Talisman

No problem Julie - yes Iceland is beautiful and for me only 3 hours away. I am really lucky in that I live just half an hour from Gatwick as well, which has the cheapest fares. I have been to a fair number of other countries, including the rest of Scandinavia, but Iceland is for me the best - I have been 7 times over the last 30 years, and hope to go again next summer to some of the more remote wilderness areas in the northwest, which are well off the beaten track. As for Icelandic books, because I prefer Kindle, I treated it as more of a scouting exercise really. Books are so expensive there that is it cheaper to buy them when you get home anyway, plus Kindle is always cheaper anyway. I could and frequently do spend hours in the Reykjavik book stores even so.

The 12 days of Kindle has started already on Amazon UK - there are some great deals on crime and literary fiction in particular, with most of the Elizabeth Haynes books 99p.

Yes Julie - the landscape is pretty much as described, certainly in the remoter areas anyway. Icelanders say that there are 2 Iceland's - Reykjavik and the rest of the country and that is pretty much true - although two thirds of Icelanders live in Reykjavik the capital city, this is not the real Iceland at all - it is the wilder, remoter areas and the smaller villages and settlements and national parks. There are so many Icelandic books I could recommend, as Iceland has such a long and celebrated literary heritage starting with the medieval sagas - there are so many of these too. They can be difficult to get to grips with due to the complex weaving of the relationships between the different characters, but they are certainly one way to learn about the history of the country. Probably my favourite is Laxdaela Saga which is a classic Icelandic medieval love triangle. There is also of course the Vinland Sagas which is the true story of the Norse discovery of North America and colonisation of Greenland. The best known Icelandic author is probably Halldor Laxness. I am almost ashamed to admit that I have only read one of his books - Independent People which is set at the turn of the 20th Century and about the hardships of life faced by an Icelandic farmer and his struggle for survival. It can be a difficult book to read for those who again are not that familiar with the country, and it does not really get going until after the first 100 pages or so, but it is a beautiful book if you persevere, which is quite rightly regarded as a classic. As for more modern books, there are just so many. I would recommend anything by Arnaldur Indridarson (crime fiction - probably best to start with the first in the series, Jar City) or Yrsa Sigurdadottir, especially I Remember You, which is a really scary Icelandic ghost story. Also Iceland Defrosted by Edward Hancox (non fiction book about the authors love affair with Iceland) and The Greenhouse by Audur Ava Olafsdottir. Other books that are on my wish list that I am yet to read include Season of the Witch by Arni Thorarinsson, The Creator by Gudrun Eva Minervudottir and Reply to a Letter from Helga by Bergsveinn Birgisson. I am sure there are many more too that I am yet to hear about.

I loved Burial Rites Julie, and it's actually (I'm sure you knew this anyway) based on a true story. I took it to Iceland with me in October, which for me made it all the more poignant - I read half of on the plane coming back. I do find that there are some brilliant books coming out of Iceland these days - it is rapidly becoming my most read country with at least 8 others on my wish list. I understand though that Burial Rites is being made into a film, which should be really good.

I like the Reykjavik mysteries series by Arnaldur Indridason - I have read 8 out of the 9 so far translated into English from their original Icelandic, and each one seems to get better than the last. The fact that I am so familiar with many of the places that are written about in these books certainly helps.

I want to see pictures of him on it !

It has me too to be honest. While it is true that this new job would pay a lot more, it is also further from home and the hours are less than ideal. If I am honest, I did already have some doubts and this has only served to exacerbate them. My current job though is also less than perfect (which is of course why I went looking for another one in the first place), and I know that in the long term I do need to get out of here. I also though know that this has to be at the right time and for the right alternative. I am not convinced at all that this is it. We are in the midst of a consultation process at work at the moment, as they are changing our shift times at the end of March and asking everyone to do weekends. What I will probably then do it wait until then and see if things here improve. If they don't, or if I am still feeling fed up, there is another new home opening about 15 minutes from where I live in the summer, so when they start recruiting I will probably try them.

So do I, because if it doesn't I will have to tell them to clear off !

Sounds like a good plan Julie - I haven't even thought about next year yet !

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I haven't been on here that much lately what with work and having had the rotten cold that seems to have been doing the rounds. I am feeling a little better now, although there is still an annoying tickling in the throat, so it hasn't completely gone. The only good thing about having a cold is the fact that having to take days off means more time for reading, so good can come from bad. It has though been a strange few weeks for me, trying to get something sorted out for what was supposed to be my new job. I was offered the job back in October and got the CRB after just 3 weeks, so I should have started by now, but after the CRB arrived they suddenly sprung on me that they wanted me to do 3 days training with them before handing in my notice. Needless to say, the people I am working for at the moment (who are in the midst of restructuring) refused to give me time off. Initially they offered me some dates in November, but they are now saying that it will not be until January, with no definite date given. At this rate then it will be March before I can start with them. After about 6 weeks of this I am then heartily fed up. I sent the Home Manager an email about a week ago, on the advice of my Union, expressing my concerns and asking them to help me find a resolution, but have had no reply. I have also tried ringing the home, but the Manager is always either busy or not there. Today then being my day off, I rang the Union again and this time they advised me to contact the company's Head Office, which I have done. Hopefully then this will get a better result. I still get the feeling though that this is all very fishy and I am not al all sure about whether I want to work for a company that does this sort of thing. If they can do this before I start work with them, it begs the question, what else are going to spring on me once I am there? At least if I do still go there they will however know that I am not a pushover.

