The May Star Poetry Prize was presented at the National Library on Wednesday, May 14. The Icelandic Writers' Association is sponsoring the prize together with the National Library of Iceland - University Library.
The May Star for Poetry Book of the Year 2024 will be awarded to Þórdís Gísladóttir for her poetry book Aðlögun.
The jury's comment on the award book states:
"In Þórdís Gísladóttir's Adaptation, the behavior of modern man is examined from various perspectives, both humorously and seriously, in the past and the future, but most of all in this rather mundane present that most of us call daily life. The book can be said to be a kind of commentary on the human being, its challenges and imperfections, because "half-heartedness and inaction are not recognized jobs", as it says in one place and "the organism is a prison made of cells", as it says in another. The style is concise rather than lyrical and manages the subject well in a sweet and funny book that deals with both the beautiful and the unbearable that we more often than not have to adapt to. The poems are sharp, sarcastic and touch the reader in a deep and unexpected way."
Þórdís Gísladóttir was born on July 14, 1965 and grew up in Hafnarfjörður. She completed a BA in Icelandic from the University of Iceland, an MA in literature, and a licentiate in Nordic studies from Uppsala University in Sweden. Þórdís Gísladóttir lives in Norðurmýri, Reykjavík.
In addition to her writing, Þórdís has taught and lectured at schools in Iceland and abroad, written articles for Icelandic and foreign newspapers and magazines, produced programs for RÚV, written literary criticism, edited the magazine Börn og menning (Children and Culture), and been a project manager at the University of Iceland and the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Þórdís writes equally for children and adults and has also written educational materials and books for young adults in collaboration with Hildur Knútsdóttir. She has also translated numerous works.
Þórdís' first book of poetry, Leyndarmál annartra, won the Tómas Guðmundsson Literary Prize in 2010, and she has since published books of poetry, a novel, a collection of short stories, children's and young adult books, and textbooks. Þórdís won the Fjöruverðunin, the women's literary prize for the book Randalín og Mundi, she has been nominated for the Icelandic Literature Prize, the Icelandic Translation Prize, and her poetry book Óvissustig (2016) was nominated for the Maístjarnan.
On this occasion, a micro-exhibition of Þórdís Gísladóttir's books has been opened in the museum.
All published Icelandic poetry books from 2024 that were returned to the National Library of Iceland – University Library were eligible for consideration and were presented to a jury for consideration. The jury consists of Sölvi Björn Sigurðsson on behalf of the Icelandic Writers' Association and Kamilla Einarsdóttir on behalf of the National Library.