The Raven's Nest

by Sarah Thomas

Visiting Iceland as an anthropologist and film-maker in 2008, Sarah Thomas is spellbound by its otherworldly landscape. An immediate love for this country and for Bjarni, a man she meets there, turns a week-long stay into a transformative half-decade, one which radically alters Sarah's understanding of herself and of the living world.

She embarks on a relationship not only with Bjarni, but with the light, the language, and the old wooden house they make their home. She finds a place where the light of the midwinter full moon reflected by snow can be brighter than daylight, where the earth can tremor at any time, and where the word for echo - bergmál - translates as 'the language of the mountain'. In the midst of crisis both personal and planetary, as her marriage falls apart, Sarah finds inspiration in the artistry of a raven's nest: a home which persists through breaking and reweaving - over and over.

Written in beautifully vivid prose, The Raven's Nest is a profoundly moving meditation on place, identity and how we might live in an era of environmental disruption.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Nature, Travel, Biography Memoir, Audiobook, Book Club

336 pages, Hardcover

Published July 7, 2022

Reviews

[Chantal Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and compelling memoir of love and loss.

Iceland is one of those innately fascinating countries, which even in the present day still feels like it is shrouded in myth. I've never been, but this book has whetted my appetite. It's beautifully and carefully written, lending insight into Icelandic ways of thinking, speaking, and relating to friends and family. Amid poignancy, warmth and reverence there are moments of real humour.

Readers should not expect a book of nature-writing focused mainly on ravens and the wilds of Iceland; that is only one element of it. It's a hard book to describe the genre of, really - it refuses to be pigeon-holed. But I very much enjoyed reading it.

[grace saint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuck yes. Everything I needed for the Raynor Winn void

[Kathryn Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book very quickly reinspired my desire to move to the west coast. You could feel how Sarah's whole world was flown open at the beginning by unexpectedly moving to a new place and meeting a new person. However the claustrophobia of this world shrinking again and how scary that lack of control can feel (especially when it's not realised till hindsight) was something I found really interesting. It was refreshing hearing her write about the joy of falling in love in the present tense even when you know they were going to have a divorce.
I found some of her reflections to be cringey and had several eye roll moments, but yet also appreciate the honesty of her naivety in rural life and belonging. Her nature writing was extremely captivating and a grounding constant throughout the book. I enjoyed her detailed observations of various people and moments within the community too, helping me slow down which I seriously needed.
She beautifully depicts the intertwined process of falling in love with a place and a person at the same time and then when it's all over, learning to love that place again.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many reasons that I am glad this book found me. During the time of COVID I have been an armchair student of everything Iceland and have been studying the Icelandic language. As a young woman I lived for three years in South America - experiencing a country, culture, and language that were totally foreign to me, much as Iceland was to the author. Sarah Thomas has written of her love affair with a man, a people, a country, a language, and with nature. Her observations and thoughts mirror so many of my own and touched me. I really loved this book.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book that started well, but then got a bit boring, especially the bits set in Africa- I wanted to read about Iceland not there.
The author is a very descriptive writer though, and the two thirds I did read were very lyrical.

[Jennifer Tate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to feel about this book. I've not read anything like it before so I very much enjoyed its uniqueness. I also felt like I got a real sense of Iceland from the perspective of the author and her experiences. I found the descent to divorce both frustrating and interesting. I felt like I wanted to understand more how the relationship dynamics lead to the divorce but at the same time I found that aspect quite oppressive and slow to conclude. Interesting but will take a while to reflect on the book in general.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read dozens of books on Iceland in recent years and this is one of the best. Sarah Thomas really captured the subtle details of the island's nature and people in ways I hadn't read before, but that totally lined up with my own observations from my trips - things like the infinite shades of blue on the fjords, the way wildflowers light up backlit by the sun, the vast emptiness of the far NW corner, the quiet no-nonsense stoicism of the islanders, the chattering of eider duck families floating in the shallows, the sense of everything being right-in-the-world when soaking in a natural hot spring. I wish that she had perhaps written more about some of the other areas of the island (because she is so good at it!), especially fascinating locales near to where she lived, like Dynjandi, Latrabjarg, Minnibaki - but I guess that wasn't the point of her book. It was a delight to read an account sympatico with my own observations, just the right amount of reportage with poetry. I also enjoyed learning what life is like as a expat trying to live in the Westfjords and fit in with the locals - this was a reality check on my own fantasies of doing the same.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The writing is very descriptive and creates an in depth knowledge of the country and people. It features the author, Sarah’s relationship with her husband and how the country plays a big part in it. The huge difference in her way of life in Iceland compared to the Uk. The attitude and culture of the Icelandic people is interesting and their approach to life. The effect of the climate and the dark, cold winters and warm, bright summers. The birds and the natural world is all captured and written about so beautifully.

