Plot Summary

Land of Love and Ruins

Oddný Eir
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Land of Love and Ruins

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018

Book Brief

Oddný Eir

Land of Love and Ruins

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018
Book Details
Pages

240

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Iceland • Contemporary

Publication Year

2018

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Land of Love and Ruins by Oddný Eir, translated by Philip Roughton, defies genre boundaries by combining diary entries, philosophical musings, and travelogue as an unnamed narrator journeys across Iceland and Europe grappling with the concept of "home." She investigates themes like love, ancestry, politics, and feminism while delving into her relationships and Iceland's post-2008 financial crisis landscape. Sensitive topics include the history of the incest taboo, nationalism, and patriarchy.

Contemplative

Melancholic

Mysterious

Inspirational

Nostalgic

Reviews & Readership

3.6

409 ratings

54%

Loved it

33%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Oddný Eir's Land of Love and Ruins is praised for its poetic prose and evocative exploration of nature and personal identity. Reviewers appreciate Eir's reflective and intimate narrative style, though some find the fragmented structure challenging. Overall, it stands out for its lyrical beauty and philosophical depth, appealing to readers who favor contemplative literature.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Land of Love and Ruins?

Readers who enjoy Land of Love and Ruins by Oddný Eir are often drawn to introspective, autobiographical narratives that blend personal reflection with broader cultural and environmental observations. Fans of Karl Ove Knausgård’s My Struggle series or Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek may find this book captivating.

3.6

409 ratings

54%

Loved it

33%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

240

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Iceland • Contemporary

Publication Year

2018

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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