Flumbra: An Icelandic folktale

by Guðrún Helgadóttir, Brian Pilkington (Illustrator), Christopher Sanders (Translator)

When the dim-witted giantess Flumbra falls in love, her escapades upset all Iceland.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Guðrún first worked as a secretary at a school in Reykjavík, and then as department manager at the National Health and Insurance Office. She was a city councillor for the People's Alliance from 1978 to 1982, and a member of the Icelandic legislative assembly from 1979 until 1995. In 1988 she became Speaker of the Alþing, the first woman to hold the position.
She is one of the best known children's authors in Iceland, and in 1992 received the Nordic Children's Book Prize for Undan illgresinu (From Beneath the Weeds).

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when folk/fairy tales truly reflect their country of origin with settings in deep, dark forests, or villages by the seaside. Flumbra's story is indeed part of Iceland's volatile landscape. It is the tale of two giants in love, and their long distance relationship. Keep in mind that giants cannot be caught out in the sunlight or they will turn to stone, so that makes for some rather tricky booty calls.

Brian Pilkington's illustrations are fun, making the giants more silly than fearsome. Almost everything is played for laughs, and then . . . I was not prepared for that sad, sad ending. Sob!

[Aimi Tedresalu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aastajagu kestnud Islandi kirjanduse lugemise väljakutse viimaseks raamatuks sobib kenasti üks tore lasteraamat. Tegevuspaik ikka Island oma rikkaliku folkloori ja rahvajuttudega, kus künkaalused on täis haldjamajakesi ja mägedes müdistavad ringi trollid. Just trollidest seekordne lugu ongi. Peamiselt trollieidest, kes muudkui endale üht inetut trollivanameest külla ootas. Muidu nii räpase trollirahva esindaja hakkas isegi koristama ja süüa keetma, nii et mäenõlvad varisesid ja tuld pulbitses taevalaotusesse. Laisk ja inetu trollivanamees aga ei tulnud ega tulnud, nii et lõpuks müdistas trollieit ise tema juurde, nii et maa vabises ja kõmises. Ja kui trollieidel pojad sündisid, imetas ta neid nii, et mööda mäekülgi nirisevad alla piimaojad. Trollid aga peavad teatavasti ringi möllama vaid hämaras, sest päevavalguse saabudes tabab neid needus...
Islandi lastelugude juures meeldib mulle see, et loomulikest asjadest ka räägitakse loomulikult. Mõnus lugemine oli.

[Eloise Sunshine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tore vanaemade veimevakast võetud stiilis jutustus selgitamaks lastele Islandi loodusnähtusi, miks vulkaan purskab või maa väriseb, ja et tegelikult pole seda vaja karta, need on kõigest trollide armumängud... ;)

[Britt Suits · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Islandi trollilugu“ on väga vahva raamat lastele, mis jutustab erinevatest Islandi loodusnähtustest trollide võtmes.

Mulle meeldis ja arvan, et ka lastele võiks meeldida.

[Reelika Raimet · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://raamaturiiulike.wordpress.com...

[Piret Peensoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mõnus kõrvalepõige trollide juurde. Eriti meeldis mulle lõpuosa, kus aastaajad mängu tulid.

[Tera Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a great fairy tale. my kids and I love it.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I interloaned a copy of a book by Helgadottir called A Giant Love Story only to discover that it and Flumbra are one and the same. Apparently the title was A Giant Love Story when it was published in English by Vaka-Helgafell, in Iceland, in 2002. Later, when Carolrhoda Books published it in 1986, the title was changed to Flumbra.

I'm fond of Icelandic literature because I have a friend who is from Iceland and who has regaled me with some of the traditional children's tales. The story of Flumbra is told within the story of a father talking about giants to his son. I like the way that was done. The story describes how earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity are traditionally attributed to giants, and in this case Flumbra and her eight boys. The illustrations depict the giants looking easy-going but rather homely. They are also a bit graphic in a couple of places for a children's book; one picture in particular shows Flumbra with both breasts bared suckling a baby, while one of her boys sits on the steps with no pants on and genitals explosed. As I've noticed in the past, European standards for what can be depicted in children's books seem to be a bit more lax than in American publishing. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this story very much and only wish that Flumbra and the boys could find some way to return to flesh and blood again. Recommended!

[Bhunter2012 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Folktales are a good way to learn about history and the way people entertained themselves with stories. The father who grows up in the older generation tells his son of his fears and what villagers were afraid of in the old days. The father then puts a sweet twist on things to help his son get over his fears, that are a little more modern.

[Anshuman Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was funny. I liked the characters and their funny names. I learnt that not all giants are cruel.

[Lily Alice · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't like when the giant is turned into stone.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique, heart-warming Icelandic children's tale. The artwork is gorgeous.