For years, my favorite part of Christmas has been Christmas night after the extended families had departed for home; our daughters had headed out with their friends; and my husband had fallen asleep in his recliner. Peace reigned in the house, and I would begin reading a new book, a recent release that I held aside for my Christmas read. A glass of wine or cup of coffee, a GRP Christmas compilation on the cd player, the creak of the book spine as I entered whatever world awaited me between the book’s covers provided me with pleasure. These pleasures, of course, are available during any season, but in my memory, my Christmas read is particularly special.
Christmas books, that is, books given and received at Christmas, are a tradition in Iceland, where the population has a literacy rate close to 100%. The national public service tv–RUV–reported in 2020 that book sales had increased by 30%. A couple of factors contributed to the increase. Printers had acquired a machine that allowed for hard-cover books to be printed in Iceland rather than abroad, decreasing the lead time necessary for production. And COVID was keeping people at home. New books by Yrsa Sigardurdottir and Arnaldur Indridason were at the top of those book sales. Judging by the digital notice board outside the Eymundsson bookstore at the airport in November, Yrsa and Arnaldur are likely to be top-sellers again with new releases (sadly, not yet available in English).
Yrsa commented at this year’s Iceland Noir that November is the busy season for book publishers as they prepare for the Christmas Book Flood. Panel members, tongue-in-cheek, asserted that 10% of the population had written a book. A quick scan of the Reykjavik City of Literature website suggests that might not be far-fetched.
Perhaps the Christmas Book Flood in Iceland is an effort to keep the long dark nights and cold at bay. Maybe that’s what makes my Christmas read memorable for me–it keeps the cold and dark at bay. Regardless of what I choose, I’ll fall into that book’s world accompanied by quiet music, coffee and cookies, and holiday decorations.
Booked for Travel 