[Kevin Low · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book, wonderfully written. Surprisingly uplifting.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Raven's Nest is a moving, honest memoir and a loving description of Iceland and it's people at a time of great change.

[Ladyfilosopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was gifted to me as someone "who nests away from home and taught me how." I think more women 'nest' away from home more often than anyone wants to acknowledge. Adventurers have been women as much as men, though often for different reason. The author chose to follow her heart and join the man she fell in love with and create a life in his part of the country's quite old -school style of living. To live in pristine lands this is often the way, modern amenities are limited. I would've wanted to hear more about maternity care, post-natal care, old age and mental health care, state or private. The author had many opportunities to bring these issues into the narrative. She has a poetic eye and mind, which bely also her naitivity. Though often speaking of delicate things, I was sure that there was so much more I wasn't hearing of, or allowed to see. I loved hearing of the road trips. 2/3rds through the book, I finally opened detailed maps of Iceland on my computer and tracked down the places she names (as best I could with a keyboard sans Icelandic letters!) Our sensibilities about animals are poked. I was so relieved to hear how she learned to appreciate and love Ravens. As I finished the book the world of the Amish came to mind. Their community spirit, the porosity of the boundaries they live within, the elderly seem to live the adventures of their young ones like the Amish watch and hope for theirs during "Rumspringer". The bittersweet knowledge from the opening chapter, followed me throughout the book, helped me see things from the elders' point of view a bit. What an interesting niche language the author dedicated herself to learning. This book is well worth the read, to witness her courage, and seeing how courage isn't enough, sometimes, to make things work in a certain way. That courage served well to help make important choices.

[Chloé Romengas · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2008, Sarah Thomas visited Iceland as an anthropologist and filmmaker. She instantly fell in love with the country and with a man from the Westfjords, Bjarni. Although as she writes this memoir, years have passed and she is separated from the country and the man, she describes in sensitive prose how this life experience has changed her and her understanding of the world.

In a beautiful and sincere way, she narrates her experience of living in a foreign country, how a place becomes a home, and how we sometimes only realize it when we leave. She writes about people, culture, and belonging in a changing world, and about the Icelandic way of life from the inside.

The book strikes a fine balance between the author's observations on Iceland's breathtaking landscapes and natural environment (including the beloved birds 💛), and the insights on emotions, identity, and life in general. The reflections and parallels drawn between Iceland, its landscapes and life are insightful and never feel forced or out of place, making the book a genuine pleasure to read.

The Raven’s Nest is a thoughtful and warm meditation, a moving memoir about beginnings, endings, and change, but most of all about belonging, identity, love and nature.

I loved it 💛

[Genesee Rickel]

"Writer and documentary filmmaker Thomas recalls in luminous detail the five years she spent primarily in Iceland. In 2008, Thomas, then in her late twenties and living in England after a childhood in Kenya, went to Iceland for a filmmaking conference and fell precipitously in love with the country -- and with taciturn young Icelander Bjarni, whom she moved in with in 2010, married in 2012, and divorced in 2014. Rather than summarizing the whole of her experience, Thomas jumps from one magical scene to the next: a day with her in-laws gathering in the sheep from their summer o the mountains, a trip to one of many hot springs under the moonlight, the day when the sun finally creeps over the hills after a long, dark winter. While relatively reticent about her marriage, which seems to have ended because of Bjarni's deepening depressing and the many months he spent working away from home, Thomas is deeply expressive about a landscape of "sea and islands, pebbles and seaweed, dandelions and lambs." A treat for armchair travelers." - Margaret Quamme, Booklist

