I hope that some of you have found my posts from Íslensk Málfræði by
Björn Guðfinnsson helpful in your study. It is an excellent book of
its kind. In addition to continuing to post from this fine book
about Icelandic grammar, I have concluded that it is important for
us to have a text or texts of some sort to read together. After
pondering the issue of what to read, I have decided to begin posting
from Brekkukots Annáll by Halldór Laxness. Haukur has already posted
a very beautiful poem by this author. Halldór had a unique style and
could write many different kinds of Icelandic, including styles from
earlier centuries. As his spelling is often phonetic, be careful to
learn the standard dictionary spelling when such instances occur. I
will begin by posting the preface to the 1973 school edition by
Eysteinn Þorvaldsson. Each chapter will be posted separately under
its own chapter title and followed by the name of the author. It is
my sincere hope that at least some of you will grow to appreciate
the artistry of this often brilliant and sometimes controversial
author. Also, I will try to make an effort to diversify our reading
list by posting some short stories, poems, and translations by other
authors in between posts from Brekkukots Annáll. Finally, please
look forward to more posts from the grammar as well. Good luck to
all of you on your nordic linguistic journeys.