Prowler

by Kristjana Gunnars

A powerful postmodern novel combining the elements of a psychological thriller with the history of a people trapped by landscape and politics. A poetically charged text prowls the isolation and heartbreak of a girl growing up in Iceland in the post-war years, and her later experiences as an immigrant in North America. What emerges is a widening mystery of origins in which every word becomes a clue to the unspoken.

Genres: Fiction, Novella, Poetry

112 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1992

Reviews

[Luke Beirne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest books I have read. Delves into language and the ways that it functions to create meaning and significance, while still telling a powerful story about a woman’s life.

[Vaiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

BASTŪNĖ

Ten, kur nebėra vilties, svajonė tampa viskuo. Tikslas slypi siekyje.

Atradau, kad skaitant gana lėtai atsiranda ypatingas malonumas, patiriamas dėl beprasmių žodžių.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a young woman who grow up in Iceland and Denmark (and to a lesser extent North America) in the post war period. I wonder if it been written today if it wouldn't been classified as autobiographical fiction. I loved her discussion throughout of the role of the story and the text, although I expect some readers might absolutely hate it.
One of the things I found especially interesting about "The Prowler" was the state of poverty in Iceland after WWII. I shouldn't have been particularly surprised about this, as it was the case for all of Scandinavia, but somehow as the home of the Nordic Gods I'd envisioned it differently.
I think this is my favourite of the books I've read so far this year. This short novel is well worth reading if you can find a copy (published in 1989, with a 6th printing in 2003)

[Linda Donohue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written in snippets of the author's life. As short as it was I learned quite a bit of her life, thoughts and feelings.

[Jason Fickett · Rating 3 out of 5]

The form of this book is a huge influence on what I'm working on right now, the freedom of length, subject, narration, direction. It gave me a new way to move forward, and I'm enormously grateful for that. But, I don't actually love it. This is a re-read, and now I'm not sure I would recommend it to anyone other than struggling writers!