Woman at 1,000 Degrees: A Novel

Author: Helgason, Hallgrímur

Edition: Reprint

Number Of Pages: 416

Details:

“THE HOTTEST NEW BOOK FROM ICELAND IS WOMAN AT 1,000 DEGREES . . . What a story it is, one worth reading to further understand the complexity of World War II—and to enjoy the quick wit of a woman you won’t forget.” —Bethanne Patrick, The Washington Post “I live here alone in a garage, together with a laptop computer and an old hand grenade. It’s pretty cozy.” Herra Björnsson is at the beginning of the end of her life. Oh, she has two weeks left, maybe three—she has booked her cremation appointment, at a crispy 1,000 degrees, so it won’t be long. But until then she has her cigarettes, a World War II–era weapon, some Facebook friends, and her memories to sustain her. And what a life this remarkable eighty-year-old narrator has led. In the internationally bestselling and award-winning Woman at 1,000 Degrees, which has been published in fourteen languages, noted Icelandic novelist Hallgrímur Helgason has created a true literary original. From Herra’s childhood in the remote islands of Iceland, where she was born the granddaughter of Iceland’s first president, to teen years spent living by her wits alone in war-torn Europe while her father fought on the side of the Nazis, to love affairs on several continents, Herra Björnsson moved Zelig-like through the major events and locales of the twentieth century. She wed and lost husbands, had children, fled a war, kissed a Beatle, weathered the Icelandic financial crash, and mastered the Internet. She has experienced luck and betrayal and upheaval and pain, and—with a bawdy, uncompromising spirit—she has survived it all. Now, as she awaits death in a garage in Reykjavík, she shows us a woman unbowed by the forces of history. Each part of Herra’s story is a poignant piece of a puzzle that comes together in the final pages of this remarkable, unpredictable, and enthralling novel.

Reviews:

“Published in 13 languages, this novel about one feisty Icelandic woman’s proximity to history’s big moments is a thoroughly entertaining ride.” —People

“Incredibly funny, incredibly insightful and incredibly moving.”

— Fiona Mozley, author of Elmet

“[Herra's] story, based on true events, is no predictable chronicle of wartime woe . . . the narrator recounts her misshapen life with engaging vividness.” —The New Yorker

“[Herra’s] perspective might be just what we need in these uncertain times: She survives and shares her story on her terms. And what a story it is, one worth reading to further understand the complexity of World War II—and to enjoy the quick wit of a woman you won’t forget.” —Washington Post

“Compelling . . .  Uplifting . . . Required reading for those who want sour along with the sweet in life.” —New York Journal of Books

“This rollicking novel . . . is as delightful as it is dirty.”

— Minneapolis Star Tribune

“One of the most original novels of the year.” —Irish Independent

“This is a profoundly, triumphantly feminist book . . . There's nothing like it in our language.” —Toronto Star

“Icelandic novelist Helgason shares with John Irving a knack for masterful plotting and clever, sarcastic humor . . . anyone willing to . . . revel in its flights of language will find much to enjoy.” —Booklist

“Helgason’s sad and funny novel begins in 2009, as 80-year-old Herra Björnsson lies dying in a Reykjavík garage, still in possession of a live hand grenade from World War II . . . In her unsentimental, unsparing narrative, she offers insights into Icelandic culture and character, including a riff on reticence and a brief summary of Iceland’s financial meltdown. Like the Icelandic landscape, she can be both appealing and treacherous.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Herra . . . is exceedingly quick-witted and has a wickedly colorful way with words . . .  Brilliantly written with flashing insights.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Long after I read it, the story and its prickly protagonist has stayed with me.”

— Esmeralda Santiago, auth...

EAN: 9781616208660

Release Date: 08-01-2019

Languages: English

Item Note: Readable book with typical wear and small creases. Part of cover is torn. Has a remainder mark. Paperback Used - Good 2019Reprint

Item Condition: UsedGood

Binding:

Paperback