Storytellers by Bjørn Larssen

Storytellers by Bjørn Larssen* is a novel taking place in 1920 Iceland, the story of blacksmith Gunnar who lives alone. He takes Sigurd into his home, a stranger with a broken ankle who needs help to recover, but who also has a lot of money and an interesting story to tell. I liked Bjørn’s style of writing, it flows nicely, and the dialogue is very nice too, so this was a very enjoyable read. The thing that attracted me the most was the location, Iceland is a place I would love to visit someday, and it is also an unusual place for a novel.

Gunnar is an alcoholic and that means his friends (or acquaintances) want to save him, but in fact they have their own agendas and the ways they intervene are not the best.
I want to avoid giving out spoilers which I might do if I go into too much details, so I will share the blurb instead:

In March 1920 Icelandic days are short and cold, but the nights are long. For most, on those nights, funny, sad, and dramatic stories are told around the fire. But there is nothing dramatic about Gunnar, a hermit blacksmith who barely manages to make ends meet. He knows nobody will remember his existence – they already don’t. All he wants is peace, the company of his animals, and a steady supply of his medication. Sometimes he wonders what it would feel like to have a story of his own. He’s about to find out.

Sigurd – a man with a plan, a broken ankle, and shocking amounts of money – won’t talk about himself, but is happy to tell a story that just might get Gunnar killed. The blacksmith’s other “friends” are just as eager to write him into stories of their own – from Brynhildur who wants to fix Gunnar, then marry him, his doctor who is on the precipice of calling for an intervention, The Conservative Women of Iceland who want to rehabilitate Gunnar’s “heathen ways” – even that wicked elf has plans for the blacksmith.

As his defences begin to crumble, Gunnar decides that perhaps his life is due for a change – on his own terms. But can he avoid the endings others have in mind for him, and forge his own?

This is part of a book blog tour, so check out the other views&reviews this wonderful story received:

Storytellers by Bjørn Larssen

Details about the picture: –
My rating: 5/5 Stars
Would I recommend it: yes
Published by: josephtailor
Year it was published: 2019
Format: Paperback
Genre(s): Fiction
Pages: 292

About the author:

Bjørn Larssen is a Norse heathen made in Poland, but mostly located in a Dutch suburb, except for his heart which he lost in Iceland. Born in 1977, he self-published his first graphic novel at the age of seven in a limited edition of one, following this achievement several decades later with his first book containing multiple sentences and winning awards he didn’t design himself. His writing is described as ‘dark’ and ‘literary’.
Bjørn has a degree in mathematics and has worked as a graphic designer, a model, a bartender, and a blacksmith. His hobbies include sitting by open fires, dressing like an extra from Vikings, installing operating systems, and dreaming about living in a log cabin in the north of Iceland. His husband and him enjoy the company of a neighbourhood cat.
Website & Social Media Links: you can buy the book from here

*I was sent a copy of Storytellers by Bjørn Larssen for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.