The Scent of Light: Five Novellas

Kristjana Gunnars published five transgeneric novels between the late 1980s and late 1990s, blending fiction, autobiography, literary theory, and philosophy. These novellas were treasured by a devoted readership and have been lauded by critics. They document a life of perpetual motion, told in a discontinuous, subversive style to reflect the singular, feminist, nomadic life of the narrator. The Prowler is a reminiscence of childhood spent in Iceland, seen from a distance with the Cold War as a backdrop. Zero Hour is a contemplation and remembrance of the narrator's father and his death. The Substance of Forgetting is ultimately about happiness. The Rose Garden is set in Germany and the narrator is on an academic exchange. Night Train to Nykøbing is a darker exploration of life's unknowns and the dangers inherent in choices. The intimacy, grace, and intelligence of these narratives are remarkable, and the mystery and quietude honor the beauty of the everyday as it passes.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 350 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: Coach House Books

Kristjana Gunnars' five autofiction novellas, which have been released in the United States for the first time, are presented in a single, elegant volume by Kazim Ali. These books, which were written between the late 1980s and the late 1990s, are a captivating blend of fiction, autobiography, literary theory, and philosophy. Elusive and poetic, rigorous yet passionate, these works have been cherished by a devoted readership and have received critical acclaim throughout the years.

The narrator's life, which spans from childhood in Cold War Iceland to love affairs and deaths, is documented in these short works, which are told in a discontinuous, subversive style to reflect the singular, feminist, nomadic life of the narrator. It is a life of thought, an ongoing engagement with writers from Proust to Kierkegaard to Kristeva, seeking and often finding companionship in the writing of others. These five spellbinding narratives act as a bending bow, open to what life has to offer day by day and taking the gentler course, wherein nothing is forced, and life's big questions remain beautifully unanswered.

The Prowler is a reminiscence of childhood spent in Iceland, seen from a distance with the Cold War as a backdrop, just before the hyper-modernization of the mid-sixties, when the air of the past was still discernible. When an orange was a delicacy against the darkness. This is Gunnars most lauded novella.

Zero Hour is a contemplation and remembrance of the narrator's father and his death. The narrative traces the course of the father's illness and final moments, and confronts the reality and grief of absolute endings.

The Substance of Forgetting is ultimately about happiness. Set in a lush valley in central B.C., the narrator begins to awaken to possibilities.

These novellas offer a unique and captivating perspective on the human experience, blending fiction, autobiography, and philosophy in a way that is both thought-provoking and deeply moving. They are a testament to Gunnars talent as a writer and her ability to capture the essence of life in her prose.

In conclusion, Kazim Ali's introduction to Kristjana Gunnars' five autofiction novellas is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the power of literature to explore the human condition. These books are a testament to Gunnars talent as a writer and her ability to capture the essence of life in her prose.

Weight: 496g
Dimension: 148 x 218 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781552454381