Arndís Thórarinsdóttir

Arndís Thórarinsdóttir was born in Iceland in 1982. She studied comparative literature and creative writing at the University of Iceland and writing for performance at Goldsmiths College, University of London. She has been writing books for children and young adults since 2011, including »Kollhnís« [2022; tr: Somersault] about twelve-year-old Álfur, an ambitious gymnast whose life is turned upside down when his little brother is diagnosed with autism. With a lot of warmth and humor, the novel tells of growing up and the realization of how complicated life can be. It was awarded the Icelandic Literary Prize in the children’s and youth literature category – just like »Blokkin á heimsenda« [2020; co-author: Hulda Sigrún Bjarnadóttir; tr: The Island on the Edge of the Universe], which is now the author’s first book to be translated into German and has been nominated for the 2024 German Youth Literature Prize. »It is a bizarre thought that the Icelandic duo so imaginatively and subtly shape a story that is as funny as it is moving«, said the jury. The book is about twelve-year-old Dagny, who visits her grandmother for the first time with her family. She lives on a small island that is completely cut off from the mainland during the winter. Just under 200 people live here – all together in a twelve-storey tower block. The grandmother is the janitor and oversees everything that happens in the building, and as new arrivals, Dagny and her family have to make themselves just as useful as everyone else: Generating electricity, milking cows, preparing meals, etc. But acts of sabotage put the community’s cohesion to the test. Dagny has to find out who is behind it. 

Arndís Thórarinsdóttir also writes poetry – in 2020 she published the poetry collection »Innræti« [tr: Character]. The volume incorporates both stories and journalistic articles. She also works as a translator from English. The author lives in Reykjavík.  

Blokkin á heimsenda
[with Hulda Sigrún Bjarnadóttir]
Mál og menning
Reykjavík, 2020

Translation:
12 Stockwerke. Mein unglaubliches Zuhause am Ende der Welt
[with Hulda Sigrún Bjarnadóttir]
Arena
Würzburg, 2023
[Ü: Gisa Marehn]

Innræti
Mál og menning
Reykjavík, 2020

Kollhnís
Mál og menning
Reykjavík, 2022

Mömmuskipti
[with Hulda Sigrún Bjarnadóttir]
Mál og menning
Reykjavík, 2023