Reviews

World Light by Halldór Laxness

tjreadsalot's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

ilman's review against another edition

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  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

jazzylemon's review against another edition

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5.0

The story of a poet growing up in dire circumstances. Very well translated.

steepedflowers's review against another edition

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4.0

I finally finished it. After 3-4 years, starting out as my off-and-on, put-me-to-sleep book. It's comprised of four volumes, and the first sees the protagonist mostly sick in bed, and the main conflict didn't even come into play until the fourth volume, so there was just a lot of exposition and prudent satire of Icelandic countryfolk.

The meandering narrative follows a fuckboy-type poet and his gentle misadventures of being someone with his head in the clouds, doing nothing of value in the yes of his peers. He sits in bed and dreams of the sun of becoming a poet.

I don't know how to rate this, because I'm inclined to rate it high, but questioning whether it is due to me actually liking the book, or me having invested a lot of time in something, so it must have been worthwhile in my eyes.

I liked the descriptiveness. It wasn't overly flowery, but it had me dreaming of Iceland

sebastianhafner's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kimboyd's review against another edition

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2.0

I loved Independant People. Unfortunately, I did not have the patience for this story.

sb5435's review against another edition

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5.0

Inspired by a recent trip to Iceland I decided I should read some Icelandic novels, and it seems - short of [b:Sagas of the Icelanders|4953046|Sagas of the Icelanders|Snorri Sturluson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1378048662l/4953046._SX50_.jpg|5018790] and the like - that [a:Halldór Laxness|8875|Halldór Laxness|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1267705441p2/8875.jpg] was the most acclaimed author. I picked World Light mostly because of its availability at the library. I was absolutely floored by it - it was incredibly engaging. I won't talk too much about the story except to say that it's full of tragedy, moments of insight into life and the world, and some very odd characters who become quite believable in context. This was the first book by Laxness that I read, but I'm quite sure it won't be the last.

homa99's review against another edition

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5.0

"Soon the sun of the day of resurrection will shine on the bright paths where she awaits her poet.

And beauty shall reign alone."

pigeonindustrialcomplex's review

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reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

krobart's review against another edition

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2.0

See my review here:

http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2016/11/16/day-996-world-light/