In Iceland, the winter months are a time for stories. During the annual jólabókaflóð, or “Christmas book flood,” a surge of new publications brings fresh reading material into homes and shops as families prepare for the darkest days of the year. Central to this tradition is a unique literary award: the Bókmenntaverðlaun starfsfólks bókaverslana, the Literature Prize of the Staff of Bookshops.
A prize from the people who sell the books
Unlike most literary honours given out by critics or academic panels, these awards are determined by the people who spend their days among the books and readers: the shop workers themselves. The Icelandic union Félag starfsfólks bókaverslana, established in 2000, created this annual December prize as soon as it was founded. Their selections quickly became a marker for quality and relevance just as the Christmas season’s book excitement reaches its peak.
Seven categories are represented, with three books nominated in each. These cover Icelandic and translated novels, children’s and young people’s books, poetry, biographies, handbooks, and more. The winner in each category earns a distinctive ribbon for display, making it easy to spot amongst the shelves when the shops are thick with customers hunting for winter gifts.
Awarding the stories Iceland reads
Looking at past winners gives a sense of the broad range of voices celebrated. Recipients include well-known authors such as Jón Kalman Stefánsson, whose titles “Hjarta mannsins” and “Harmur englanna” have earned the distinction, alongside new and established poets, biographers, and creators of children’s tales. International voices are prominent, too, as translated works also feature in the ceremony, with names like Fredrik Backman and Sofi Oksanen joining Icelandic authors on the display tables.
The prize is not limited to novels alone. Poetry collections, influential handbooks, illustrated guides, and biographies all earn their place, mirroring the diversity of Icelandic readers’ interests. Notably, children’s literature is a strong part of the discussion, with both original Icelandic and translated stories for the youngest audience receiving equal consideration.
During the annual Vika bókarinnar, or Book Week, the union also hands out a separate honour called Lóð á vogarskál íslenskra bókmennta, “A weight on the scales of Icelandic literature”, again highlighting the central role of bookshop staff in shaping literary tastes.
The Bókmenntaverðlaun starfsfólks bókaverslana is more than a list of good reads: it is a snapshot of what matters to Icelandic readers during their most literary season. Through this process, the everyday experience and knowledge of the shop staff become a guide for the nation’s collective reading. In a country where literature is celebrated, the voices behind the counter help ensure that the right stories reach every home.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
