Dot Dot Comma Dash is WDR2's book of the year

16. December, 2011

Critic on German radio finds Pétur Gunnarsson's urban classic “too short,” is thrilled with everything else.

punkt punkt komma strich“A delightful surprise from Iceland,” says Antje Deistler, literary critic of the German radio station WDR2 , on the German translation of the novel Dot Dot Comma Dash (orig. Punktur punktur komma strik) by Pétur Gunnarsson, during her annual literary round-up, which Pétur's book topped.

“This little, unpretentious book from Iceland was my biggest surprise of the year,” Deistler said of the work, which was translated into German by Benedikt Grabinski. “The fascinating and entertaining thing about the novel is not what Pétur Gunnarsson says, but how he tells a story. The book is full of spot-on images and similes, and terse sentences that you could hang above your bed ... I have only one complaint about this entertaining and informative tour of Iceland: It's too short! “

Dot Dot Comma Dash, a coming-of-age tale set in Reykjavík, established Pétur Gunnarsson as one of the leading authors of Iceland upon its publication in 1976. He wrote three more books on its protagonist, the youth Andri, and Pétur's German publisher Weidle has announced that the second title in the series is due to be published as well – a prospect at which Deistler professes delight.

See also:

Author of the Month: Pétur Gunnarsson


Latest news

The Grassroot Grants of the Icelandic Literature Center for 2025 go to Karólína Rós Ólafsdóttir and Natan Jónsson - 16. June, 2025 News

Grassroot grants are awarded annually, with the aim of supporting publication of the work of newcomers on the writing scene and encouraging them to further endeavours

More

This year our Translators' Seminar was dedicated to Sjón - 16. June, 2025 News

The seminar took place in Reykjavík at the end of April and this time the emphasis was on translations of Sjón's works. All participants have one thing in common: they have translated works by the author and poet from Icelandic into their native languages

More

52 Translation grants from Icelandic into foreign languages allocated - 18. March, 2025 News

Among works that will be translated are Sextíu kíló af sunnudögum by Hallgrímur Helgason, DJ Bambi by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir, Sögur & Ljóð by Ásta Sigurðardóttir and Vigdís: Bókin um fyrsta konuforsetann by Rán Flygenring 

More

All news