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alisonmca's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Fantastic book - I so enjoyed the exploration of Icelandic culture.
jacki_f's review
3.0
I've read two of Sarah Moss's novels and I love the way she writes. This is a non-fiction book, about the year in 2009-2010 that she and her family spent living in Iceland while she worked for the local university. It's an uneven read that is sometimes fascinating and entertaining, but at other times a bit too much hard work.
I've realised that I like my travel accounts to be personal. I've enjoyed books like "Me Myself and Prague" and "Almost French", when the author brings their own background into the story and presents the place that they are living in within the context of their own lives. And parts of "Names for the Sea" are like that, but then there are other chapters where Moss writes like a journalist determined to dispassionately present as many aspects of Icelandic culture and society as she can.
I really enjoyed reading about the differences in schooling, about her impressions of the landscape and the seasons, about what the supermarkets were like and the crazy local drivers and her interactions with her students. Most of the first half of the book is like this. I was less interested in lengthy explanations about the Icelandic economy or myths or beliefs in elves or wartime history. I realise that someone else may feel quite differently and in fact there's at least one review further down the page that says pretty much the opposite of what I've just said. But they were also dissatisfied: I think perhaps Moss had to decide what kind of book she wanted to write and choose one approach or the other.
I've realised that I like my travel accounts to be personal. I've enjoyed books like "Me Myself and Prague" and "Almost French", when the author brings their own background into the story and presents the place that they are living in within the context of their own lives. And parts of "Names for the Sea" are like that, but then there are other chapters where Moss writes like a journalist determined to dispassionately present as many aspects of Icelandic culture and society as she can.
I really enjoyed reading about the differences in schooling, about her impressions of the landscape and the seasons, about what the supermarkets were like and the crazy local drivers and her interactions with her students. Most of the first half of the book is like this. I was less interested in lengthy explanations about the Icelandic economy or myths or beliefs in elves or wartime history. I realise that someone else may feel quite differently and in fact there's at least one review further down the page that says pretty much the opposite of what I've just said. But they were also dissatisfied: I think perhaps Moss had to decide what kind of book she wanted to write and choose one approach or the other.
nickeal1's review against another edition
4.0
Brought back fond memories of our short stay in the wonderful country. Liked author's honesty about her fears and feelings.
abi_g_mac's review
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
Really enjoyed this reflection on Iceland, cultural identity and the experience of being a stranger.
The nature writing was beautiful too.
The nature writing was beautiful too.
cevec's review
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Thought provoking and reflective, a really good piece of travel writing! Touches on ideas of national and cultural identity, what it means to be a foreigner, a tourist, a traveller and native to your home land, but also some really beautiful descriptions of land, water, light, as well as food, family and friendship! Some funny moments too. Definitely inspired me to put a trip to Iceland on the cards!
Only thing that irked me sometimes was what I felt was the author's lack of sense of her own privilege when discussing the poverty and financial crisis, and the difference in cultures when it came to second hand goods and charity...it just came across a bit bluntly and sharp. But it was a minor part of a book I enjoyed! A really in depth and enjoyable look into a land and a culture that I didn't know much about!! And what are books for, other than a way to travel in to a different land!
Only thing that irked me sometimes was what I felt was the author's lack of sense of her own privilege when discussing the poverty and financial crisis, and the difference in cultures when it came to second hand goods and charity...it just came across a bit bluntly and sharp. But it was a minor part of a book I enjoyed! A really in depth and enjoyable look into a land and a culture that I didn't know much about!! And what are books for, other than a way to travel in to a different land!
paperbacksandpines's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book but after reading about 2/3 of it, I had to force myself to the finish line. It became such a slog.
I wanted to learn more about Iceland. While I did learn about Iceland and its people, it was from an outsider's point of view. Moss went out of her way to talk to native Icelanders so that she could learn more about their culture, which is admirable, but her knowledge and understanding of the country and its culture, was still limited by her outsider status.
I was so disappointed by this book.
I wanted to learn more about Iceland. While I did learn about Iceland and its people, it was from an outsider's point of view. Moss went out of her way to talk to native Icelanders so that she could learn more about their culture, which is admirable, but her knowledge and understanding of the country and its culture, was still limited by her outsider status.
I was so disappointed by this book.
meghan111's review against another edition
3.0
Memoir by a professor about working and living abroad in Iceland for a year with her family, including two small children. Interesting, with plenty of details about what people eat, how they drive, etc. She was there during the aftermath of the financial crisis and during the time period when an Icelandic volcano caused all sorts of flights to be canceled across Europe.
amycrea's review against another edition
4.0
Sarah Moss is a literature professor who picked up with her husband and two young kids, left their British home, and spent a year teaching and living in Iceland. This is a memoir about that year, which also happened to be 2009, the year of the big volcano issue and the economic meltdown. It's a sharp, interesting look at life as a "foreigner" in Iceland. I admit to kind of drifting through some of the political scenes, as I was more interested in the people and the culture. And the knitting.
half_book_and_co's review
4.0
In the acknowledgements, Sarah Moss remarks "part of being outsiders is to be wrong". In her memoir Names for the Sea about taking a job in Reykjavik and moving her family there, Moss tries to make sense of Iceland though realizing this might not always work out. Moss describes navigating Iceland during a crucial time (between her job interview and their move fell the financial crash), and experiences of being outsiders. The book is no classical travelogue (and some reviewers complained that there is barely any travelling - which I found rather realistic because moving for work is just fundamentally different from going on a vacation). Moss' writing is beautiful and though she rarely leaves Reykjavik, she speaks with a lot of different people and through these encounters offers glimpses into living realities in Iceland at different times and places (for example reflecting the coming-of-age of a young girl on a rural farms in the 1940s or the experiences of those who lived through the Eldfell eruption in 1973), into beliefs and politics. One thing which annoyed me at times is that Moss seems to be afraid of fairly everything - which grated on my nerves even though I am very anxious myself. Also, I found her analysis of nationalism, especially when she compares it to her experiences in the UK (where she can't detect such strong national feelings), pretty shaky. But all in all, I enjoyed this book, I recognized a lot of things, I laughed and marvelled at some stories.