DNF - The premise for this story sounded so intriguing but I failed to connect with the writing style & therefore was never engaged enough to long to pursue my reading. This might be a case of having to be in the right frame of mind to read the story but, regardless, this wasn’t for me.

Published to great acclaim in Iceland in 2004 and now available in an English translation, this is a compelling and immersive novel about the eternal struggle between a woman’s role in society and her vocation or calling as an artist. It follows the life of Karitas, the youngest of six siblings whose widowed mother, a hard-working and strong woman, determines that all of her children must get an education to escape an otherwise grim hardscrabble life on a western farm. She moves the family to Akureyri where educational opportunities exist and due to her hard work does in fact manage to get them all that much prized education. Even Karitas, whose desire to become an artist is overwhelming, actually manages to find a way to do so, but with a bright future ahead of her has to deal with the demands of family and motherhood whilst never giving up on her dream. Each chapter opens with the title of one of her works, although we have to use our imagination about what her art is actually like. The narration is objective, and the characters’ interior lives are seen from the outside rather than delving into their heads, but the narration itself is so insightful and powerful that all of them and in particular Karitas come alive on the page. The portrait of Icelandic life over the first half of the twentieth century is vivid and atmospheric, and the people’s daily existence, especially in the rural areas, described in authentic detail. I loved this book and found myself totally caught up in Karitas’ trials and tribulations and look forward to meeting her again in the future. Highly recommended.

Karitas Untitled started well. I liked the premise, and Karitas was an interesting character. The family drama was compelling, the descriptions of life in rural Iceland vivid. However, the final third of the book fell a bit flat for me. I began to lose interest in Karitas' life and struggles and found myself waiting for the end during the final 100 pages. If you are looking for family drama and a book with great depictions of rural life (such as salting herring), Karitas Untitled is worth a read, but personally, it didn't quite live up to my expectations and its early promise. I believe there is a second volume in this series, of which I assume an English translation will be released in due course, but I don't see myself rushing out to buy it. This was, overall all, a middle-of the-road read for me, and I will give it 3 stars. While I was fully immersed all the way through, the descriptive writing was beautiful.

Karitas knows she doesn’t usually fit in, but she can only be her true self. Pretending to fit someone else’s mold has never been the way she could survive.

The story starts with Karitas’ single mother taking Karitas and her five siblings north in Iceland so they will have better educational opportunities. In their new home, Karitas becomes the household manager, of sorts, while her two older sisters get paying jobs, and then leave for school. Karitas does the laundry and takes care of her three brothers during the day. Over time, she grows to think that everyone is getting an education but her, since it just isn’t her turn yet. A chance meeting once she is working as a household servant uncovers her true passion, and eventually, a possible way to realize her potential.

This was a beautiful literary fiction told in Karitas’ voice, that revealed everything about her—perhaps most importantly, how little she sometimes knew about herself. I’d give this book 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to those who enjoy interesting character stories. The story takes place in the early 1900s in Iceland, so it was definitely an unfamiliar viewpoint that was wonderfully told and greatly enjoyed.