IR Book Club: Summer Reading List

by Shaune Jonasson

Icelandic Roots Book Club is on summer hiatus until October 2026. While you have time to relax this summer you may get an opportunity to spend some time reading the books we have profiled in this past season. Or, get a headstart on the first book of next season.

This past season the Icelandic Roots Book Club, along with our host Heather Goodman Lytwyn and her many co-hosts, were privileged to engage with some of the authors, or perhaps a descendent/relative of the author, and sometimes the book's translator. The book selection was varied, all with an Icelandic connection, and the discussions were engaging.

However, like many of our members, reading the selected book before each session can be challenging. The summer hiatus may afford you some relaxation time, and perhaps be accompanied by a good book. Here is the recap of our last season. Be sure to click on the title to read Heather's synopsis of the book.

October 2025

Iceland's Bell written by Nobel Laureate Halldór Laxness and more recently translated into English by Philip Roughton, Heather’s guest that evening.

This historic novel is set in the 17th century that encompasses a broad political landscape of Denmark and its oppressive rule over Iceland as one of its colonies. A clear divide exists between the wealthy nobles and priests with little, if any, social support for those who suffer poverty, famine, and plague. It is a tragic tale full of vengeance and violence with comedic fragments, folkloric in style, similar to those of the Icelandic Sagas. It may have you crying and laughing throughout its pages.

November 2025

Death on the Island  by Eliza Reid

Heather welcomed back Eliza Reid, former First Lady of Iceland for a lively conversation about her newest book. The same book was also published in Britain under the title Death of a Diplomat. 

Set in the Westman Islands just off the south coast of Iceland, a diplomat and his wife, among others, are welcomed to a private yet important event. From here, the reader is readily engaged with the many characters. An excellent read enjoyed by the club members.

January 2026

Your Absence is Darkness Jón Kalman Stefánsson's latest novel, translated by Philip Roughton.

This novel is rich in detail, setting, and characters who struggle to make sense of their lives and life itself. Heather says the novel opens with an intriguing premise, "a character realizing he has no idea where he is or who he is." That character becomes the first person we encounter in the story. The second character may or may not be the devil.

February 2026

Confessions of an Immigrant’s Daughter, by Laura Goodman Salverson (1890-1970). 

Heather hosted Karen Gummo, IR member and accomplished storyteller, to discuss this acclaimed story. It begins in Iceland and follows the novelist's family to Winnipeg, through the northern and southern States, and then back to Canada. The coming of age story as immigrants to North America is told from the life experiences of the author, Laura Goodman Salverson. It was first published in 1939, and in 1949, then republished in 2023 by McGill-Queen's University Press. The memoir won the Governor-General's Award in 1939. 

March 2026

A Necessary Distance: Confessions of a Scriptwriter’s Daughter by Julie Salverson, the granddaughter of Icelandic-Canadian author Laura Goodman Salverson.

Julie has skillfully brought to life the story of her father’s work, in particular, a documentary that he was a part of in 1963, Freedom from Hunger Campaign. She eloquently writes about her father, George Salverson Jr., his experiences and observations, all the while weaving her own life into the narrative as she reflects upon her father’s career as an award-winning radio and documentary writer. Heather and the club had the privilege of meeting and hearing from Julie.

April 2026

HARM author Sólveig Pálsdóttir and translator Quentin Bates.

Harm, featuring the Reykjavik detective Guձgeir Fransson, is Sólveig's third novel to appear in English. The drama begins in the opening pages when a wealthy doctor vacationing in the Westman Islands goes to sleep in a luxurious caravan and does not wake up. Upon discovering him the next morning, his girlfriend fears she will be suspected of causing his death and runs away. Guձgeir Fransson is called in to investigate.

The club eagerly welcomed and discussed the novel with both Sólveig Pálsdóttir and Quentin Bates.

May 2026

Where the Shadows Lie - by Michael Ridpath

The first novel of a series of six initially set in Iceland, Where the Shadows Lie introduces us to Magnus. He was born in Iceland but grew up in Boston where he becomes a detective working in criminal investigations with the Boston police. Magnus is seconded to the Reykjavik police for his own protection. Although not his assigned jurisdiction, Magnus becomes embroiled in a Reykjavik murder investigation linked to a secret saga with a connection to Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.  

June 2026

Sigfusson’s Roads  author Svein Sigfusson, guest Brian Sigfusson the author’s nephew Brian has many years of experience working and leading teams in building and driving winter roads.  He can offer first-hand knowledge of the importance they provide in Canada's north country, of the book Sigfusson's Roads, and on his Uncle Svein.

Sigfusson’s Roads is an inspiring story demonstrating the outstanding fortitude and skills of a group of men led by courage and determination. The more challenging the difficulties they faced, the more resilient they became.

Join us in October...

The IR Book Club will meet again on Thursday, 1 October 2026 with host Heather Goodman Lytwyn and co-host Sharron Arksey. In this session, we will meet with IR member and author, Dr. Doreen McFarlane, where she will read for us and discuss her latest book Leirárskotta: Memoirs of an Icelandic Immigrant Ghost. You can read a bit about that book from our Roots News blog posts:

• My Icelandic Immigrant Ghost 30 Oct 2022

• Leirárskotta 24 Oct 2025

If you would like to purchase Leirárskotta: Memoirs of an Icelandic Immigrant Ghost, you can purchase it directly from the author if you are in Mountain, ND, or Gimli, MB during the Icelandic festivals. She will be at The Deuce in Mountain, ND on Friday, July 31^st..  Or, you can find her at Islendigadagurinn in Gimli, MB, on Sunday, August 2^nd.  Enjoy the celebrations and get a new book from the author – it’s a win-win!  (Festival details are here: The Deuce and Islendigadagurinn ).  If you can't make the festivals, check online at theyulelads.com or the Amazon site in your country.

As always, refer to the IR Event Calendar for more information about the Book Club and the books selected. There are other activities announced there, too!

Also, if you have read a book you've enjoyed that has an Icelandic association, please send the suggestion to outreach@iclendicroots.com.  Be sure to tell us why you think this would be a good book to share and discuss, along with the title, author, and where the club members may be able to get access to that book.

Happy summer reading!