Having survived a terrifying burglary, Emma had reached a point in life where she feared being awake and dreaded falling asleep.
She grabbed her late mother’s notebooks, packed her car with warm clothes, a swimsuit that had seen better days, a set of winter tyres and a brand new tent, and caught a ferry to Iceland.
Surtsey was an unexpected eruption - just as my own birth was unplanned and something of an interruption.
So captivated by the magic of Iceland, our mother returned home with a bar of Toblerone for each of us. There were no hugs or questions as to our welfare. My sisters and I had been alone for three weeks. I was almost 5 years old.
Inspired by a six-month journey to Iceland in wintertime, “Where the f**k is Blönduós?” is moving, honest, and entertaining.
Why would a middle-aged woman choose to spend a winter alone in the far north of Iceland?
It’s a fair question, though the answer isn’t quite so straightforward. I dreamed of lying on a blanket gazing up into the night sky, holding my breath in anticipation of the colourful aurora that may soon dance overhead, without being asked, “Will you be long?”
By battling the elements, conquering her fears, and learning to knit, all under the watchful gaze of the small community, Emma made sense of the past, found peace with the present, and felt strong enough to deal with the future.
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I love to travel, but will admit that I do tend to stay in Europe. My bucket list destinations have always been; Canada (ticked that one off last year), Norway (trip booked for next year), and Iceland (yet to be organised!).
Iceland fascinates me. I read a lot of Icelandic fiction, mainly crime fiction, and always translated. I've been lucky enough to meet and spend time with some of my favourite Icelandic authors, and they are, without doubt, some of the friendliest, most laid back people that I've ever met.
So, Where The F**k is Blönduós really appealed to me. Emma Strandberg is not Icelandic, she is based in Sweden and has travelled extensively, and I had no idea where Blönduós is, but the draw of Iceland, accompanied by the intriguing blurb and gorgeous cover sold it to me.
What a fabulous read this is! Emma has faced many personal issues and it is the terrifying experience of a house burglary that spurs her on to pack up her things and travel to Iceland. It's also something of a tribute to her mother who did exactly the same thing fifty years ago.
Emma writes with a conviction and passion that makes the reader really feel as though they too are experiencing this adventure. The crazy, dangerous initial journey, the discovery that Blönduós is not, in fact, the magical sort of town that she imagined, and her determination to make this all work is so well described. Despite her initial reaction, Emma does stay in town and she throws herself into the local community, slowly being accepted and trying out so many things, including knitting! She does nothing heart heartedly, Emma gives it her all.
The thought of camping, alone, in a strange place frightens the life out of me. However, Emma does just that, with guidance from Maas; who becomes her own personal support system.
This is so much more than a travel memoir. It features personal and family history, lots of local culture and tradition. Emma explores many feelings, including grief and happiness. There are moments of joy, there are moments that are very poignant, but it is always beautifully handled.
The reader can feel Emma's passion for both travel and writing. She is precise, lyrical and almost poetic at times. A wonderful story, told by a woman who I really admire. Highly recommended.
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Brunei, Cambodia to Kashmir, Greenland to Zimbabwe. My curiosity to travel together with my passion for nature and the great outdoors inspires much of my work.
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