6. Historical RomanceDecember 21, 2010 10:16 PM

    Thanks for your post on this book! I have always been fascinated by Iceland, but know little to nothing about it. I will have to check this one out, plus I love folklore/fairy tales.

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