Miss Iceland | Audur Ava Ólafsdóttir, translated by Brian FitzGibbon
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Don't let the 'chick-lit-esque' front cover and title fool you. This book is beautifully wistful.
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Set in Iceland in 1960, we follow Hekla (named after a volcano) who's in her 20s. She's on a quest to be a published author. A female author? No chance. She faces adversity in her attempts. Many think she shouldn't even be trying. Others think that if she'd just apply to be Miss Iceland or wear her skirt a little shorter, she'd get along fine. Actually, as it happens, Hekla has been published, but under a male pseudonym.
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It's not just Hekla's battle that we're privy too. Her best friend Jon John plays a huge role in this novel. We learn of his queerness and how that's frowned upon. He's at real odds with himself. He just can't be who he wants to be - if you're gay, you're also an assumed paedophile.
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I really enjoyed this novel. It took me a while to get into the writing style but it was beautiful. You go on a real journey with Hekla and Jon John and it's really quite moving. It's almost written as a series of scenes. It's an interesting concept but one that really worked for me once I got used to it. It just had this lovely wistful, dreamlike feel to it. It's unlike anything I've ever read before.
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Thank you so much to @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.
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⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5