Translation: Högna Sól Þorkelsdóttir

It’s good to put away your textbooks occasionally and read for fun, and December is an excellent time to cuddle up under a blanket with a good book and some hot chocolate. Iceland is known for being a nation of book lovers, and I would like to go over the books that topped the 2019 bestseller lists as well as my favorite authors, since this year's Christmas book flood will soon be upon us. Those who are interested can see new and soon-to-be-released books on the publishers’ websites and look at the bestseller lists. I also want to remind people of the student bookshop, Bóksala Stúdenta, which has been run by Student Services (Félagsstofnun Stúdenta) since it was founded in 1968. The bookshop is open to everyone, students as well as others, and there is a great selection of books, everything from children’s books to novels to textbooks and poetry. The atmosphere is cozy and the student coffeeshop gives you a comfortable spot to sit down and browse through books and magazines.

Favorite Authors

Every year we wait in anticipation for the Christmas book flood, and many people have a favorite author whose works are on their wish list every year. Personally, I have read all of Arnaldur’s and Yrsa’s books and am also a loyal fan of Lee Child’s thriller series about Jack Ryan’s escapades on his travels around the United States. For a bit of a sweeter read, I recommend Jenny Colgan, whose books are very romantic and take place in the British countryside. Some of them are even centered around Christmas.

I’m a creature of habit when it comes to the authors I read, but I changed it up a bit and read Cuck by Dóri DNA. Sadly, I cannot recommend it, although he can be great in many other things he does. I also don’t care much for Stefán Máni’s books, but my friend recommends him. Everyone's taste is different, and you can’t completely rely on recommendations.

Children's literature

The play Mamma Klikk, adapted from the book of the same name by Gunnar Helgason, was hilarious. I find him to be a very fun children’s author and his books have repeatedly landed on the bestseller list. My eight-year-old son and his classmates have been lucky to have their teacher read to them during their snack breaks. My son has also read Ævar the scientist’s books and enjoyed them, but his favorite books are the Whodunit Detective Agency books by Martin Widmark and Helena Willis. I read The Story of the Blue Planet by Andri Snær as a child and I still have the book. I haven’t yet read more of his books, but I’m looking forward to doing so. Bergrún Iris’ children’s books are also worth mentioning. They are beautifully illustrated and have a good message on topics like friendship.

What books will make the bestseller list in 2020?

It’s fun to predict what authors will be on the bestseller list for the year 2020. The authors I read the most are usually at the top, Arnaldur and Yrsa, and will undoubtedly stay there. I will at least preorder a copy of Arnaldur’s new book, Wall of Silence (Þagnarmúr), at the student bookshop. Colgan and Child were on the bestseller list for translated fiction, and I hope their new books will be translated soon. Colgan has written way more books than those that have been translated, according to her website, jennycolgan.com. Child’s series is up to 25 books, although Icelandic readers have only been able to enjoy 20 of them in translation. However, reading the books in their original language would be a good opportunity to practice your English.

Bestseller lists

On Icelandic publisher Forlagið’s website you can view bestseller lists, and topping the list for the week of October 22-28 was Beneath Yggdrasil (Undir Yggdrasil) by Vilborg Davíðsdóttir. Those who enjoy the Icelandic sagas should like this book, since Vilborg writes about the challenges of being a woman during the settlement era. Some may be familiar with her book Korku Saga, which combines her works The Well of Fates and The Witches’ Judgement, originally published from 1994-1995.

For poetry lovers, Eyrún Ósk Jónsdóttir recently released a narrative poem titled The Epic of Guðrún (Guðrúnarkviða). The book was on Eymundsson’s poetry bestseller list the week of October 21-27 and tells the story of Guðrún, who wakes up in a coffin during her own funeral.

Bookshops regularly make bestseller lists, and looking at lists from the previous year can help predict which authors will have bestsellers in 2020. I got the lists here below from the Icelandic-language website lestrarklefinn.is, which contains reviews, discussions, book lists, and news about the Christmas book flood.

Top 25 Bestselling Books of 2019

The Quiet Mother - Arnaldur Indriðason

Keto: The Hormone Solution - Gunnar Már Sigfússon

The Fallout - Yrsa Sigurðardóttir

Your Own Video Game - Ævar Þór Benediktsson

On Time and Water* - Andri Snær Magnason

Unstoppable Orri: The Bandits’ Revenge - Bjarni Fritzson

White Death - Ragnar Jónasson

Emergency: Ticking Time Bomb - Óttar Sveinsson

Our Preschool Songs - Jón Ólafsson et al.

The Immigrant - Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson

The Dream Snatcher - Gunnar Helgason

The Emotional Revolution - Auður Jónsdóttir

Methods of Survival - Guðrún Eva Mínervudóttir

The Herring Years 1867-1969 - Páll Baldvin Baldvinsson

Cuck - Dóri DNA

Advent - Stefán Máni

Frikki’s Simple Meals - Friðrik Dór Jónsson

Missing: Icelandic Disappearances - Bjarki H. Hall

Björgvin Páll Gústavsson: Unfiltered - Björgvin Páll Gústavsson and Sölvi Tryggvason

Vigdís: The World’s First Female President - Rán Flygenring

New Year’s Eve with Lára - Birgitta Haukdal

Lára Goes to the Countryside - Birgitta Haukdal

Bad Dad* - David Walliams

Sheep Stories - Guðjón Ragnar Jónasson

The World’s Worst Children 3* - David Walliams

*These titles are available in English.

Translated Novels 2019*

The Golden Cage - Camilla Läckberg

Knife - Jo Nesbø

The Summer Seaside Kitchen - Jenny Colgan

Black Pearl Farm - Liza Marklund

The Christmas Sisters - Sarah Morgan

The Tattooist of Auschwitz - Heather Morris

The Chestnut Man - Sören Sveistrup

The Endless Beach - Jenny Colgan

Make Me - Lee Child

The Accidental Further Adventures of the Hundred-Year-Old Man - Jonas Jonasson

*All titles on this list are available in English

Note: If your native language isn’t Icelandic or English, look up these authors online. Many of the titles mentioned in this article may be available in your preferred language, and additional translations of recent titles will probably be released in the coming months.

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