First a caution: if you're going to Iceland and want a book that will give you recommendations for Reykjavik fine dining or suggestions on phrases like, "Which way is the potato farm?", this is NOT the book. And if you are easily bruised by cuss words and examination of the enhanced libidos of 20-somethings, you better avoid this book as well.
If, however, you're looking for a really imaginative and - dare I say FUN -- anti-travel guide - a guide that touches on everything from a very drunk and out-of-control Kiefer Sutherland, a real-life comedian mayor named Jon Gnarr who ran on a platform of not letting anyone in his cabinet who hadn't seen all episodes of The Wire, and an explanation of why so many Icelandic women become Miss Universe - well, here's your book.
Stephen Markley and his two friends visit Iceland a little while after the country's highly publicized economic crash, touring massive craters where massive blobs of magma crashed into the earth, exploring glaciers that are rapidly disappearing due to climate change, and in the process, recognizing the heart of Iceland" "the embodiment of those ever-warring human impulses, the ongoing spar between independence and community, freedom and collaboration, the Viking yearning clashing with the undeniable democratic power of the Althing, the bipolar nature of humankind somehow captured by these seasons of ultimate dark and ultimate light in the Cove of Smoke."
The book is funny and irreverent and breezily written but - and Stephen Markley may hate this - it's also highly informative and educational. He shines a spotlight on why Iceland was the only country to bounce back after the economic crash by going through a process of personal reflection and readjusting its expectations rather than "partying on." He gives a sobering look at what the glaciers mean to the world's water supply and why ours might be the last generation to explore them. And he provides a very candid look at Reykjavik's charismatic and surprisingly down-to-earth mayor, the "hidden people" (trolls and elves), and why Iceland's lure continues to entice.
Within this framework, there's a "buddy bonding" story - three young guys who traveled there after buying into the fantasy that "supermodels work at McDonald's", along with a fair amount of male libido jokes and bodily function remarks (hey, they're in their 20s, so you can just imagine!) Whether you're preparing for a trip to Iceland or simply dreaming of visiting one day, this is an entertaining and educational book - and it's great to hear that 5% of all profits go to SEEDS, an Icelandic non-governmental non-profit volunteer organization designed to promote environmental protection.
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Top reviews from other countries
Karen MacDonald
Everyone going to Iceland Should Read This Book
Reviewed in Canada on September 18, 2015
Lorna Melia
Truly one of my all-time favourites, I have never read ANYthing as funny as this!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2014