An interesting memoir from a culture different from my own. It provided a fun storyline that was very descriptive. Overall good read and would recommend.

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An Iceland paradox: “The very stubborn nature of the place is change itself. Not always adaptation but alteration. It’s written into our rocks and our bones.”

“Farm-raised children don’t grow up to farm much more often than farm-raised eggs grow up to be chickens…No norms, just opportunities, blood, and choices.”

Mamma, an immigrant, was a first generation Icelander. She worked as a politics professor at BiFrost University. Pabbi was a generational farmer from a long line before him. Mamma and Pabbi met at the library. She pursued her studies, he shelved books. Mamma had no interest in farming, no fondness for the country. “She chose Pabbi-and whatever came with him in the bargain.” Orri’s life was at a crossroads. He was about to become a first year college student at the University of Iceland (at Reykjavik).

Pabbi was a contrarian. In an attempt to farm a better way, he chose to keep no sheep, horses or Icelandic cattle, only slow-growing Galloways. He had a “genuine fondness for animals, he experienced life as a slow leak, a gradual drying out of hope.” He was stoic; a farmer needed to endure a great many things.

Mamma’s mantra: Success through education. She, herself, was the daughter of a well respected pulmonologist. She hoped that her son, Orri would embark upon a successful career after attending Uni. Education ran deep in Mamma’s blood.

Initially, Orri enjoyed college having felt stifled by rural life and weekend farm labor. Soon however, he was bombarded by “unwelcome stimuli”; streetlights, drunkards, and shouting neighbors. He discovered that he “missed the company of animals-their pace and uncomplicated needs.” The opportunity to return home arose when Pabbi needed help with the calving. Since Pabbi controlled every aspect of the farm, Orri didn’t know how to farm. “Pabbi kept a great deal from me. He wavered perpetually between a desire to keep farming joyful…and a compulsion to rob me of my illusions.”

Pabbi’s stubborn insistence upon working alone would not get the job done. Orri was taught to mow, rake, bale and wrap bales of hay. He learned to calve and cull the herd. He started to feel a “heady draught of independence and capability…”. Would he return to his studies at Uni after total immersion in farm life?

Against the stark landscape, with the ever present possibility of volcanic eruption, farmers carved out a hardscrabble life. Two important workers were the tractor “Kolkrabbi”, which puttered, ceased, then eventually got the job done and faithful companion Australian Kelpie, “Rykug” who helped work the cattle. Winters were frozen. In spring-the arrival of the golden plover…”The plover had arrived to banish the snow…Sunshine in the valley blooms in the meadow…” Could budding love bloom as well?

Highly recommended.

Thank you Little, Brown and Company and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was pretty good, it did remind me a little bit of a Hallmark movie, but less cheesy. I did enjoy reading about the different cultures and different country. It was descriptive, and the characters were enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!