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tborrisholt's review against another edition
I thoroughly enjoyed the first chapters of this piece, but the SA, and how it was looked upon in the community, was just too much for me this time. I appreciate that the author tells the tale of many women through history, not shying away from this topic, but I have a hard time reading it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
jeneenhiller's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
sytaylor's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
sevenlefts's review against another edition
4.0
There were many things that drew me to this book -- a fascination with the north and the cold, interest in things medieval, and a soft spot for stories about complicated family relationships told over generations. Kristin Lavransdatter has all this in spades.
But reader beware -- this story is long. I can't remember the last time it took me this long to read a book. And this edition would have been well-served with a more detailed map of geographic areas in the novel (almost characters in themselves) and with family trees plotting out the myriad ways the many characters in this story were interconnected.(Note: I've since found this chart on Wikipedia)
These minor gripes besides, I enjoyed this. Each chapter breaks down into little vignettes -- some long dialog-heavy expository sections, others elegantly described landscapes and emotional states. Although the writer was describing a culture that I'm quite unfamiliar with, and though much of the book describes a developing religiosity that bordered on the tedious a times, the humanity of the characters never failed to shine through. A sort of post-saga saga.
The title character, of course, is the center around which the rest of the novel revolves -- basically covering her life from her ealiest memories to her life's end. But it was always interesting when, every once in a while, the author took a break to jump into the heads of some of the other characters.
The author of the introduction classes this novel among the ones that few people read more than once. I'd have to agree. Once is probably enough for this novel, but I know that parts of it will stick with me for some time.
But reader beware -- this story is long. I can't remember the last time it took me this long to read a book. And this edition would have been well-served with a more detailed map of geographic areas in the novel (almost characters in themselves) and with family trees plotting out the myriad ways the many characters in this story were interconnected.(Note: I've since found this chart on Wikipedia)
These minor gripes besides, I enjoyed this. Each chapter breaks down into little vignettes -- some long dialog-heavy expository sections, others elegantly described landscapes and emotional states. Although the writer was describing a culture that I'm quite unfamiliar with, and though much of the book describes a developing religiosity that bordered on the tedious a times, the humanity of the characters never failed to shine through. A sort of post-saga saga.
The title character, of course, is the center around which the rest of the novel revolves -- basically covering her life from her ealiest memories to her life's end. But it was always interesting when, every once in a while, the author took a break to jump into the heads of some of the other characters.
The author of the introduction classes this novel among the ones that few people read more than once. I'd have to agree. Once is probably enough for this novel, but I know that parts of it will stick with me for some time.
0paque's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
haplessheather's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jenknierim's review against another edition
4.0
"Life on this earth was irredeemably tainted by strife..."
an0987's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An incredible immersion into medieval Norway. This book touches on themes of sin, honour, love, duty and friendship. This masterpiece is just as relevant today as when it was published. Kristin is a compelling protagonist and finishing the book feels like losing a friend.
A lot of the book is spent dealing with the religious moral crises of Kristin, which are not really relatable to most modern individuals. However, I found this to be an interesting insight into how religion can radically shape the inner lives of its believers. After reading this book, I found out that Undset had converted to Catholicism in her lifetime. However, to me the excessive religious fervour of the characters in this book reads as a glaring critique of Christianity, as opposed to perhaps her intended message of support for Catholic values.
A lot of the book is spent dealing with the religious moral crises of Kristin, which are not really relatable to most modern individuals. However, I found this to be an interesting insight into how religion can radically shape the inner lives of its believers. After reading this book, I found out that Undset had converted to Catholicism in her lifetime. However, to me the excessive religious fervour of the characters in this book reads as a glaring critique of Christianity, as opposed to perhaps her intended message of support for Catholic values.
saszito's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Mein Fazit ist durchwachsen. Einerseits eine fesselnde Geschichte nebst interessanten Charakteren, anderseits dann auch wieder alles recht holzschnittartig und wächsern. Wie ja schon erwähnt wird zudem ununterbrochen errötet, erbleicht, erzittert und was es da noch ales an Herzschmerzvokabeln gibt. Letztlich keine Zeitverschwendung, aber ich bin auch ein wenig froh es hinter mir zu haben.
Und natürlich passte das frostig-klirrende Wetter Norwegens hervorragend zu den, mich gerade umsäuselnden, kräuterigen Sommerwinden Südfrankreichs.
Und natürlich passte das frostig-klirrende Wetter Norwegens hervorragend zu den, mich gerade umsäuselnden, kräuterigen Sommerwinden Südfrankreichs.
aphunt_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Modern Catholic novel - emphasis on eternal significance of humanity as response to instability of modern world.
Glad I read this as a group and surprised by how gripped I was by this. Struck by communal living, how difficult life was in mid ages, and how real the characters were.
Glad I read this as a group and surprised by how gripped I was by this. Struck by communal living, how difficult life was in mid ages, and how real the characters were.