Olafur Gunnarsson’s writing style is characterized by its concise nature and often infused with humour. The stories themselves exhibit a spectrum of tones, ranging from bright to dark, funky to frolicsome. You will encounter a lawyer on his deathbed sharing a meat soup meal with his ex-wife, an individual from Alcoholics Anonymous seeking forgiveness from an old classmate, a furniture maker inviting his terminally ill daughter to witness the beauty of whale watching, and the secret societies The Red Rose and The Black Hand waging a bloody battle on a hilltop in Reykjavik.
“A brilliant collection of short stories by one of the nation’s foremost authors …
Olafur Gunnarsson is indeed adept at conveying significant fates and strong emotions in a concise manner.”
AGUST BORGTHOR SVERRISSON, DV
4 STARS
“Olafur Gunnarsson writes an intriguing collection of stories. In The Critic and other Stories, there are thirteen stories, and they all have the same theme. If you read the prologue, which I recommend of all books, you get the sense that the narrator is reflecting on his life and death. I haven’t read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. I always scrutinize short stories more, because they aren’t just short, they have to have a beginning, middle and end, like any story. I was very impressed by Olafur Gunnarsson writing style and the theme of the book. Stories need to bring in the reader, and keep their attention, no matter the length.
I read through all 13 stories, my favorite, after reading them all is Death comes at Daybreak. It’s the first story, but all of them are worth reading. A reader can get lost in some of the stories, and others, make you question things, but if I told you, I’d give it away. An unforgettable read. I am a big fan of short stories, especially when they are written well, and keep the reader’s attention.
The Critic and other Stories is a definite recommendation by Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book also write a review.”
AMY SHANNON, AMYSBOOKSHELFREVIEWS.COM
“A powerful collection of commentaries on the human condition. Olafur Gunnarsson’s ability to see human motivations in their rawest form appears to be a combination of Dostoyevsky, Camus, and Tolstoy with a touch of Hemingway thrown in. “The Prelude,” Gunnarsson’s tribute to his sister speaks loudly of who the author is. He sees life as it is and obviously revered his older sister. Perhaps she helped shape him into the writer he is today. Stories such as “Death Comes at Daybreak,” show his innate ability to recognize human frailties, but others such as “The Critic” unveil his sense of humor. “The Nazi” reveals man’s innermost fear of the supernatural, and “The Tax ID” twists and turns with a humorous final statement about life as it goes on. These stories are a well-mixed bag of lessons for the astute reader written by a talented man. Great literature is universal and eternal, which describes these stories. I highly recommend them for their entertainment value but also for the insight they provide. Great writing teaches us to live our own lives better by showing us the complex lives of others not unlike ourselves.”
CORINDA MARSH, AMAZON