I read that earlier this year, and can also recommend it.

Finished my 42nd country for the year yesterday. It was another one of those that is very hard to find - St Helena, Ascension and Tristan de Cunha - which are three islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean miles from anywhere. I suspect it would be well nigh impossible to find any books written by someone who was born on either one of these islands, so I did the next best thing, I found one that was written by the wife of a clergyman who spent three years living there at the turn of the 20th Century (Three Years in Tristan de Cunha by Katherine Mary Barrow). It wasn't the best book I have read this year, but I can't complain, as it was free.

Mum - When Girls Collide

I read one of his other books last year, and loved that one too.

Talisman, happy to here you liked The Rook so well! It's a brilliant book, and so incredibly funny - especially that scene with the duck ! I don't know about you, but it felt almost like 2 books to me, as it seemed to change halfway through and suddenly become this really humorous tome. Maybe the author took a break halfway through writing it or something. Either way, I hope he does a follow up, and better still, it becomes a film, as that would be brilliant.

A truly humble and inspirational man, who touched and helped change so many lives. He will without a doubt go down in history as one of our greatest leaders and philosophers. RIP

Your favourite read of the year - The Rook by Daniel O'Malley Your favourite author of the year - hard to say really, as to me the book is more important than the person who wrote it Your most read author of the year - Tim Severin Your favourite book cover of the year - since I only read e-books, the cover is of no importance The book you abandoned - none The book that most disappointed you - Pynter Bender - Jacob Ross The funniest book of the year - The Rook by Daniel O'Malley Your favourite literary character this year - Myfanwy from The Rook Your favourite childrens book this year - didn't read any Your favourite classic of the year - again, didn't read any Your favourite non-fiction book this year - Do They Hear You When They Cry by Layli Miller Bashir and Fauziya Kassindja. A close second was Chavs by Owen Jones Your favourite biography this year - haven't read any Your favourite collection of short stories this year - The Granta Book of the African Short Story Your favourite poetry collection of the year - haven't read any Your favourite illustrated book of the year - ditto Your favourite publisher of the year - I couldn't in all honesty say, since again for me the story is more important than who published it Your favourite audio book of the year - didn't read (or should I say) hear any Your favourite re-read of the year - ditto

We went to see Sigur Ros at Wembley about 2 weeks ago, and they were fantastic. I have been a fan of theirs for well over a decade, having discovered their music in a Reykjavik record store and have been hooked pretty much ever since, having also converted Coran. It was definitely one of the best shows I have been to - by the end of the evening it felt like every single cell in my body was vibrating and there were people there with tears streaming down their faces.

Darwin, Australia

Beautiful Life - Martin Roth

I loved it - there is always one book each year that really makes me laugh, and this was it last year. This year it has been The Rook by Daniel O'Malley - especially that scene with the duck.

I finished yet another country a few days ago - this time Djibouti in the horn of Africa. It is hard to find books from this part of the world, but I managed to find one that was not only set there but also written by a native - Transit by Abdourahman A Waberi

Hope you managed to get those tickets Muggle. Coran and I went to see Sigur Ros at Wembley on Thursday. I have been a fan of theirs for well over a decade after discovering them in a Reykjavik record store back in 2001 (their music at least), just after their 2nd (or 3rd, depending on how you look at it) breakthrough album made them famous. This though was the first time I had had the opportunity to see them live. I went to a lot of live gigs before I met Coran during my 20's, but none like this. The music, the crowd, the visuals everything was just stunning. The quality of the musicians really shone through, as the sound was almost exactly like the studio music I am so familiar with, and of course THAT voice. Their music definitely has a spiritual element to it - listening to is almost a form of transcendental meditation that puts you into a whole other space. By the end of their 2 hour set my whole body was just vibrating with energy - I have known anything like it - on the walk back to our hotel I saw people with tears streaming down their faces. I can't wait for their next tour, and if I hear anything even resembling a rumour of gig in Reykjavik, their home city, I shall be straight on the next aeroplane ! I am so glad we had the idea to stay up there last night and didn't have to leave behind the end of the show, as it as it one hell of a climax, with some acoustic songs that they haven't played live in years.

Sigur Ros - memories of Thursday at Wembley