THORA KARITAS ARNADOTTIR

THORA KARITAS ARNADOTTIR studied drama in Britain and is best known for the award winning TV series, Astridur, in her home country and for hosting Unique Iceland, a highly popular travel magazine show about Iceland.

Thora’s first book is a narrative non-fiction book ‘And the Swans Began to Sing’. This English version, published in January 2019, is a translation of her original Icelandic book: Mork - saga mommu

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And the Swans Began to Sing

The swans on the lake began to sing. It was a singing so loud they were almost screaming, as if they were encouraging me to release what I had been keeping inside for so long.
Gudbjorg Thorisdottir has been hiding from the ghost of an ugly secret for most of her life. When she finally faces the truth of what happened in her childhood, the ghost floats away. Painting an evocative picture of life in Iceland, this is the story of a little girl who didn’t know how unnatural it was to experience both heaven and hell in the same house.

And the Swans Began to Sing is the English translation of her creative nonfiction Mörk - my mother's story (published in Iceland by Forlagid), which was nominated for the Icelandic Women's Literary prize in 2016.

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 "And The Swans Began to Sing is a profound and beautiful narrative about a woman finally speaking of, and to, the trauma suffered as a child at the hands of her grandfather. Þóra Karítas's prose is elegant, and her compassionate insights into familial relationships, childhood, love, connection and shame are thoughtful and resonate with deep, abiding truth. This moving and uplifting meditation on the power of storytelling and literature to heal is a must-read." 
Hannah Kent, Author of Burial Rites

"The writing is exquisite – nothing is lost in the translation from Icelandic into English. There is such a gorgeous sense of place, enchanting imagery, and every emotion is evoked in deft strokes."
Louise Beech, Author​

"This is a book that will touch your soul, it is far from an easy read, it will challenge you and make you question what you know about the secrets families keep."
Laura Morningstar, Book Blogger

"I think all the air escaped from my lungs after reading this story. Although, it’s not a story at all- it’s real."
Books Beyond the Story, Book Blogger