ITCH, Partus Press, 2018. 

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For foreign rights: Laurence Laluyaux, 

l.laluyaux@rcwlitagency.com

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Nominated - Nordic Council Literature Prize 2020 

Shortlisted - Fjöru Prize - Icelandic Women's Prize for Literature 2019

2nd place for Fiction - The Icelandic Bookseller Prize 2018

 

Stories published in The Iowa Review, The Southern Review, PRISM International, Words without Borders and Comma Press.

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Does modern life give us all more or less the same itchiness? The short story collection Kláði by Fríða Ísberg is a beautiful example of the breath of spring that young writers can bring to literature. Renewals and changes are among the most important conditions of life for literature; sometimes they arise when new people take the stage and look at topics in a different light. The narrative method is both realistic and modernist. The value of the work lies first and foremost in a strong emotional approach, which requires the reader to relate to attitudes and values in the present time.

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The short stories in Kláði are broadly about how it is possible to grow up and be reconciled to the fate that awaits modern human beings. The stories deal with sex and relationships, conflicts between the generations and genders, porn and alienation, stereotypes and the curse of addiction, guilt and oppression, hollow traditions and love that is time-consuming and hard to find, as well as perseverance and a smothering sense of sorrow.

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- Rationale of the Nordic Council Literature Prize

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„Fríða seems to be the next champion of

the short story.“

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       - Júlía Margrét Alexandersdóttir

 ★★★★½ / Morgunblaðið

 

„Fríða Ís­berg is one of the most exciting authors I've read in a long time.“

                           

                             - Brynhildur Björnsdóttir

 ★★★★½ / Fréttablaðið

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„It's a sheer pleasure reading such well crafted stories..“

                         

                       - Silja Aðalsteinsdóttir / TMM

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„Fríða manages to word so many of the thoughts that have been on my mind, consciously or unconsciously, for the past ten years or so, that it is unbelievable. 

And there followed some relief, after reading them finally, put forth crystal clear in such fun stories. Like having a genuinely good conversation with your friend.“ 

                         

      - Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir Lestrarklefinn

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I'm just going to begin by saying I think Fríða Ísberg is a material for a great author. This is a girl who should just

write and write and write.  

                          

                         - Kolbrún Bergþórsdóttir

TV programme Kiljan

 

One connected perfectly to all the stories.   

                       

                         - Sigurður Valgeirsson

TV programme Kiljan

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"The discussion on human relations and intimacies, and lack of it, lies like a red thread through the book.

It reflects in a perceptive way the demands modern society makes on people, but no less the demands we make ourselves, consciously or not, to others." 

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- Fjöru Prize Jury

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