From a master to a newby. ‘Here We Are’ is the debut poetry book from Kjartan Ragnarsson and it’s quite promising. Not only is it beautifully written, but it was also originally written in English—targeting an international crowd— which is a remarkably unique feat in the Icelandic literary world. It’s also, I must add, a refreshing one. Each poem in the book is part of a larger story of a city and Kjartan’s poems allow the reader to dive into each character’s thoughts, revealing their inner connections. Of course, I must admit that the effort does bear some of the unavoidable characteristics of a new writer, but it’s ultimately a surprising, worthwhile read.
Published 2021
Pages: 52