Jón Gnarr - The Outlaw

Praise for Jn Gnarrs The Indian

Gnarrs finest accomplishment in this book, surpassing others in the genre, is the absolute immediacy of the childhood experienceGnarr returns those emotionsall the emotions of childhoodto their context, adding the suffering of learning them, finding new restrictions, fearing ones you dont know, and we relate to them once again. This is the gift of The Indian, the way that it makes the child, our child-self, alive, close to heart and mind, in all his pain and his happiness. The Indian is brave in this gift, and dares me to be brave too, enough to find the child of my past and make him present. P. T. Smith, Three Percent

By turns funny and despairing (Gnarr had ADHD and severe dyslexia as a child), as well as providing a glimpse into Icelandic culture beyond Bjrk, The Indian is entertaining and enlightening. Cary Darling, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Critics Pick

A novel about self-discovery in a world where being different is of no good. It is an ingenious and bleak book, cleverly exploring the life of a ginger misfit, with writing that seamlessly blends Jn Gnarrs comedic abilities with an emotional connection that results in a need to learn everything there is to know about the boy who didnt fit in his surroundings and wanted to become an Indian. Denis Barbov, Graphic Policy

The Indian is refreshingly original because it not only speaks to a very specific subset of people who have learned to cope with, or are learning to cope with their learning disabilities, but also anyone who has ever experienced feeling like an outcast or alone in their childhood, aka: Everyone. Gnarrs story is incredibly relevant to all our lives and this is a book that needed to be writtenthis story of Jn Gnarr, similarly to how it was necessary to write, is a book that must be read. Eilidh, via Young Adults Book Central

As a Psychiatrist I found this book to be amazing. I loved the juxtaposition between his experience and the excerpts before each chapter from various Psychiatrists. This is the best first-person account of the real neuro-biological differences that children with serious learning differences have. This is a bittersweet story but Gnarr's genius is in how he keeps the tone victorious. I loved this book. Adam Rekerdres, via Goodreads

Praise for Jn Gnarrs The Pirate

Anyone who felt like the outcast in school, in indefinable limbo between jock, bookworm, stoner, or class clown, yet still shunned and excluded and on your own planet, will identify with The Pirate. In fact, it will make you relive those days in a way that brings all of those insecurities and triumphs vividly back to life. Doug Stanhope

The text encapsulates the feelings of loneliness and being misunderstood and bullied all while searching for self-identity that are all too common in the teenage experience. At times, the familiar emotions and questions posed by Gnarrs younger self can be anxiety-inducing for the reader. Hannah Wise, Dallas Morning News

Jn Gnarr may be best known as the comedian who became mayor of Reykjavk, but he also impresses with his writing. The Pirate recounts his teen years and punk rocks influence on his life. David Gutkowski, Largehearted Boy

In my opinion this is one of the most remarkable books to have come out in the last yearTeenagers should read this book, without questionI thought it was simply wonderful. Kolbrn Bergthrsdttir, Kiljan (Icelandic National TV)

Gnarr the writer does an incredible job of telling the story from a kids perspective, showing Jns naivete and idealism, along with poor judgement, tortured kid-logic and blas cynicism and emotional detachmentThe Pirate is brilliant, heartbreaking and so true to a kids brain its painful sometimes. Marie Cloutier, Boston Bibliophile

The language is reminiscent even of Thorbergur Thordarson, with his clarity and simplicity. I also find the history of punk in this book very interesting. Sigurdur Valgeirsson, Icelandic National TV

ALSO AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH BY JN GNARR

The Indian

The Pirate

both translated by Lytton Smith

Deep Vellum Publishing

3000 Commerce St., Dallas, Texas 75226

deepvellum.org @deepvellum

Deep Vellum Publishing is a 501c3

nonprofit literary arts organization founded in 2013.

Copyright Jn Gnarr, 2015

Originally published in Icelandic as tlaginn by Forlagi in Reykjavk, Iceland.

Published by agreement with Forlagi, www.forlagid.is

English translation copyright 2017 by Lytton Smith

First edition, 2017

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-941920-53-4 (ebook)

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CONTROL NUMBER: 2016959430

This book has been translated with financial support from the Icelandic Literature Center.

Cover design & typesetting by Anna Zylicz annazylicz.com

Text set in Bembo, a typeface modeled on typefaces cut by Francesco Griffo for Aldo Manuzios printing of De Aetna in 1495 in Venice.

Distributed by Consortium Book Sales & Distribution (800) 283-3572 cbsd.com

Contents

The aircraft lifted itself from the ground at Reykjavk Airport. It was only the second time Id been on a plane. Id gone to Norway with my mother and father. Id never been to Reykjavk Airportnever flown domestically. I had a limited understanding of Iceland in my mind, and was exceedingly oblivious as to its character. Id taken a road trip around the country with my parents, but everything seemed so utterly identical I couldnt work out where I was at any given moment. The country felt somehow alien to me. I could conjure up a picture of Iceland but I couldnt place myself within that picture. Id gone all the way to Akureyri, but didnt have a clue where to find it on a map. And now I was headed to safjrur. I knew nothing about the place and was struggling to imagine what it would be like. I guessed the town would be some podunk place like Bardalur; given the name, it was safe to assume it must always be freezing cold there in ice fjord. I bet people had gardens full of dockweed.

All kinds of folks were on the plane, adults and children alike. I didnt know anyone. An older woman was sitting beside me.

Whats taking you to safjrur?

Im going to Npur.

The boarding school?

Uuuuh

Npur at Drafjrur, to give it its full name? What was it, exactly? I hadnt seen a picture of the location and had no idea what a boarding school was. Id never been to such a place. Id heard stories, though, about kids whod gone to the boarding school at Laugarvatn, and it sure sounded fun. A mix of being in school and living in a commune. You had a fair amount of freedom, everyone was good friends, and there was plenty of booze. I hoped itd be like that at Npur at Drafjrur. But Npur was probably some storage depot for delinquents, some sort of care home that primarily catered to troubled souls. I didnt quite know if I was a delinquent, but I was close to being one, at least. Delinquents were like me. Although we might not see ourselves as troubled youths, others did. Npur at Drafjrurthe name itself sounded ancientalmost like a foreign language.