Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Íslensk menning



My collection of Icelandic (and Faroese) books, music and films has grown dramatically during the last fifteen years. From a single book (Independent People) into this collection occupying two full shelves of the Flippist Archives™. Actually, there are even more books—nine Indriðason titles are on a shelf below. Pretty impressive output from a country of 321,000! Even more amazing when one considers that my Icelandic shelf space is 20% of all my media (except vinyl, and I even have a couple of Icelandic LPs!)

I'm starting to think that it won't get much bigger than this, however. The Icelandic music scene is starting to falter (Kimi records just went bankrupt) and its film industry, while still vital, is starting to be incorporated in the world cinema—Balthazar Kormakur is now directing Mark Wahlberg action flicks! The book section might keep growing however, and I haven't even started reading Gunnar Gunnarsson.

I'm not a hoarder. Every couple of years I mercilessly thin out my books and CD's. If I don't think I'll ever visit a title again out it goes.

I know I'll be seeing my Íslenskir vinir again and again.

By Professor Batty


5 Comments:

Blogger Jono said...

There appears to be a lot of comfort in that collection.


Blogger Professor Batty said...

Yes, except for the Björk- she's never easy listening.


Anonymous I'd Rather Be in Iceland said...

I didn't realise Kimi Records had gone bankrupt! Uh oh.


Blogger Professor Batty said...

It is hard for me, as an outsider, to gauge the health of the Icelandic music scene, but what I've read and seen in the last few months (with some notable exceptions) is not encouraging.


Blogger Darien Fisher-Duke said...

Your friends, my friends.
My friend.

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