Rósa

A young woman who is seeking the truth after suffering a series of blows to her life. The central character Rósa's existence is permeated by alienation from reality, she does not realise on which side of the line she is standing. While the life of her best friend Díana seems to be perfect, Rósa incessantly tries to dig deeper in order to find answers to events that happened a few years back. Everything that happens or has happened becomes a question: Is this actually based on reality?
When Elvar, Rósa's former fiancé and the father of her child, is found murdered, Rósa starts to doubt her own innocence, until the truth is eventually revealed. Delving deep into the text, the story revolves mainly around Rósa's and Díana's friendship and the conflicts that sometimes arise in close friendships. How in the innocence of youth, diverse personalities are attracted to one another and how the passage of time and changed circumstances can bring about emotional distancing between former close companions; jealousy and constant comparison, treachery and lusting after what one's counterpart has. Translated by: Björg Árnadóttir and Andrew Cauthery. Sæmundsen deals with important matters and mental complications, love and loss, acceptance and violence, schizophrenia and illusion, dreams and reality. A noteworthy novel!
- SteinÞór Guðbjartsson, Morgunblaðið