In Halldór Laxness’s “The Fish Can Sing,” an orphan named Álfgrímur grows up in Brekkukot, a house in Reykjavík, among a small, accepting community of misfits and eccentrics. The narrative explores the life of Álfgrímur as he considers his destiny and is impacted by the renowned Icelandic ‘world singer,’ Garðar Hólm.