Under the Glacier (Vintage International)

Halldor Laxness continues to amaze me. His"independent people" is one of my top favorite books. Under the Glacier is really a nice book. It is probably hard to understand or enjoy reading but it has great meaning and terms! Under the Glacier is set in the remote rural area in Iceland where certain women can raise the dead, people are sometimes turned into great salmon. It's also the story of an Australian millionaire who has built great house right behind the ruined church, and whose apostles include a trio of unwashed "winter-Pasture Shepherds" supposed to chop his dead head when he dies to assure "Lord Maitreya return after three thousand years to redeem the world". EmBi(short for Emissary of the Bishop) is the 24 year old theology student who was sent to investigate the bitter existing truth; does Christianity exist at Glacier? did the local pastor "Jon Primus" lose his faith? did he really allow a corpse to be deposited in the Glacier? Why has the local pastor boarded up the church, refused his salary and become a blacksmith and handyman? Where is his long-missing wife? Through the rapid events of the story;Laxness argues in a very sensational way about how stupid and feeble the traditional costums of any religion (Christianity, Buddhism, Muhammadanism). "Oh, no, better to be silent. That is what the glacier does. That is what the lilies of the field do." The Highly dedicated religious EmBi who describes himself as "puritan!" at the end of the story, is lost in lust, love and "uncertain balance", lost between what is real and phantom, what is right or wrong, good or bad?? This is very powerful story, it starts in slow and tedious dialog, but ends up in very charming, mysterious tragedy. Good job Halldor! Five stars

The bishop of Iceland sends an emissary to investigate the state of Christianity in the small town of Glacier, where the church building is falling apart, the children aren't being baptized, the dead aren't being buried, and a casket has supposedly been deposited on a glacier. A couple of my favorite observations from Pastor Jón of Glacier: "When I discovered that history is a fable, and a poor one at that, I started looking for a better fable, and found theology." "Whoever doesn't live in poetry cannot survive here on earth." I think this novel would appeal to fans of Hermann Hesse , C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy , Olaf Stapledon's " The Last and First Men ," and Doris Lessing's " Shikasta ."

I read "The Fish Can Sing" and was blown away; I just loved it. The writing was seemingly simple, but not. The story rich with humanity, and the entire work seemed as if it was being guided by a knowing and masterfull hand. I wanted more of this fantastic literature. But this book is very different; some of the Icelandic wit is there, but this story is something else and is trying to be something else. Perhaps it is just presenting a philosophical viewpoint and some ideas. I get it, but it just did not take me "into a world", and the story did not interest me. The biggest snag (for me) was probably due to the telling as "journal entries"; a distanced "account" or "report"of the happenings. In that detachment I felt that I lost one of the things I loved most of Laxness's writing.

I bought this to learn about Iceland in preparation for a trip to Iceland, to, in fact, the very location of this story. Through literature one can learn a lot about a people, but I found the novel incomprehensible, dull and slow. I couldn't even understand what was going on (not going on?) in the novel. I persevered, but found the Icelandic sagas a lot more comprehensible. Arrival, Iceland. Cottage "Under the Glacier." Abysmal weather. Wandering rebel rams in the rain. Every restaurant serving "cake" and I think "Cake is definitely an Icelandic obsession." Trapped in the cottage by wind and rain; rain hits the cottage at a 90 degree angle. I think of making a documentary about the futility of clothes pins (blowing in the wind and rain -- kind of made a joke out of the clothesline). Self-clean cottage, I'm obliged to wash linen for the next people staying there. The clutch on the car (rented from the guy who owns the cottage) is about to go out -- barely goes into first or reverse. I return to working on a novel I had thought was a dead end. Three days of this. Drive (1/4 mile, but the wind, the rain) to the Primus Cafe (named for the most interesting character in this novel) order "meatballs." They are delicious. There are four kinds of cake. Bottomline: I learned a lot more about Iceland from this novel than I knew.

By author of An Independent People. Details Icelandic culture. Sad

I don't know how to describe this book except to say it's a sort of Icelandic magic realism. I read it on my son's recommendation who was assigned this book and Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth for a college course. (You don't need to read the Verne classic to connect with Under the Glacier but the two books are interesting to read side by side, for perspective.) It's an interesting, surprising story. I had never heard of Laxness before but this book compelled me to seek out his other work. Well worth a look.

Take us to places we never wanted to go, leave us in places we never wanted to stay, walk us into rooms we never wanted to see, introduce us to people we never wanted to meet...then ask us if we are richer for the read...and the answer will be very much so, very much so......

no conocía al autor y me enganchó una crítica, así que decidí comprarlo y considero leer más libros de él; muy buena compra!

The book was delivered quite quickly. I, like many, appreciate the rapid and professional delivery service. I have started reading the book and have a hard time putting it down to do other things. It is fascinating, simple to read (I love the format), the humour and the cover as well as binding of the book; I love its quality (just holding the book can give an idea of the quality). Under The Glacier is definitely a collector's item.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A surreal and captivating classic Under the Glacier is a truly unique reading experience — part philosophy, part satire, and completely Icelandic in its quiet absurdity. Halldór Laxness takes you on a strange, dreamlike journey filled with dry humour and deep reflection. The translation captures the wit and rhythm beautifully. My copy arrived promptly and in perfect condition. A must-read for anyone who enjoys thought-provoking, unconventional literature.

I'm sure it lost something in translation, but I gave up around page 90.

Everyone says what a great comic novel this is ... I found it to be deeply unfunny! Susan Sontag's introduction goes on about how brilliant it is but I found it turgid, clunky and slow. The very stylised writing made it hard to get into, although it did pick up in the second half. A typical fish out of water scenario - the Bishop's aide is sent to investigate the state of Christianity in a remote Icelandic village, and encounters odd people and odder goings on. It's like a unfunny comedy version of the 'Wicker Man' without the sex and violence, and a bit of a Frankenstein/ghost story thrown in for good measure.