Happy Jólabókaflód!

-

We are now in the heart of Icelands' Yuletide celebration of books and publishing. I am delighted to see more and more people in the wider world getting excited about Jólabókaflód! Let me give you a few tidbits of information about this wonderful expression of the joy of reading; a few things you may or may not know...but really worth looking at.
Did you know that Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country in the world? These books are, for the large part, published only during the Christmas season; well, from September onwards; "flooding" Iceland with a sea of new books. Hence, Jólabókaflód....Yule Book Flood.
These newly published books are listed in a yearly compilation catalog called "bókatíðindi", or "Book News". A copy of this is sent out to each and every household in Iceland for free. Then the planning and buying begins....
On Christmas Eve in Iceland, books are exchanged as gifts and the rest of the evening is spent reading.  Can you think of a better way to wind down after all the rushing around; the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season while waiting for that magical morning? Curled up in bed under cosy blankets and quilts with a cup of hot chocolate and a brand new book! Can't think of anything better.
Iceland has always been a land that loves its' stories, legends...it has an impressive literary history. Jólabókaflód is an important part of that centuries-old cultural history. During World War 2, strict currency restrictions limited the amount of imported gift ware rather severely. But the restrictions on imported paper were far more lenient. So...books became almost a default gift in Iceland, cementing its' commitment to its' literary inclinations. And establishing Jólabókaflód as THE event embedded the holiday celebrations.
Frankly, I can't think of a better one.
Happy Jólabókaflód, everybody.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Rights of the Reader

-
Image
The Rights of the Reader; Daniel Pennac, illustrated by Quentin Blake Summer is here and we do encourage summer reading with numerous incentives and programmes. It is important for children (of all ages) to 'keep their reading up' outside of school time. This is the time when kids develop their own taste in books and can be free to read books of their own choosing. And this is the single most important factor in young people developing a lifelong reading habit. But how do we, as the 'gatekeepers' of kids reading, encourage them properly without running the risk of thrusting pressure and our own ideas on them? Do that and you'll run the risk of pushing them away from reading, and there are already so many distractions for the young reader to contend with that can tempt them elsewhere. Published by Walker Books; 9781406300918 In 1992, French writer Daniel Pennac originally published this little gem of a book; The Rights of the Reader. I highly recommend
Read more

The Summer of Lily and Esme by John Quinn....25 years

-
Image
This year marks the anniversary of the publication of an extraordinary book. In 1991, Poolbeg published The Summer of Lily & Esme by John Quinn and in the 25 years since, it has never been out of print. The Summer of Lily & Esme tells a quiet story, filled with compassion, friendship, memory and heart. It is the story of Alan, an 11-year-old boy who has moved from the city into a house in the countryside; in the middle of nowhere.The house is old and extremely large and immaculate; and there is a locked, boarded over attic room that is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young boy who died tragically. Alan is not too pleased with this move and becomes even less thrilled when he discovers his closest neighbours, in fact his only neighbours, are a pair of elderly sisters, Esme and Lily, who seem to be suffering from dementia.  When Alan falls down a hill of brambles and weeds, the sisters, who believe they themselves to be children, mistake Alan for their
Read more

Launch of Genesis by Eilis Barrett

-
Image
A week ago, I played a small part of the launch of Genesis , the much-anticipated sequel to Oasis by Eilis Barrett; this time at Charlie Byrnes Bookshop in Galway. Vinny Brown introduces Eilis Eilis is a remarkable young woman, as you might imagine since she is 18 years old and this is her second book. ( Oasis was published when she was 16.) Articulate and accomplished, it is a real privilege to know her, to hear her speak and to read her writing. Genesis author: Eilis Barrett publisher: Gill Books (8 September 2017 ISBN: 9780717174355 Genesis picks up the story of Quincy Emerson. She now finds herself a captive once again, in the maximum-security prison, the Colosseum as a security risk. Held in deplorable and brutal conditions in the prison, where anarchy rules and rival gangs wage a 'street war' of sorts, Quincy takes care to not make an enemy of either gang boss, while holding allegiance to no one but herself and her comrades on the outside. Food is scarce an
Read more