Iceland’s audiobook awards, the Storytel Awards, were presented at a ceremony at Norðurljós in Harpa this evening. It’s an annual event where audiobook enthusiasts; publishers, authors and readers together celebrate the release of the best audiobooks of the past year.
Hugleikur Dagsson was the evening’s presenter and caused much hilarity among the guests when he attempted to turn his own comics into an audiobook. Örn Árnason stepped into the role of Afa and organized the festival in a light and fun way, as if only he had the song, in addition to actor Mikael Emil Kaaber singing the powerful song Einn from the rock musical Trölladans, which was specially written for Storytel.
Hugleikur Dagsson presents the evening Photo: Árni Rúnarsson
See also: These are nominated for the Icelandic Audio Book Awards
Prizes were awarded in six categories as well as special honorable mentions. The winners were:
The best book for children and young people:
The little Mermaid
Author: Anna Bergljot Thorarensen
Reading: Lotta Playgroup
“The Little Mermaid is an extremely fun and well-made audiobook. Originally, Litla hafmejjan was a musical that Leikhópurinn Lotta performed around the country, but later adapted exceptionally well to the audiobook format. The The jury agreed that the fun of acting reigned supreme as the overall image was really strong and all the actors played their roles well and didn’t detract from the big conservation message.There was also a fun twist in the story of the Little Mermaid, and you can see a wonderful manifestation of the love that eventually blossoms between King Hlin’s son and the mermaid Sævar,” the jury said.
The best crime story
You do not see me
Author: Eva Run Ægisdóttir
Reading: Guðmundur Ingi Þorvaldsson, Haraldur Ari Stefánsson, María Dögg Nelsson, Sigríður Eyrún Friðriksdóttir, Sigríður Láretta Jónsdóttir and Þórey Birgisdóttir.
“You don’t see me after Eva Björga Ægisdóttir weaves a big family story with a thrilling crime story set in a luxury hotel in Snæfellsnes. But when the influential Snæberg family comes together under one roof, the The tide is turning and old family secrets are resurfacing. The book is an ambitious and well-structured project. Eva Björg always shows why she is one of our country’s leading detective novel writers. A good book will be even better if it is read as an audiobook by a group of readers consisting of: Sigríður Láretta Jónsdóttir, Sigríður Eyrún Friðriksdóttir, Þórey Birgisdóttir, Haraldur Ari Stefánsson, Guðmundur Ingi Þorvaldsson and María Dögg Nelson. Each reader brings the book’s characters to life, greatly enhancing the impact of the plot and helping the listener differentiate between the characters. You Don’t See Me is a powerful crime story that comes to life in a new way in the ears of a listener who won’t turn off the device until the last beat of the audiobook,” says the jury.
The best novel
Sverri’s wife
Author: Valgerður Ólafsdóttir
Reading: Margrét Örnólfsdóttir
“In Konunni hans Sverris, we hear the brutal tale of a woman who has finally found the freedom to tell her story on her own terms. Hildur, the book’s narrator, coldly describes the reality of women who have been trapped for years or decades in relationships that threaten their lives and health, she spares neither herself nor her abuser when it comes to the self-delusion and justifications people seek to survive in such situations. Hilda’s story is so familiar in so many ways. The reader gets the feeling that the mental and physical abuse she describes could just as easily be happening next to or within her own family.” Margrétar Örnólfsdóttir’s voice brings out both the maturity and wisdom of a woman who looks back and mourns lost time, but also feels her strength in having put violence behind her and created a safe haven for herself and his children,” the jury says . review. .
Best Non-Fiction
The creature in the dirt
Author: Lara Kristin Pedersen
Reading: Úríður Blær Jóhannsdóttir
“The author’s truly balanced and insightful account of a very interesting topic that few know but many can relate to. Addiction comes to us in many forms. Lára Kristín tells stories, opens up and writes her story about battling food addiction with sincerity and honesty. She exposes herself to the listener and doesn’t hesitate to pour out her heart and face the difficulties and adversity that this difficult disease throws at us. She is self-critical and retains nothing in his story.
Úríðar Blævar’s clear reading and audible voice add to the story with his sensitive approach and good sense of the material. The narrative is informative and accessible and well suited to the audiobook format,” says the jury.
The best soft read
The small bakery in Strandgatu
Author: Jenny Colgan
Reading: Esther Talía Casey
“What sets The Little Bakery on Strandgatu apart is the care Jenny Colgan takes to highlight the story’s setting – the small village of Mount Polbearne on the Cornish coast. flees in search of respite from both professional and romantic failures. In this charming outback, which is only accessible from the mainland when the tides permit, she encounters a variety of sexual leprechauns. The reader follows how Polly gradually adjusts to life in this quiet village and makes her place among the villagers. In Colgan’s manipulation, the village and its surroundings transform into a magical world that is tempting to forget for a moment, and she never ‘doesn’t shy away from nurturing her smaller characters and bringing them to life, so it’s particularly admirable how Esther Talia Casey’s comfortable and effortless reading manages to manage this large gallery of characters’ , indicates the criticism of the jury.
The best audio series
Hemingway’s Hundred Misadventures
Author: Lilja Sigurardottir
Reading: Lilja Sigurðardóttir, Örn Árnason and other voice actors.
“Lilja Sigurðardóttir is exceptionally successful in drawing a picture of the life of Nobel poet Ernest Hemingway and uses all the best possibilities of podcast media to do so. Lilja’s personal interest and passion for the subject shines through, especially in conversations fictitious that cleverly tie together the progress. The sound recordings are neat, the sound processing and the sound mixing are exemplary so that the episodes form a very strong and audible whole”, specifies the criticism of the jury.
Finally, actress Helga Elínborg Jónsdóttir received an honorary award for her invaluable contribution to Icelandic dubbing and audiobooks. Helga is one of the country’s most beloved actresses and has read a number of Icelandic audiobooks in recent years. More recently, she read the book Sálarhlekkir, which is one of the most popular books of the year at Storytel.
Helga E Jonsdottir Honorary Award Photo: Árni Rúnarsson Photo: Árni Rúnarsson
