Review: The Tricking of Freya by Christina Sunley
Title: The Tricking of Freya
Author: Sunley, Christina
Length: 344 pages
Genre: Fiction, General
Publisher / Year: Picador, St. Martin’s Press / 2009
Source: This was sent to me for review by Terra Communicators.
Rating: 4.5/5
Why I Read It: One of my favorite reads last year was Iceland by Betsy Tobin. That book is a retelling of the Norse myth of Freya set in Iceland around 1oooAD. It got me interested in Iceland, in Freya, in Norse mythology. When I saw reviews of this book, I knew that I wanted to read it.
Date Read: 14/07/10
This book was everything I expected it to be, and more. I am having a hard time writing up a description that even almost does this book justice, so here is from the back cover:
Freya Morris is living in New York, far removed from her family and her past, when she is summoned back to the formative place of her youth, a remote Canadian village called Gimli, where her Icelandic ancestors settled long ago. Her ancient grandmother, a woman who knows all the family stories, now clings to life. In Gimli, Freya picks up the thread of a secret – one that leads her through her history and ultimately back to Iceland. Along the way, we learn the story of her early visits to Gimli, the truth about her exuberant, mercurial aunt, and the full scope of a tragedy that shattered her childhood in an instant.
This book is written in the form of letters, by Freya, to a cousin whom she has just learned of. In the letters she unfolds her story bit by bit, drawing you in more and more with each chapter. Occasionally she gets lots in recollection or debate, and occasionally she talks directly to her cousin, so it is as if she is conversing directly with us.
The language in this book is incredible. Everything seems so real and plausible. Each character is just flawed enough, or normal enough, to be believable. When events are described from when Freya was young, her childhood naiveté is so vividly believable and hilarious. Icelandic words and sentences are mixed in which gives the book an authentic feel. The place descriptions are wonderful and make me want to visit.
In fact, the Icelandic language and culture is almost a character itself in the book. The interjection of so many Icelandic words, sayings, dishes, was what made the book such a great read for me. The importance of culture is a big topic. When Birdie (Freya’s aunt) is talking to Freya’s mom about teaching her Icelandic, here mom asks what good it would do. Birdie responds, on page 34-5:
Good? What good? I’ll tell you what good. ‘Language is a solemn thing. It grows out of life, out of its agonies and ecstasies, its wants and its weariness. Every language is a temple, in which the soul of those who speak it is enshrined.’ Oliver Wendell Holmes. That’s what good it does. Sacred good.
I loved the importance that was given in this book, and that is given in Iceland, to the language, to books, to literature. My favorite Icelandic quote from the book is Blindur er boklaus madur – Blind is the bookless man. (from page 80). Isn’t that such a wonderful line?
The book leads slowly but surely to the cataclysmic even that is referenced through the book but we never really know what happens. All we know is that Birdie is dead and Freya hasn’t gone back to Gimli since.
We are also drawn slowly but surely to find out who ‘you’ is. Freya is always writing to ‘you’, to this cousin whom she has discovered she has. The reader gets drawn in to needing to know who this cousin is. I hoped that Freya would find her, I found myself rooting for her through all that happens. Reading the rest of the story and looking for clues. In the end, I was surprised. I had kind of guessed a few different things, but Sunley really kept me guessing until the end. It was great.
This was a wonderful book that I highly recommend. I now want to go to Iceland, and I want to learn Icelandic! A great accompaniment to the book is Christina Sunley’s blog where she posted pictures and stories of her trip to Iceland. It was great to see pictures of some of the places she had been. Go check it out!
I just got this book last week after reading another positive review like yours…thanks/glad u enjoyed it!
I really hope you love it Diane!
I’ve gotten obsessed w/ Iceland this year! Have you read The Far Traveller? If not, you have to right away!!! lol
Oh I haven’t, it is going on the wish list though! Thanks for the recommendation Eva
I’m really looking forward to this one! I’ve been reading a lot more adult literary lately and this sounds perfect for my mood right now. I’m glad I accepted a copy, and that I gave them your name too!
I’m really glad you gave them my name too Amanda!! You are awesome, just so ya know
I hope you enjoy it.
This sounds fab, and more like something I would enjoy in the winter than during the summer (I’m a weather sort of a reader). I actually have not read a whole heck of a lot about Iceland, but you make it sound so interesting. I do actually like that blind is the bookless man line, it’s SO true.
I know what you mean about seasonal reading April! I sometimes do the same. I think this would be good in any season, but winter would be great for sure yes,
Oh, this does indeed sound like a great book! I love the fact that it is so richly filled with the Icelandic culture and that, as you say, the culture almost becomes a character. I am going to add this one to my list based on your recommendation and also add Iceland, because that one sounds interesting as well. Thanks for the great review!!
Great zibilee! I hope you find and love both of the books. Both give such a vivid taste of Icelandic life.
I know next to nothing about Iceland (except they occasionally eat puffin according to Andrew Zimmern on the Travel Channel). However, I love to travel in my reading, so this sounds like one I’d really enjoy.
I didn’t know that about puffin Andi, but doesn’t surprise me. They do have a different diet for sure. I hope you like this one!
Iceland has been at the very top of my list of places to visit for ages. I need to read this!
I’m glad this post fit your interest Ana. Definitely a good book to read before visiting. And visit the authors blog too, such incredible pictures.
Added this to my list. I haven’t read anything about Iceland and would love to. Thanks for the review.
Thanks Kinna, I hope you enjoy it.
You’ve added to my list yet again Amy
Glad to hear it Iris
I love what you said about Icelandic language and culture being a character in this book. I am adding this to my wish list.
Great laughingstars66, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did when you get to it.
Sounds fantastic, Norse mythology is so interesting! Another book for the tbr list
I agree Bina, Norse mythology is great. Glad I could add to your list!
That’s really cool that it kept you guessing until the end. I figured out who “you” was about 200 pages in I think, but I didn’t care. I thought her journey of self-discovery and where she fit in in the New World and Iceland were more important. I really enjoyed this story as well. It was beautiful–the language, the imagery, the Nordic/Icelandic culture…all wonderful.
I will be posting my review early next week. I’m so glad to see you liked the book as well!
I feel like I should have guessed it Carin, but I didn’t. I’m really glad you liked it! And yes, weren’t the language, imagery and culture just wonderful? I’ll be watching for your review!
I loved the book, but I had my (correct) hypothesis ready after chapter 1.
Great book. My review is up shortly.
I’m starting to think that I’m just a bit slow leeswammes