Alda Sigmundsdtir's "The Little Book of Icelandic Folklore: Tales of Myth and Magic"

Kathy P.: This enjoyable quick read is a great little adjunct for anyone wanting to visit Iceland. I’m trying to get a feel for the language before I go. It’s not designed to teach you Icelandic, just to get a better feel for how it developed and some of the background of it. I already sent a gift copy to a friend also traveling there.

United States on Oct 12, 2023

Max Chee: Highly entertaining and interesting to think of a language so old without much change over the years. Boom chukka lukka

United States on Aug 02, 2023

Bryn: I travel to Iceland often and work with Icelanders and so I’ve been trying to learn the language. I love it but it’s very difficult! This is one of the most helpful and enjoyable ways of learning about the language that I’ve encountered yet.

United States on Jul 04, 2023

Cherry Raisin: Well written and a good introduction to the challenges of learning this unique language.

Canada on Jun 13, 2023

Phil S: My wife and I recently visited Iceland and we are obsessed with the place now. I saw this gem of a book there but had to wait because of luggage space.

As a language nerd, I love everything this book has to offer. Alda explains *everything*, so you literally don't need a word of Icelandic to understand. I will probably buy Alda's whole Little Book series 🍻❤️🇮🇸

United States on Jan 07, 2023

Ari: I'm a bit biased because I'm Icelandic myself, but regardless, the book is cleverly written, funny, and informative.

Sweden on Sep 29, 2022

Cliente Kindle: I am a brazilian who have held a love for Iceland from as far as I can remember. The amazing landscapes, the culture, the traditions always amazed me, as well as the language (so distant from my own "beloved and gentle" mother tongue). Alda's book is a fun and well written firsthand account of the latter. My dream of one day visiting Iceland just increased, and I can't wait to read Alda's other works.

Brazil on Jul 17, 2021

Aileen: I’ve been trying to learn Icelandic for a little while now and this has been a fun supplement to my study. It can sometimes be tricky to find resources where there are simple translations between Icelandic and English that are accurate, but Alda mentions her time abroad and is clearly exceptionally fluent in both English and Icelandic to be able to translate not just literally but also the intended meaning. It’s been quite helpful to have some lighthearted reading along with my more rigid study.

United Kingdom on Dec 18, 2019

Javier Fernandez-Suarez: I have been studying Icelandic for a few months now. It takes determination, and it is hard work but there is a reward for every step, no matter how small that step may be. Icelandic, to me, has the beauty of a symphony and the precision of algebra (and so much more that is hidden in its charming complexity). Now, the book by Alda Sigmundsdottir, which I devoured in one evening and keep re-reading every now and then, is a lovely "essay" that will help you get closer to the "heart" of the Icelandic language and also the heart of the Icelanders. It will not tell you which prepositions go with dative or when it is in order to use the subjunctive...... but it will make you want to know it. I really recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Icelandic language (even if you are not learning it, even if you already are a native / fluent speaker). A pleasure to read. A gemstone of a book. And remember: þetta reddast!

Spain on Feb 01, 2018

Michael Gordon: Intended as a commentary on the Icelandic language rather than a tutorial. Since my Navy days I have been trying, although not diligently, to learn the rules of the language. It appears that maybe the task is doomed as there seems to be no predictable rules.

Consider the peculiarities of English -- the plural of "dog" is "dogs", but the plural of "sheep" is still "sheep". Why is that? I have no idea. Maybe some deep cultural wisdom is contained in it.

Anyway, Icelandic has quite a lot of that sort of thing where making a word plural changes it, but so does the reason you are saying the word. If you merely name a place it gets one spelling and sounding; but if you are going there it gets a different spelling and sounding, and so on. The complexity is fascinating.

I was pleased to confirm an observation I had made while there; Icelandic can unambiguously answer a negatively phrased question. Do you want to see a movie? Ja (yes). Don't you want to see a movie? (Do you NOT want to see a movie?) Ju (yes; negates the negative and affirms the object).

My interest is in human nature; an ancient language carefully preserved has such things as negatively phrased...

United States on May 21, 2016