The sadness of the angels

A deep and timeless novel that vividly depicts the human struggle with the majestic forces of nature. Stevenson was inspired, as he stated to The Independent newspaper, from his visit to the fjords of Western Iceland, saying "...it was like a punch to the nerves of the stomach... and the mountains seemed to tell me: Why don't you write about us?" What is very special about this novel is not the story itself but the language: simple words arranged in a charming way. Poetic words wandering into an astonishing artistic painting, and every paragraph oozes pure poetry, making the reader feel compelled to pause between pages to absorb what has been written. The fate of the boy, who was deprived of his family and soulmate by the saltwater empire, led him to love literature, despite knowing that codfish and poetry are at opposite ends, and that dreams do not satisfy anyone’s hunger. This love carries him when he is sent on a mission with a mail carrier who fears the sea, as they embark on their difficult journey while burdened by heavy mailbags, the weight of mysterious inner dialogue, and the relentless snow lurking around them. But during this journey, they discover much about life and its hidden depths. Yun Kalmann Stevenson, winner of the Icelandic Literature Prize. "Angels' Sorrow" is a story of love and death in rugged terrain, magically combining despair and forgiveness. Published by Dar Al-Mana. Author: Yun Kalmann Stevenson. Year of publication: 2016. Number of pages: 217.