Riddarar hringstigans

Goðheimar bernskunnar

by Einar Már Guðmundsson

Skáldsagan Riddarar hringstigans hlaut afbragðsviðtökur þegar hún kom út fyrst árið 1982. Hún vann til fyrstu verðlauna í bókmenntasamkeppni sem Almenna Bókafélagið efndi til og hefur síðan verið gefin út víða erlendis. Sagan sem er sú fyrsta í þríleik gerist í Reykjavík á 7. áratug 20. aldar í nýju hverfi, fullu af steypuryki, stillönsum, leyndardómum og börnum.

Sögumaður er ungur drengur, sannkallað barn í uppátækjum sínum og viðhorfum, en býr þó jafnframt yfir speki öldungsins. Bókin er í senn bráðfyndin og alvöruþrungin, barnsleg og spámannleg og markaði tímamót í íslendskri skáldsagnagerð.

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Einar Már Guðmundsson received a B.A. in Comparative Literature and History from the University of Iceland in 1979, after which he moved to Copenhagen to do graduate work in Comparative Literature at the University of Copenhagen.

Einar's first book, the collection of poetry Er nokkur í kórónafötum hér inni? (Is Anyone Here Wearing the Korona Line?), appeared in 1980. In 1985 he received first prize in a literary competition held by Almenna Bókafélagið, Book Publishers and Book Club, for the novel Riddarar Hringstigans (The Knights of the Spiral Staircase). His books have been translated into several languages and the widely acclaimed novel Englar alheimsins (Angels of the Universe) received the Nordic Council's Literary Award in 1995. Friðrik Þór Friðriksson's movie which is based on the book premiered in Reykjavík on New Year's day in the year 2000.
Einar is currently living in Reykjavík. He is married and has five children.

Reviews

[Mohamed Shoaib · Rating 4 out of 5]

تجربة جميلة و غريبة عن غدي الطفل المشاكس الذي قرر الاحتفاظ بالمال الخاص الذي قرر به شراء هدية لصديقه في عيد ميلاده و عوضًا عن ذلك يسرق الهدية و كيف تعامل مع الإحساس بالذنب و الخوف بعد ذلك

[Carolin Kopplin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing story told by the child protagonist.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual novel about an unusual 6 year old called Johann Petursson. He is precocious, intense, imaginative, impulsive and mischievous (although I have to wonder if he has some sort of disorder).

The novel takes place sometime in the 1960s, I think (it mentions boxing is banned in Iceland, which happened in 1956). It was a time when ketchup was so new and exciting that kids were taking swigs of it right from the bottle, and rock and roll from the American Forces station blared from transistor radios. It was a time when parents smoked inside and kids roamed free outside - which is not always a good thing.

I liked how the author captured how serious and passionate kids can be, even when they're "just playing." The novel starts with Johann hitting his friend in the head with a hammer and being banned from his friend's birthday party: "Not being invited to Oli's birthday party is comparable to an entire country being expelled from the United Nations." From my own childhood, I remember kids saying "you can't come to my birthday party!" and it was a powerful threat.

The author first achieved fame as poet, and you can see a poetic flair here and there in the novel ("the clouds like countless men in overcoats rushing off to work.").

I wouldn't say the book is for everyone, but it was a memorable addition to my "bookshelf" of Icelandic novels.

[Severine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The edition is a bit strange, with the pink paper... but it isn't troubling, I think. Pink is certainly a bit energizing, as red. It arises a childish energy! Which is natural: it's a story told by a young boy - 6 or 7 old. 3 days full of adventures of his life, : a birthday, games, etc.
And the novel is lovely. There's something special in icelandic litterature. A freshness, a simple, light and frank tenderness. It's exotical in a very intimate way. Poetical. A delightfull companion.

[Gemma W · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really interesting book gifted to me by my Icelandic neighbours. The voice of the child narrator reminded me a bit of Roddy Doyle's Paddy Clarke Hahaha initially, although in many ways the child character himself was much much darker. Do Icelandic kids regularly knock each other on the head with hammers?
It was a coming age story that ends quite unexpectedly in a disaster. I think I am still processing it

[Eve Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ensireaktioni:
En muista mitään. Mistä tämä kertoi? Pitääkö tämä lukea uudestaan vai oliko tämä huono.

Sitten...
Aaah, vasara. Niin ja ne juhlat. Ja niin edelleen.
Senkin pikku vintiöt!

Tämä tarina oli sekä sydäntälämmittävä että hulivili-hullunkurinen.
Voi niitä poikakultia.

[Kristin Jona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book..

[Marie-Luise · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book i ve read in a long long tome...

[Tanja (Litteraturhesten)]

Island