Sterling to Krona: An Autobiography, Just Not Mine (2019)

The year is 1976 and the cost of a vinyl record in Iceland is nearly three thousand crowns — much higher than elsewhere, like England. The same year, mother and son Madda and Sigurvin — a thirty-something widow and her teenager with a burgeoning interest in music — plan a trip to England to visit an old friend of their deceased husband and father. The friend is a man on a farm south of London where he lives among others of a similar stripe: rebellious artists and anarchists. So begins the story of mother and son, which could not have had its start until the family’s father stepped out of their way. Half the story — like all stories.

R E V I E W S

Reviews

“A master of the unfathomable and the hesitant irresolution ... One of Bragi´s best novels. It is well styled, interesting and above all very amusing. ”

EINAR FALUR INGOLFSSON, MORGUNBLADID DAILY

“Well written and a melancolic story that touches the reader. ”

BRYNHILDUR BJORNSDOTTIR, FRETTABLADID

“His books display such unique characteristics that one could say that the standard forms of the novel don´t apply in Bragi´s case. The comic element is never absent in Bragi´s writings, but his usual ironic aloofness gets a rest here. The reader who doesn´t sympathize with Madda must be a dead person, so well written that character is – and decent. His books are so ridiculously entertaining and at times very touching. Sterling to Krona has an unclear beginning and ambiguous ending – but leaves the reader with unforgettable characters and atmosphere, and the sense that he´s experienced its every moment and location almost physically. ”

MARIANNA CLARA LUTHERSDOTTIR, THE ICELANDIC BROADCASTING SERVICE

“A very funny writer, but in this book there´s a deep melancoly.”

KOLBRUN BERGTHORSDOTTIR, KILJAN/NATIONAL TV

“ ... comic but has a tragic undertone. This is so well written ... he´s writing some real fiction. ”

SVERRIR NORLAND, KILJAN/NATIONAL TV

“A five star book; I am totally blown away.”

EIRIKUR ORN NORDDAHL WRITER, FJALLABAKSLEIDIN