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The Nordic Countries are known as some of the safest, most democratic and greatest countries to live in the world. There is so much to love about these countries already, but did you know they also publish a lot of books?

Iceland in particular has more books read and published per person than any other country in the world. According to the BBC one in ten Icelanders will publish a book in their lifetime! When visiting I loved learning about Iceland’s incredible culture, landscapes, and pastimes. One of them is Jolabokaflod, a Christmas tradition of giving and receiving books.

Is there any better way to inspire a visit to this country of writers and readers than to read the best books set in Iceland? In this post you will find the best books about Iceland and the best books about Finland. In addition to the Nordic Noir that they are known for, both Icelandic and Finnish writers have written a wide variety of  books. You will find everything from contemporary novels set in Iceland to classic Finnish poetry in this post. 

For books about Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the remaining Nordic countries, check out my books set in Scandinavia post.

Books About Iceland

Names for the Sea: Strangers in Iceland

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in Iceland? Sarah Moss writes about her experience moving to and living in Iceland in her memoir Names for the Sea. She moved to Reykvaik, Iceland with her family after accepting a position at the University of Iceland.

Her experience in the country starts similar to expats around the world with re-learning how to do day to day tasks and where to buy essential items in her new country. She shares different aspects of life in Iceland that are relevant and interesting to her and her family. The process of finding a childcare for her youngest son and learning about how Icelandic families raise their children was intriguing. I also enjoyed her conversations with people who could see and communicate with the Hidden People. 

Her year abroad takes place during Iceland’s financial crisis and the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull. She shares a foreigner’s perspective of these major events in Iceland’s recent history. It is a great book about Iceland to read before visiting or moving to the country to gain a sense of the landscape and culture of the country.

Gnarr: How I Became the Mayor of a Large City in Iceland and Changed the World

It’s interesting to read memoirs about a place both from a local and a visitor’s perspective. Whereas Names for the Sea is told from an expat’s point of view, Gnarr: How I Became the Mayor of a Large City in Iceland and Changed the World is written by Icelander Jón Gnarr.

Comedian and actor Jón Gnarr shares his story of creating a new political party, the Best Party and becoming mayor of Reykjavík. I wouldn’t usually read a purely political book, but then again Jón Gnarr had no intention of becoming mayor and didn’t think of himself as a politician. He was angered by the political situation in Iceland after the 2008 financial crisis. He started the Best Party almost as a joke. Before he knew it he was elected mayor! 

It is an interesting, personalized glimpse into Icelandic politics. It focuses more on Gnarr’s thoughts than what he actually did as mayor though. He was all about having fun and, on a more serious side, human rights issues around the world. 

The idea of someone being unhappy with politics and doing something about it really struck a cord with me. It is a quick, but inspiring book about Iceland.

Burial Rites

By Hannah from Get Lost Travel Blog

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent may be Icelandic fiction, but the book’s main character, Agnes Magnúsdóttir was very much real. On the 12 January 1830, Agnes was the last woman to be executed in Iceland. She was charged with the brutal murders of Nathan Ketilsson and Pétur Jónsson. While we don’t know exactly what Agnes’s role was in planning and committing the crime, Australian author Hannah Kent has given her a fictional voice.

The 2013 novel Burial Rites tells the story of the final days of Agnes Magnúsdóttir’s life. Agnes recounts the key events in her life that lead up to that fateful day. This isn’t a novel for the faint-hearted. Kent describes every aspect of Agnes’s life in excruciating detail and doesn’t shy away from the darker times. But this also brings a sense of magic with it, because she applies the same level of detail to the descriptions of Iceland’s rugged and barren landscape, making the country feel as alive as any of the characters in the book.

Any Iceland lover should read Burial Rites. It brings to life a character that would otherwise be merely lost as a name in Icelandic history. It echoes the Icelandic tradition of folklore, sagas, and storytelling that is still so important in Icelandic culture today. Although, at times, it can be a stomach-churning read, Burial Rites perfectly captures the wonder and magic of the Icelandic landscape that continues to captivate visitors today.

Butterflies in November

Any avid reader knows the experience of picking up a book and asking themselves, did I read this already? It could be because they read so many books that they can’t keep track. It could also be because sometimes books follow very similar plots. Butterflies in November by the Icelandic author Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir, is an Icelandic fiction novel with a very unusual plot.

At times a little hard to follow, the plot moves very quickly. The unnamed narrator’s husband decides to divorce her. Without any protest the narrator plans to leave her home city of Reykjavík, Iceland behind and set out to explore the country. Her plans take a drastic turn when she is asked to bring her friend’s deaf and mute four year old son along with her. It is a quirky tale where I often asked myself, “wait, what is going on?”. I did enjoy the pace of the book and the random events though. It was very different from other fiction novels I have read lately.

The woman and boy travel around the country on the main national road in Iceland known as route 1 or the Ring Road. There are some great descriptions of the scenery and possible conditions if you drive the route in November. While the story is a bit crazy it does offer an interesting glimpse into Icelandic life.

Snowblind

By Erica from Travels with Erica

Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson is not only one of the best Nordic Noir novels out there, but it also highlights northern Iceland in a way few other novels do.

Snowblind follows a young, ambitious detective named Ari Thor who leaves Reykjavik (and his girlfriend) behind to take a posting in an isolated fishing village in Northern Iceland. Rural Iceland may seem quiet and unassuming, but it doesn’t take long until Ari Thor finds himself in the middle of a mystery that needs to be solved.

As the new person in town, Ari Thor isn’t getting much help from the tight knit local community. Will solving this surprisingly thrilling mystery help Ari Thor win over his new community or will he remain an outsider and return to his old life in Reykjavik?

