Reviews

Miss Island by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir

purplegems3's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This is the 1st book I've read by Auður and I don't think it will be the last despite it not being my favourite. I loved the underlying plots with Hekla with the struggles in day to day life but Jón John's struggle with his sexuality started to feel very repetitive towards the end which was a shame

caseycorp's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

ohsugrplum's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

itschelseaw's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Hekla is an appropriate name for the main character in this book. There’s a lot brewing beneath the surface that nearly everyone in her life doesn’t want to acknowledge.
I just don’t know if having that much reliance on one strong character was enough to carry this book for me.
The second most fleshed out character was Jon John but the main focus on him being gay, and the lack of romantic opportunities for him, got to be exhausting. I fully understand that when this book is set queer rights was but a twinkle and a hope in some people’s eyes! But that was his only characteristic and it became heavy and repetitive after the 10th time he opined his sexual and romantic interests.
Overall a middle of the pack book for me.

robgrace71's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed this book by Audor Ava Olafsdottir. This story follows Hekla who is a young women in 1940's Iceland. She is trying to become a writer and finds that in this time period that is a very difficult task. Iceland is heralded for its male poets, but the idea that a women could be among them is foreign. Hekla is seen as a much better candidate for a beauty pageant than for entering the world of writers and poets. In addition to Hekla's struggles we also are introduced to her newly married friend Isey and her gay friend Jon John. Each of these characters is struggling to be themselves and find a place in society. Misfits to some degree, but hoping for more. It's definitely a story about the struggle to be yourself in a society that isn't quite ready for you yet.

In addition to the characters, the country of Iceland is described in lush detail. You can feel that cold winds and the nights that never get dark. Hekla is named after a volcano after all and the country itself seems to be as important part of the story as the characters.

nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

my first foray into Icelandic fiction - very cool to be immersed in the cultural and historical setting, but the structure didn't work for me, and I didn't connect with the protagonist at all. more about vibes than plot

flower_reader's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

elizakp's review against another edition

4.0

this book was really good and made me miss iceland haha. i feel like it did a great job at capturing the vibes, i also appreciated the bittersweet ending.

serranok's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

missdandyreads's review against another edition

4.0

Es fällt mir nicht leicht, dieses Buch zu beschreiben. Es hat mich traurig und nachdenklich gemacht, wütend aufgrund der Situationen, derer sich Hekla und auch ihr bester schwuler Freund Jón John in den 60er Jahren gegenübersehen müssen. Hekla wirkt dabei sehr gefasst, ihre Existenz ist ausgerichtet auf das Ziel, Schriftstellerin zu werden. Sie ist eine bemerkenswert fokussierte Figur, mit der sich viele junge Frauen, die sich einer Sache verschrieben haben, identifizieren können. Sie geht ihren Weg und niemand kann sie davon abbringen - auch nicht ihr Dichterfreund, der scheinbar nicht damit leben kann, dass eine Frau talentierter ist als er. Das Ende wiederum lässt Raum für Spekulationen.
Zum Schluss bleibt noch zu sagen, dass ich mir dieses Buch hervorragend als Arthouse-Kinostreifen vorstellen könnte.