The Creak on the Stairs was intended to transport me back to a wonderful trip to Iceland in June 2019.
For years I had been listening to people tell me how wonderful the country is, but somehow I just took a long time to get there. I think I am always apprehensive of “must see” destinations like that turning out to be over hyped.
Iceland certainly was not an anticlimax, and the only disappointment was not having enough time to see more of it.
This was Eva Björg Ægisdóttir’s first book, and it is set in her home town – Akranes, a little bit north of Reykjavík. It falls into the Nordic Noir genre. I have read a few Yrsa Sigurðardóttir books, so I had some idea of what to expect. The translation of the book into English was supported financially by the Icelandic Literature Center.
Certainly it gives the reader an insight into small town Icelandic life which a tourist is unlikely to get a glimpse of, but which could be an interesting cultural briefing before my next visit!
“The Akranes speciality, a deep-fried hot dog, tasted exactly as she had remembered. And the melted cheese, chips and burger sauce more than satisfied all her junk-food cravings.”
I would love to be able to take 10-14 days and just slowly meander around the island. I have seen quite a few of the places close to Reykjavík already, so they can be skipped the second time around.
I would want to go back to the city, however. It has a very relaxed atmosphere which appealed to me.
ⓒ iain taylor, 2021
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