Session One: SEPT 15, 2026 The Far Traveller: Voyages of a Viking Woman, Nancy Marie Brown, 2007 History/Biography Tie in with the Vinland Sagas A historical investigation into the life of Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir, an Icelandic woman who traveled farther than any of her contemporaries. Drawing on Viking sagas, archaeology, and history, […]
Session Two: OCT 20, 2026 Under the Glacier, Halldór Laxness, 1990 Fiction A mysterious government emissary arrives beneath an Icelandic glacier to investigate strange occurrences surrounding a charismatic pastor. Blending satire, philosophy, folklore, and absurdity, Laxness explores faith, modernity, and the search for meaning.
Session Three: NOV 17, 2026 In Valhalla’s Shadows, W.D. Valgardson, 2019 Mystery/Noir Set in Manitoba’s Icelandic community, this atmospheric mystery follows a retired police officer investigating a decades-old disappearance. Valgardson combines Nordic noir elements with prairie history, memory, family secrets, and questions of identity.
Session Four: DEC 15, 2026 Animal Life, Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir, 2022 Fiction During a snowy Christmas season in Reykjavík, a lonely middle-aged woman unexpectedly becomes connected to a young pregnant immigrant and her child. A tender and often humorous novel about family, belonging, aging, and human connection.
Session Five: JAN 19, 2027 Bloodhoof, Gerdur Kristny, transl. by Rory McTurk, 2012 Poetry Tie in with the Volsunga Saga An award-winning verse novel inspired by the medieval Volsunga Saga. Through vivid poetry, Kristný retells the tragic story of Sigmundur and Sinfjötli, exploring fate, violence, revenge, and the darker aspects of heroic […]
Session Six: FEB 16, 2027 Happy Iceland, Anne Marie Wells, 2026 Non-fiction/Memoir Part memoir, part travel narrative, Anne Marie Wells reflects on her experiences living in and exploring Iceland. Through personal stories, cultural observations, and encounters with Icelanders, she offers an affectionate portrait of contemporary Icelandic life.