Near Bernkastel (2012)
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Three Locks to Basel
My travel story about a cruise I took from Amsterdam to Basel on the Scenic Crystal's maiden voyage has appeared in Escape (27 May 2012). The piece is structured around the experience of travelling through the last three locks before arriving in Basel, and appears in Escape as "Lazy days of simply going with the flow" (pages 24-25).
Friday, May 11, 2012
Stilts Review 2
Well, not quite a review...rather, Sally Breen's lovely open letter to me on the topic of my book The Promise of Iceland: it has been published in Stilts and is available for free here.
Reykajvík (2006)
Reality Bites
The programme of Reality Bites, a festival of literary non-fiction, has been released and is available here. The festival takes place at Cooroy Library, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, from 26-29 July.
I will be appearing in two sessions on Sunday 29 July: in "Death and the Patriarch" (with Sally Breen and Ben Robertson), and in a close-up session on the theme of place as a character in its own right in non-fiction writing.
I will be appearing in two sessions on Sunday 29 July: in "Death and the Patriarch" (with Sally Breen and Ben Robertson), and in a close-up session on the theme of place as a character in its own right in non-fiction writing.
With Melanie Myers, Sally Breen and Ben Robertson
(photo Glenn Hunt)
Monday, May 7, 2012
Stilts Review
Krysi Egan's review of The Promise of Iceland has appeared in Stilts. The review, which is available in full here, includes:
With elegance and tenderness, Kari discusses the loves that have defined his life; the love for his intriguing and adventurous mother, the secret and silent love for his father, and the love and longing for Iceland. While painting a spectacularly vivid portrait of the natural beauties of Iceland and its people, Kari explores the complicated nature of how people fall in love, the promises they make, and the reality of what happens when those promises fall apart.
All of those things make this a fabulous memoir, but what makes it unforgettable is the tremendous respect and grace in which Kari tells a story that is only in part his to tell. His sensitive portrayal of his mother as he shares the most intimate and defining moments of his family history is truly a wonder. Whilst a measure of bitterness towards his father would be justifiable and easily forgiven, Kari leaves it off the page, instead focusing on the delicate nature of the circumstances and the ultimate search for belonging.
Wise and unassuming, humorous and remarkably affecting all at the same time, The Promise of Iceland is an enchanting reflection of a fascinating life and a profound exploration of the human condition.
With elegance and tenderness, Kari discusses the loves that have defined his life; the love for his intriguing and adventurous mother, the secret and silent love for his father, and the love and longing for Iceland. While painting a spectacularly vivid portrait of the natural beauties of Iceland and its people, Kari explores the complicated nature of how people fall in love, the promises they make, and the reality of what happens when those promises fall apart.
All of those things make this a fabulous memoir, but what makes it unforgettable is the tremendous respect and grace in which Kari tells a story that is only in part his to tell. His sensitive portrayal of his mother as he shares the most intimate and defining moments of his family history is truly a wonder. Whilst a measure of bitterness towards his father would be justifiable and easily forgiven, Kari leaves it off the page, instead focusing on the delicate nature of the circumstances and the ultimate search for belonging.
Wise and unassuming, humorous and remarkably affecting all at the same time, The Promise of Iceland is an enchanting reflection of a fascinating life and a profound exploration of the human condition.
My mother, Susan Reid, on The Esja (1971)
Friday, May 4, 2012
The Art of Vanishing Parents
My open letter to Christopher Currie about his book The Ottoman Hotel has appeared in the online version of Stilts journal. The letter, which is entitled "The Art of Vanishing Parents", is available for free here.
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