Iceland is one of the most literate countries in the world and has a long literary history that goes back to the Icelandic Sagas. The love of literature has evolved into a delightful Christmas tradition, Jólabókaflóðið. Every fall, households in Iceland receive a catalogue of all the books published in the previous year they can use to find Christmas presents for friends and family. On Christmas Eve, once the gifts are received, people read their new books far into the night and drink hot chocolate.
Bókatiðindi is published every year for Icelanders to browse the latest publications. It is organized into categories, including Children's books, Fiction, and Non-Fiction. How much fun must it be to go through the catalogue, mark books to buy as gifts, and mark some as hints for someone else to buy!
We can't compete with such a comprehensive listing of Icelandic publications, but Icelandic Roots produces its own mini-list of books, most are new in 2024 or upcoming in 2025. A few books were published by IR members, and many are recommended by members.
The list includes the Icelandic Roots Book Club selections from 2024 and selections already scheduled for 2025.
The Iceland Roots Book Flood
The list is focused on English-language books either translated from Icelandic, about Iceland, or about (or by) Western Icelanders. We’re not ignoring our Icelandic members, but they already have the best lists for Jólabókaflóð.
There are three general categories:
Clicking each of the three links below will open a PDF for that category. You can read, print, or download that page.
How to get your hands on a book
We’ve included a link for each book, usually to Amazon.com, to buy them online. Change to your preferred country/region to check availability and pricing. You can also support your favourite independent bookseller by requesting the title. Also, check out Elliot Bay Book Co. (Seattle, WA) and try AbeBooks for rare, used, and even new books.
Icelandic books can be sourced at:
We offer a link for your convenience, but most of the books listed are available at multiple locations. Shop around to find the best option for you.
2025 Icelandic Roots Book Club Selections (upcoming)
Check the Event Calendar for the most up-to-date information on upcoming Book Club gatherings.
What we know so far:
09 Jan: The Waiting Place by Sharron Arksey
06 Feb: Letters to Brian: A Year of Living and Remembrance by Martha Brooks
12 Mar: The Icelandic Emigration Journey: From Turfhouses to Prairie Homesteads by Sunna Olafson Furstenau
03 Apr: Also Known as Jaime Dorn by Karen Emilson
08 May: Stories, Sagas, and Captivation Tales: The First Decade of Icelandic Roots by Becky Byerly-Adams
2024 Icelandic Roots Book Club Selections
(Jan) Two books by Glen Sigurdson:
Vikings on a Prairie Ocean
My Viking Lady of the Lake
(Feb) Woman, Captain, Rebel: The Extraordinary True Story of a Daring Icelandic Sea Captain by Margaret Wilson
(Mar) Mother of the Light by Elin de Ruyter
(Apr) Dear Miss Lovelorn: Prose and Possibility by Martha Brooks
(May) Summer Light, Then Comes the Night by Jon Kalman Stefansson (translated by Philip Roughton)
(Jun) Journey Across the Four Seas - A Chinese Woman's Search for Home by Veronica Li
(Oct) Two books by Brian Borgford:
Thorsteinn
Pepper
(Nov) Three books by Bryndís Viglundsdóttir & Gay Strandemo (Illustrator):
Thor, the story of the most famous Norse God, son of Odin and the Maiden Earth.
Guðríður´s Saga
Mundi: Boy of Iceland´s West Fjords
Previous Book Floods