Mystery aside, Jonasson expertly uses the vastness and isolated nature of the fjord to his advantage and uses the landscape as a character to help drive the plot.

If you want to read an Icelandic novel set outside Reykjavik, there is hardly a better option than Snowblind.

Books About Finland

Under the North Star Trilogy

By Arimo from Arimo Travels

Spanning three novels and over a thousand pages, the Under the North Star trilogy by Väinö Linna is not for casual readers. However, those willing to take up the challenge will be rewarded with a rich and emotional story about the development of Finnish society and its people in the 19th and the 20th century. Published in the mid-20th century, the trilogy tells the tale of a rural family that’s entwined in major events in Finnish history, such as the nation’s independence struggles, class tensions and civil war.

In Finland, Under the North Star is seen as an undisputed classic. It has been voted as the most influential work of art created in the country, although that title is sometimes given to Unknown Soldiers – another novel by the same author. Under the North Star trilogy doesn’t describe contemporary Finland, but it offers an insight into the nation’s roots that are still affecting Finland today.

The Man Who Died

By Victoria from Guide Your Travel

The Man Who Died by Antti Tuomainen is a dark thriller that is surprisingly funny in places although the humor is not for the faint of heart. Set in Finland this novel is an incredible read for those who enjoy captivating and macabre stories.

The story follows Jaakko Kaunismaa who works in the mushroom industry and is quite successful. He receives the news that he is dying from exposure to a specific toxin which means someone has been poisoning him deliberately for years. He begins his journey of finding out who wants him dead and encounters many obstacles and strange people along the way.

This book is an absolute page-turner and written in such a unique way that it’s hard to put it down. The story is quite strange and its dark humour keeps it interesting and captivating. If you’re craving your next thriller set in Finland then the Man Who Died is a fantastic choice.

The Year of the Hare

I was pleasantly surprised with Arto Paasilinna’s The Year of the Hare. I wasn’t expecting to like this fictional book set in Finland as much as I did. The premise of the story is a bit odd, but that is what made this such a good read.

The story begins when a journalist, Vatanen, and a photographer are driving in Finland and hit a hare. Vatanen goes in search of the injured hare and never returns. Instead of returning to his “normal” life in Helsinki he goes on an adventure throughout the country with the hare. He visits small villages, befriends locals, and takes up short term jobs in the wilderness. He also gets himself into and out of all sorts of situations. The hare is his constant companion through it all.

This humorous Finnish novel takes place mainly in rural towns and wilderness areas of the country. It begins between Helsinki and Heinola. Other than one quick detour back to Helsinki towards the end of the book, Vatanen progressively travels north to Lapland Finland.

Perhaps it is because I am a digital nomad, but I quite identified with the urge to leave it all behind and go on a grand adventure. My adventures do not include quite so many animals, odd encounters or luckily no jail visits!

The Red King of Helsinki

By Emily from Wander-Lush

Though it was never part of the USSR, Finland became embroiled in the Cold War, which heavily influenced the country’s politics. The term ‘Finlandization’ was even coined to describe the Soviet Union’s influence over the sovereign nation, often described as ‘a playground for the KGB’.

This important chapter of Finland’s national history is the backdrop for The Red King of Helsinki, a novel by Finnish journalist Helena Halme.

Published in 2018, the work of fiction is set in 1979 Helsinki. The tale unfolds over the course of a single week, making the novel fast-paced and gripping. The main protagonist, a student named Pia, is on a mission to track down a missing friend. She unknowingly crosses paths with a British spy whose assignment is to chase down the notorious KGB spy whose moniker is lent to the book’s title.

An example of Nordic Noir with all the hallmarks of a classic spy thriller, this book provides valuable insight into the impact of the Cold War on Finland’s national psyche and the lives of everyday people. Set in the chilly depths of winter, the author paints a picture of a dark, moody Helsinki that many visitors don’t get to see.

The Kalevala

By Arimo from Arimo Travels

Compiled by Elias Lönnrot in the 19th century, the Kalevala is a work of epic poetry that’s based on (mostly) Finnish oral folklore and mythology. Lönnrot spent years collecting and writing down spoken poetry around the country. He rearranged and edited the poems and added bits and pieces of his own to create the Kalevala, a sprawling body of work that begins with the creation of the world – from the shards of an egg – and ends with the arrival of Christianity in Finland.

The Kalevala was published before Finland was an independent country. It had an enormous impact on Finnish culture and national identity. However, reading the original epic can be a weary process. As with all poetry, many of the nuances are lost in translation. The storytelling is also constantly interrupted by characters who start reciting old spells at great length.

If you wish to learn the highlights of the Kalevala with less effort, there is a solution. The Canine Kalevala by Mauri Kunnas is an illustrated kid’s version of the Kalevala that replaces the main characters with dogs. Though it takes some family-friendly liberties and skips many parts of the Kalevala, the Canine Kalevala is a surprisingly faithful retelling of the original epic. Just ask any Finn who skipped studying Kalevala for school and learned the basics with the canine version instead!

The Summer Book

Tove Jansson is one of Finland’s most well known authors and artists. Outside of Finland she is most known for her Moomins children’s books and comic strips. She also wrote several novels and short stories for adults, including  The Summer Book.

Written in 1972, The Summer Book, is a novel comprised of short stories about one summer on a Finnish island. The stories focus on a grandmother and her granddaughter, Sophia. While it is a fictional story, the characters are based on some of Jansson’s family members.

All the stories revolve around simple events about the flora and fauna of the island and the relationship between Sophia and her grandmother. There is no plot between the different vignettes, only the same characters and setting. It is a fun simple read that makes you want to go out in nature and back to simpler days.

Let me know in the comments below which of these books about Iceland or books about Finland you want to read first! 

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