I recently received a note from a reader in Wisconsin whose grandparents came from Iceland: "I noted with interest that you had Kuhaku printed in Iceland, and at your 'suggestion,' I'm reading Independent People."

She found our five-word review of Halldor Laxness' novel in very small print near the bottom of the Kuhaku copyright page. Independent People is an incredibly moving and humorous book that puts you deep into the Icelandic landscape and culture from beginning to end, mining the rich details of the country to find the universal. If you've never read Laxness, you're in for a treat. The main character of this novel, Bjartur of Summerhouses, is one of the most frustrating characters you'll ever meet on the printed page. I wanted to throttle him repeatedly for being so stubborn, but I also found myself slowly drawn into his world. Thank you, Judy, for reading the fine print!