CBR15Passport other country (Iceland)
What would you do if you were stranded on a brand new, active volcano? Well, I do not know about you, but I do not think I would fall asleep like the two characters of ÆVar þÓr Benediktsson’s book, Stranded!: A Mostly True Story from Iceland did.
You see, back in the mid-to-late 1960s a volcano was created off the coast of Iceland. This brand-new island was really hot stuff (literally)! It was still flowing molten lava to the point if you were standing in one spot, and your boots started to melt, it was a good idea to move (which as Benediktsson said, is a good life lesson period). And while most people were, “That’s cool. I’ll stay here in Iceland, and the lava can stay over there,” the authors grandfather got permission to explore the island with a friend. A fisherman drops them off, promises to be back the next day, but never shows. A few days (with little food or water) later the two men are found and rescued. In the middle of their adventure to stay safe (and to take photographs and learn that get too close to a volcano your glasses will melt) there are references to the folklore of the country and in particular the concept of “finding the sweet spot of the day to make a wish that will come true”.
Or did this happen? You see the book says it is mostly true. And which of the amazing things that the author gives us is not true? Did the grandfathers’ glasses melt? Did the fisherman come back? Did they sleep the night? Did they actually go to the island? Slight spoiler, I figured out the falsehood (though I did question myself once).
Now the publisher description says this book has a “graphic novel like layout.” And Anne Wilson does have a fun, funky, colorful, and perfectly (sometimes crowded, though) detailed images. You can judge for yourself if they are your personal tastes as sometimes, they can be a tiny bit cartoonish, but that helps keep things lighthearted while learning in a not too obvious manner. There is even information on the country added as well. Due August 2023 (read via Edelweiss).
PS: I took the authors name straight from a site I use at work, if anyone knows a more westernized translation I am happy to add!
