Tag Archives: Goodreads

Islandia – A Utopian Love Story

Masterful in its attention to detail and a very human story, Islandia is a quiet classic – quiet in that it hasn’t garnered the publicity that many classics have, but a classic because its story and writing endure. Considered utopian literature, Islandia is a pre-industrial civilization which respects women and that confronts early twentieth century colonialism. However, it’s much more than a commentary on political and economic realities in the early 1900’s, it is world building at its best – of not only the geography, social, economic and political structures, but of a society and its heart. The depth of its world building has been compared to Tolkien.

IslandiaJohn Lang is hired as the American Consul at the behest of his uncle and other parties, with the expectation that he will promote their economic aspirations and will convince Islandia to end its isolation. Excited to reunite with an Islandian friend he made in college, Lang is still shocked to find himself in an agrarian, low-tech world. As he learns about this strange new world, he learns about himself and finds himself at odds with his mission, his values and his heart. Lang’s struggle is best summed up in a review on Goodreads by Terry:

‘Lang finds himself divided, a part of him struggling to be a good consul, loyal to his home and profession with the ulterior motive that his success at winning his country’s desires will also bring him his own personal ones, though at the cost of all that his closest Islandian friends hold dear; and so an even stronger part of himself fights against his own ‘better’ judgement and all concepts of what is realistic or pragmatic in the name of a beautiful ideal that will mean the end of his own personal hopes and dreams.’

Islandia was a world imagined by Wright since his childhood. He never shared it with anyone and he had written thousands of pages about the place and its people. Upon his untimely death, his wife taught herself to type and created a 2,000 page novel. Their daughter edited it to 1,000 pages and it was first published in 1942.

This novel is not an action adventure with a fast paced plot and some readers may find the initial story set up a little slow. Neither does it fit into the modern romance genre. It is a captivating drama which draws the reader into a world so completely that one longs to visit it. Thus, it is more than a utopian exercise on the values of the industrial society, its politics and impact on its people – it is a story about personal values and understanding one’s and another’s heart. Perhaps that’s why this novel has so quietly endured.

It is also a tribute of love to a man who so fully imagined and lived this world. Had it not been for the love and dedication of his wife and daughter, this poignant society which so richly understands itself, would never have been realized so that we too may experience it.

For all these reasons Islandia has so quietly endured and become a classic. On so many levels it is a Utopian Love Story – about falling in and out of love with one’s family, oneself, another, one’s country and with a world so different from the one we know. Islandians would tell you that there are four words to express love: amia – love of friends, alia – love of place and family land and lineage, ania – desire for marriage and commitment, and apia – sexual attraction. These are indeed, utopian concepts of the heart.

Goodreads: What’s the point?

Social networking can be both a blessing and a curse for the writer.  A blessing because it gives us an avenue to connect with both writers and readers, but a curse because it can be a massive timesink.  So when a new social networking site starts up, I usually avoid it.  I can find plenty of ways to proscrastinate as it is, thanks very much.  Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest – I haven’t tried them (although I confess I’m eyeing Pinterest with interest).   So when I first found Goodreads, I was hesitant to jump in.  But, oh boy, am I glad I did.

I admit it: I’m a Goodreads junkie.  As soon as I start a new book, I update Goodreads.  When I finish the book, I rate it.  I’m constantly adding to my “to read” list and right now I have more books listed there than I could read in 18 months.  So what are the benefits of Goodreads?

For the reader:

  1.  A place to interact with writers I enjoy.  I can follow them, see what they’re reading, what they’ve liked and not liked.
  2. A place to store my ever-expanding “to read” list.  No longer is my desk covered with post-it notes bearing scribbled reminders about books I thought looked interesting.  Now it’s all in Goodreads.
  3. I can see what my friends are reading.  A lot of the books on my “to read” list are there because a friend added them to their list.
  4. I can show my friends what I think of each book I read.  My personal policy is that I don’t rate any book as less than three stars.  If I disliked it to that extent, I leave it unstarred.  I also have a “not finished” shelf for the books I couldn’t bear to persist with.
  5. I can check out reviews and ratings of books I’m considering reading before I purchase.   On the odd occasion that I’ve ignored low ratings and scathing reviews, I’ve left the book unfinished.  Unfortunately I have gotten caught a couple of times with books that had high ratings and glowing reviews but which turned out to be awful.
  6. I can connect with other readers via various reading groups.

But what about the benefits of Goodreads for the writer?

I got as far as:

  1. A place to interact with readers and potential readers.
  2. A place where readers can easily write reviews and rate books.
  3. A place to generate buzz by providing giveaways and writing blogs.  Your Goodreads account can be synced with your blog for easy updating (although, I confess it bores me seeing the same blog post everywhere I follow a writer).
  4. A place to connect with like-minded writers via various reading groups.

What am I missing here?  How else does Goodreads benefit writers?  Or is it more about the reader?  Should writers stay out of the way?