[Sofia Fujiwara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raven’s Nest is a beautifully written memoir that captures the stunning landscapes of Iceland. The author’s descriptions of her surroundings are so immersive and detailed that they transport you straight into the rugged beauty of Iceland, making it impossible not to dream of visiting. At the same time, the narrative thoughtfully examines the impact of tourism on local communities, offering a nuanced perspective that feels both timely and important. This is a deeply personal story, raw and vulnerable in its exploration of the author’s inner world. Her reflections on life, relationships, and identity are expressed with a poetic sensibility that adds depth and poignancy to the narrative. It’s a memoir that not only inspires wanderlust but also invites introspection. If you’re drawn to stories about self-discovery, the natural world, and the delicate balance between humans and the environment, Raven’s Nest is a powerful and evocative read.

[Kate Macfadyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a soft spot for books about people finding their feet in a new country and this didn't disappoint. The descriptions of the scenery, weather and creatures of Iceland were particularly beautiful, but the flawed love story of Sarah and Bjarni is a moving and memorable main story arc (although messy and ambivalent enough to make me truly believe it was not tweaked in any way to suit the narrative). There are fascinating insights into the rural Icelandic way of life, where having several part-time jobs is the norm and extended families keep each other supplied with meat, fish and other essentials. I don't think it is a place I could settle permanently in, but this lovely prose really made me want to see it at first hand for a short time at least.

[SamDojtez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Raven's Nest by Sarah Thomas is a beautifully written and spellbinding memoir that transports readers to the mystical and otherworldly landscape of Iceland. Sarah's love for the country and its people is palpable throughout the book, and her relationship with Bjarni is both intimate and inspiring. The book also explores deeper themes such as the importance of place and identity, and how we can live in a world affected by environmental disruption. The writing style is poetic and lyrical, making it an enjoyable read from start to finish. Overall, I highly recommend The Raven's Nest to anyone who enjoys memoirs and is looking for a mesmerizing read.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful memoir of a young film maker and anthropologist who visits Iceland for a conference and subsequently falls in love with a born-and-bred Westfjords man, the people, the country, the language and with nature. After a long-distance relationship from her home in the UK, she makes the brave decision to move permanently to the remotest corner of Iceland. The descriptions of landscape and wildlife are stunning. She gives a fascinating portrait of life in rural Iceland; the food, the traditions, the unique customs, the weather, all while trying to forge her life into becoming a “local”. Also interesting was her struggle to cope with the months-long darkness and cold of winter.

[Kate Smith]

the only reason it took me so long to get through this was because i unfortunately contracted a respiratory virus and was far too sick to read as all of my energy went to breathing and swallowing. i loved every page of this (mind you i love memoirs and i love iceland so it would’ve taken haley pham to write this for me not to like it), but unfortunately this has only cemented the unhealthy idea in my mind that i’m going to go to iceland next year and then fall in love and then just move there and not come home lol (except obviously sarah did go home because she got divorced but obviously i’m aiming to not get divorced)

📍home
🧘‍♀️personal choice
💐would recommend
🕯️first time reading

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Thomas beautifully conveys the isolation and loneliness of Iceland while also painting a picture of its human interconnectedness. It is a love story with a hauntingly sad ending. The author is a film maker and in this book she paints a powerful picture with words of its landscape, people and birds as well as the Icelandic language. I have watched some of those Scandi crime series set in Iceland where the bare, wild landscape works as a backdrop, here I felt as if I began to see some of its intimate detail and variety. A wonderful book.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book at a bookstore in Iceland but didn't purchase it (hardcover, more luggage to bring home) but was glad to find it available upon return home. As someone who has visited Iceland three times I am awestruck by the beauty and the challenges of living there (at least to an outsider from NYC.). Thomas, while writing about her residence there, her inclusion in an extended family, her developing love and the end of her marriage conveys beautifully both the challenges and satisfaction of life in the far North of the country.

