The Tricking of Freya

by Christina Sunley

Book Overview

A young woman obsessed with uncovering a family secret is drawn into the strange and magical landscape, language, and history of Iceland.

Freya Morris is living in New York, far removed from her family and her past, when she is summoned back to the formative place of her youth, a remote Canadian village called Gimli, where her Icelandic ancestors settled long ago. Her ancient grandmother, a woman who knows all the family stories,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031242938X
• ISBN13: 9780312429386
• Release Date: March 2010
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Interesting look into Icelandic culture and family dynamics

I love Iceland. I find it a magical island with some of the most polite people I have met. So, when I had the opportunity to read this book I jumped at it. The book did not disappoint. Although there were times it seemed like the author had a list of Icelandic cultural information that she forced into a short passage, on the whole it is a very realistic and interesting look at the land and culture. Although Iceland features prominently in the book, this is way more than just a book about Iceland. "The Tricking of Freya" is primarily about family dynamics and family secrets. Bi-polar illness is prominently featured. Readers who had been fortunate enough to not been exposed to this disorder will find this book a realistic look at the nerve-racking world of those who love someone suffering from the disease. Excellent book on many levels. Recommended, especially for fellow Iceland lovers.

Interesting "Icelandic" Viewpoint

It took me a while to get "into" this novel. The writing style is a bit convoluted, in that the author strives to include lots of Icelandic lore and words. Nothing wrong with that, but the words in particular tend to cause speed-bumps in the reading process. However, I still rated this novel with five stars. The character development is excellent, the mystery (although slow to unfold), is very good. The ending is a bit predictable (I saw it at least two chapters before it was revealed), but overall the book is very satisfying. At first I wasn't enthused about the author's use of the reader as a "cousin", but as time went on I got used to it - although it seemed a bit contrived, even to the end of the book. The literary device just seemed to cause me to pause in my reading; I suppose it is because just being CALLED cousin doesn't make the reader seem like a relative, and to me the book didn't draw the reader in from that aspect. The descriptions of Iceland are very good, and I got a good feel for the immigrant culture. There are a few adult moments in the book, but it should be fine for early teenagers and older. I think it would be confusing for younger children. I recommend this book for people who are interested in Iceland, Icelandic traditions and culture, and those who want a slowly unfolding mystery.

Beautifully crafted novel of family, exile and deceit

The Tricking of Freya, the debut novel by Christina Sunley, tells the story of Freya, a young girl of Icelandic descent growing up in America. When she is seven years old, her mother Anna takes her to see relatives in Canada, where an Icelandic émigré community lives. An accident that occurs during the visit changes Freya's relationship to her family and herself. In subsequent summers, Freya and her mother make annual trips, until something happens to drive Anna and her sister Birdie apart forever. Decades later, Freya returns for her grandmother's birthday and overhears a family secret. This motivates her to dig into the history of the family she has tried to avoid for so long. This book is fascinating on many levels. In addition to the story of a girl and a family, it is also the story of a little known community of émigrés. Sunley paints a vivid portrait of the land and culture both in Iceland and in Canada. The reader feels like they are receiving a guided tour of Iceland's natural highlights, as well as a lesson in history, literature and culture. Sunley has crafted the story seamlessly, carrying the reader along as the tale twists and turns, like the windy roads in Iceland built to accommodate elves. The observations of the child Freya show an authentic innocence and an ability to connect disparate thoughts. Sunley weaves in scenery, culture, history and literature throughout. She uses beautiful turns of phrase and ingenuous analogies, such as bodies taking the shape of punctuation marks. A thoroughly enjoyable book that will not only take you into a compelling story, but will teach you about a fascinating history and a country of ice cold and molten heat. A truly enjoyable book.

Iceland in Your Veins

If, by chance, you are interested in Iceland then this book will reach out, grab your heart and keep your interest for hours. A mother, sister, Grandmother, and friend join forces in the raising of Freya. A young girl, clumsy and eager, visits Canadian Gimli with her mother. Over many years, the story unwinds, with surprising twists and turns that create a story where an underlayment of Icelandic history becomes a foundation for growth. I completely loved this book. I am Scotch-Irish and still found myself totally involved in the characters, their intertwined relationships, and the link of Icelandic culture, language, and geography. In the telling of the tale, this author intertwines geneology, cultural paradigms, and the awkwardness of teenage social acceptability regardless of culture. If you are interested in stretching your horizons through an excellent read, learning about Icelandic culture, and the link between countries and cultures, then this book is an excellent adventure betwixt your ears. History being what it is, I gained a depth of understanding of the culture of Iceland that I never would have acquired watching the news. Perhaps readers of today are ready to stretch their horizons, adventure beyond the comforts of home and dive into a book that will draw in their hearts, their dreams and broaden their horizons as well.

Fresh Ideas and Beautifully Written

Growing up, Freya spends each summer in her mother's home town in Canada. There, Freya is immersed in her Icelandic heritage, which she comes to love. But Freya is torn between her placid, sickly mother and her wild and exciting aunt. Despite being a close-knit family, it quickly becomes apparent that everyone, including Freya, is more than willing to keep secrets from each other. Freya's life changes over and over again as she begins to unravel her family's secrets. This is a wonderfully written novel. Christina Sunley's insight into Icelandic and Icelandic-Canadian culture and language give the book a rich, unique flavor that I've rarely encountered. All the characters are multi-dimensional and realistic. The storyline, which starts when Freya is seven and ends when she is in her thirties, never gets dull. This isn't an overly-dramatic tearjerker, but it has a quiet beauty that I found very moving. The Tricking of Freya is one of the best books I've read in a very long time.