It was good to meet my old classmate again and accept a glass of wine from him without thinking that he’d spit in it.
Summer is nearly over and the scent of heather fills the senses in Grafningur county. The islands Nesey and Sandey can be seen from the nearby summer houses, their peaks cresting the surface of Thingvellir Lake. Sometimes, you can see boats sailing there, too. People come here to relax and be alone with their memories and secrets. But by summer’s end, the nights have gotten dark, making it difficult to find what you’ve lost.
R E V I E W S
“The Lake shows what a clever author Gerdur Kristny is and how skilled she is in creating stories that hold an almost enchanting attraction for the reader. I am only realizing as I write these words that I have been awaiting The Lake for nearly twenty years – ever since I first read and was charmed by Poisoned Apples in the nineties.”
VERA KNUTSDOTTIR, BOKMENNTIR.IS
“… The Lake is a remarkable work …
The story starts off lightly, but gradually the dread builds up, and there’s so much tension in the air that the reader almost feels as heart-stricken as the protagonist. Gerdur Kristny creates a unique atmosphere in The Lake.”
INGVELDUR GEIRSDOTTIR, MORGUNBLADID DAILY
“The story takes place over twenty-four hours: a couple in a cabin and a farmer on the nearby farmstead become involved in events that result in the awakening of memories from Elin’s childhood of blackmail and exclusion … A terse style and informal tone of the text results in the tension and dread creeping up on the reader from behind… The author achieves an uncomfortable atmosphere in the piece especially well …
The book shines with the hallmarks of Gerdur Kristny – stories of the unfamiliar and hidden, but also of sensitive emotional life. No sentences, not a word goes to waste. This is a beautiful book with a terrifying undertone that grabs the reader, perhaps not on the first page, but little by little, dragging the reader into the silent brush.”
GUDRUN BALDVINSDOTTIR, VIDSJA/NATIONAL BROADCASTING SERVICE
“The surface is smooth and calm, but underneath darkness simmers.
Wonderfully written.”
ARNI MATTHIASSON, MORGUNBLADID DAILY
“Gerdur creates an atmosphere that makes one half-delusional…
immensely well structured and written… an extremely successful novel.”
KOLBRUN BERGTHORSDOTTIR, KILJAN/NATIONAL TV
“Very well done and effective.”
THORGEIR TRYGGVASON, KILJAN/NATIONAL TV
“The story is very well written and constructed with the utmost caution. Well placed references to children’s culture rustle up feelings of nostalgia in us all, though with sinister undertones that become difficult to shake off.”
JOHANNA M EINARSDOTTIR, DV
“It is not easy to explain why this story is so transfixing, because the events are not fast-paced or driven by a thrilling storyline, and in reality not much happens until the end. However, the author is able to awaken the feeling, little by little, that something more is simmering below the surface than the subdued text would suggest… this feeling that there is more to the story increases over time, and the book could be likened to a pot of water that takes a long time to boil. The final third of the story is almost an inversion of the beginning. A regular late-summer car ride turns into a horrific tragedy which is so delicately woven that it never becomes physical or grotesque, but works solely in the mind. Therein lies the book’s magic – the author achieves this effect through artistically restrained writing that flows smoothly, but leaves much to be considered.
A few days after reading, the story seemed to continue its effect – one’s mind is drawn to the mother and daughter in the cabin, the natural beauty of Þingvallavatn, and the darkness that cannot be escaped at summer’s end.”
THORDIS JOHANNESDOTTIR, HUGRAS
★★★★★
“Excellent Icelandic novel, where all manner of things lurk within the ordinary. … As a reader you quickly become fond of this gem of a novel, I swallowed it in two big mouthfuls, and you really just want to start over again.”
JON HELT HAARDER, JYLLANDSPOSTEN, DENMARK
“Simmering Icelandic prose … an unexpected pageturner … the atmosphere of the novel is at the same time dramatic and oddly low-key; the action unfolds slowly, and yet it is hard to hold back and not to read quickly.”
MARTIN BASTKJAER, INFORMATION, DENMARK
“The Lake is an outstanding psychological thriller, even for those who don’t usually read thrillers. This is firmly within the realm of realism, which only makes it all the more unsettling. … From the very beginning, you can sense the discomfort, the atmosphere that forms the backdrop for the story. … It is an exceptional read, and here’s a free tip – remember to breathe. And remember to read between the lines. The Lake is a quietly well-told drama that leaves you unsure of where it will take you.”
JANE ANDERSEN, BOGBLOGGER.DK, DENMARK
“I highly recommend this wonderful book.
It is beautifully written and has a certain calmness about it. It is also thrilling and hard to put down.”
GUDRUN KARLS HELGUDOTTIR, BISHOP OF ICELAND
“The body of work by Gerdur Kristny is both diverse and remarkable, placing her among the foremost Icelandic authors … a poignant and beautifully written novel about childhood … The Lake brings together all the key strengths of Gerdur Kristny as a writer: an outstanding stylist, striking the perfect balance between the tragic and the humorous, blending poetic language with a carefully crafted and well-presented narrative … A masterful book that is undoubtedly one of the best books of the year.”
BJORGVIN G. SIGURDSSON, SUDRI