[Amy Twigger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book that I was recommending to people as soon as I started reading. Somehow it manages to combine a deep and poetic appreciation for the Icelandic landscape and ways of life with being a real page-turner - I couldn't stop reading! I'm looking forward to re-reading it again very soon. Highly recommended - it will transport you to Iceland (even if, like me, you've never been there) and offers many thought-provoking stories and ideas to reflect on, all connected with our place in a living landscape.

[Andreia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first word that comes to my mind when I think about this book is "respectful". A lot of people who are not born and raised in Iceland tend to disrespect it in some way, even when that's not their intention. But not this author. I could feel her true, unflinching love for this country in every word, even when describing its flaws. I guess I could feel and see myself in this book, too.
The writing is very rich, at times too dramatic and circling, but the narrative is absorbing and so are the images. I'm eternally grateful to this book for transporting me back to a place I love so dearly.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book and the descriptions of Iceland are fantastic! The book is very well written but for some reason I didn't really engage with Sarah's story. I know I'm in a minority of probably one, but I just found some of her decisions strange and even when she was immersed in the lifestyle and people there seemed to be part of her that was still restless. Even without her husband's depression, which must have been very difficult, she just seems to be a restless soul. I could be completely wrong and I don't mean any offence, it's my impressions.

[Granny Swithins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this at random in a charity shop while waiting for my daughter to try things on, and I'm glad I did, I don't think it would have come to my attention otherwise. Another oddity of a book, part nature-writing, part place/travel, and a memoir of how the author moved to Iceland after meeting her soon-to-be husband.

The book gave a lot of insight into Icelandic culture and way of life, and I loved the sense of community and gift economy that's outlined here. There are several photos included, but I'd have loved more, especially of the house and village.

[Sári · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I impulse bought this at the airport cause I'm a Sara who absolutely fell in love with Iceland. But I think this is exactly why this wasn't for me. Most of the habits and ways of life of Icelandic people I already knew about so those passages just weren't interesting enough for me. I also know the struggle of not being a tourist but not feeling local enough. I think this book captured that feeling very well. The writing was nice but unfortunately there just wasn't enough interesting thing for me in this and I was bored at times. I really am very sad that I didn't like this :(

[Teresa Sleet · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sister discovered this book while staying in Scotland and posted it to me days before I left on a cruise to Iceland. I was delighted to discover one of our stops was on Isfjordur. The book highlighted the tour information, giving an Icelandic perspective and extra interest. What made it even more special was meeting people at the museum that knew and worked with Sarah. How often does that happen in life?!

[✰matthew✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely incredible, i loved this book.

an honest and raw insight into moving to and life in iceland, a book that discusses elements of life in the more rural parts of the country that aren’t as commonly talked about.

the descriptions in this book are breathtakingly beautiful and make the reading experience so fantastic.

the landscape based descriptions are particularly perfect in how they manage to convey the reality.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Longing for place. Now I long to return to the Westfjords especially, three days last summer are not enough. This landscape is so wide and open but also hemmed in by rock. The memoir is beautifully written and captures the emotion of new love for a person and a place followed by loss. I loved the descriptions of the vegetation, the glaciated landscape, and the coastline. I see this as a love letter to place.

[Elvira Maymire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this if you feel like travelling but are too broke or busy to do so! It's the closest thing. I feel like I've been to Iceland though physically, I haven't. This journey is landscape through humans, history through real people, and nature through the eye of a sensitive, lucid and damned funny woman.

[Mrs. Danvers · Rating 5 out of 5]

After years of being both fascinated by and completely ignorant about Iceland, I feel as though a door has opened recently to whole libraries of books to feed my fascination and at least partly address my ignorance. Thomas's book goes a long way to resolving both and does so in a thoughtful and gently bittersweet way. I wish I could hear her read it.