kiriamarin's review against another edition
4.0
Finally I read this New transleted version of a less know work of Sigrid undset . Set again in Medieval Norway, about two young people trapped in a world of social hierarchy, tradition and costumes injustiça and violence,their blood laws,rites of transition to adulthood,marriage,honor,vows and death. INGUNN AND OLAV are children who carries all that weight ,destroying their pueril love and future happiness. Undset describe this emotional rollercosters beautifully and relatable to the reader of XXI century. She merges all her knowledge in history,archeology and deep human psychology to create interesting and real characters.
I'M A ferverous admirer of Undset's work and style, she is a Master of telling about the complexity of mind and soul of men and women whatever the age or century/place they born.
I can see easily the characters of this book set in a modern times.This is a re-read to me and now I can appreciate much more and eager to read the next book,even if promise more misery and sad feelings for the destinies of Olav and Ingunn .
"But the human heart never changes as times go by.”
I'M A ferverous admirer of Undset's work and style, she is a Master of telling about the complexity of mind and soul of men and women whatever the age or century/place they born.
I can see easily the characters of this book set in a modern times.This is a re-read to me and now I can appreciate much more and eager to read the next book,even if promise more misery and sad feelings for the destinies of Olav and Ingunn .
"But the human heart never changes as times go by.”
fallona's review against another edition
3.0
I suspect that a different translation would have made this book much more enjoyable.
blacklake's review against another edition
3.0
A wonderfully detailed and interesting book, but the more times I read it, the harder I find it to put up with the lack of a sense of humor. And all the lip-curling. :)
srm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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
4.0
It's a slow build, this story of Olav and Ingunn in 13th century Norway, betrothed since childhood, yet with so many obstacles in their way. But by the end, I was getting through this much faster and definitely ended eager for the next volume.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Murder, Pregnancy, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcohol, Dementia, Medical content, and Sexual content
faeden's review against another edition
3.0
I choose to read a wide variety of books: different genres, and written in different time periods. I want to read books written long ago, but, as happens so often nowadays, I found the way women are talked about disturbing. Olav clearly loves Ingunn deeply, so some of the things he says about her are disquieting. I force myself to put that aside though. While I wasn't drawn in too deeply, I am intrigued enough to want to read the next in the series. I also want to give the Kristin Lavransdatter series a go.
dreesreads's review against another edition
4.0
Part 1 of a tetralogy, with anew translation from Tiina Nunally (who also did the fabulous translation of Kristin Lavransdatter).
In many ways this book is similar to KL--it too takes place in Medieval Norway. The main characters are landowners and those in the church. But Olav is an orphan raised as a foster son, betrothed to his foster sister by their fathers before his father's death.
This volume shows their happy childhoods, and then the whirlwind of familial manipulation, misunderstanding, benign neglect, greed, and rampant misogyny that was all part of upper class Norwegian life. Olav and Ingunn are determined to marry--this volume details the trouble, suffering, difficulties, violence, negotiation, and waiting (so much waiting) that they go through to fulfill their betrothal.
I didn't find this volume quite as gripping as book 1 of KL, but that may be partly because OA is a man. I personally relate more to Ingunn, but she is a little insufferable.
Looking forward to part 2, though I have no idea when it will be out.
In many ways this book is similar to KL--it too takes place in Medieval Norway. The main characters are landowners and those in the church. But Olav is an orphan raised as a foster son, betrothed to his foster sister by their fathers before his father's death.
This volume shows their happy childhoods, and then the whirlwind of familial manipulation, misunderstanding, benign neglect, greed, and rampant misogyny that was all part of upper class Norwegian life. Olav and Ingunn are determined to marry--this volume details the trouble, suffering, difficulties, violence, negotiation, and waiting (so much waiting) that they go through to fulfill their betrothal.
I didn't find this volume quite as gripping as book 1 of KL, but that may be partly because OA is a man. I personally relate more to Ingunn, but she is a little insufferable.
Looking forward to part 2, though I have no idea when it will be out.
luftschlosseule's review against another edition
3.0
trigger warning
It is with good intentions that Olav and Ingunn are betrothed as children, and Olav is taken in by his future father-in-law as a foster child as his own father lies dying.
No one senses what troubles will come of this.
You see, the trouble was that the adults didn't think the children would remember while the children grew up in the knowledge they would spend their whole life together. Insert a bit of misfortune and complicated politics, and it gets dramatic quick.
This was not at all what I thought it would be though it fits the blurp exactly. One setback was that I did not realise as I requested this arc that this book is set after people in Norway became Christian and I was excited for the Norse mythology featuring as a backdrop to this, which didn't happen.
And teenagers doing stupid stuff really, really, really annoy me.
The book starts with a short introduction by the translator, who outlines that this is the first book of a tetralogy that hasn't been newly translated in over 100 years and it's been overdue, that Sigrid Undset was the child of an archaeologist and an artist who both inspired her.
We also get footnotes that explain terms that refer to certain things found in scandinavian medieval times. Sadly, in my version the footnotes are at the back of things so I mostly ignored them as jumping back and forth in a digital copy is no fun. I much prefer the annotations to be at the bottom of the page.
The characters are very three dimensional and especially the depiction of trauma, grief and dementia were superb. Also, this one is character driven, there is no real plot. And I don't do well with those books in the most cases, so it's safe to say that this one simply isn't for me.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
Spoiler
kidnapping, mention of rape, suicide attempt, mentall illness, torture, dementia, death of a parent, being orphanedIt is with good intentions that Olav and Ingunn are betrothed as children, and Olav is taken in by his future father-in-law as a foster child as his own father lies dying.
No one senses what troubles will come of this.
You see, the trouble was that the adults didn't think the children would remember while the children grew up in the knowledge they would spend their whole life together. Insert a bit of misfortune and complicated politics, and it gets dramatic quick.
This was not at all what I thought it would be though it fits the blurp exactly. One setback was that I did not realise as I requested this arc that this book is set after people in Norway became Christian and I was excited for the Norse mythology featuring as a backdrop to this, which didn't happen.
And teenagers doing stupid stuff really, really, really annoy me.
The book starts with a short introduction by the translator, who outlines that this is the first book of a tetralogy that hasn't been newly translated in over 100 years and it's been overdue, that Sigrid Undset was the child of an archaeologist and an artist who both inspired her.
We also get footnotes that explain terms that refer to certain things found in scandinavian medieval times. Sadly, in my version the footnotes are at the back of things so I mostly ignored them as jumping back and forth in a digital copy is no fun. I much prefer the annotations to be at the bottom of the page.
The characters are very three dimensional and especially the depiction of trauma, grief and dementia were superb. Also, this one is character driven, there is no real plot. And I don't do well with those books in the most cases, so it's safe to say that this one simply isn't for me.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
gretel7's review against another edition
4.0
I received this from Netgalley.com.
"Olav Audunsson: I. Vows" by Nobel Prize winner Sigrid Undset is the first book in a new English translation of the tetralogy previously translated as "The Master of Hestviken" and published in 1925. Olav and Ingunn are the epitome of star crossed lovers and have many factors against their love.
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed [b:Kristin Lavransdatter|6217|Kristin Lavransdatter (Kristin Lavransdatter, #1-3)|Sigrid Undset|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388289230l/6217._SY75_.jpg|1370150] last year, I was excited when this book became available. Book 1 in a tetralogy, I hope the rest of the series will also be on Netgalley.com.
4.5☆
"Olav Audunsson: I. Vows" by Nobel Prize winner Sigrid Undset is the first book in a new English translation of the tetralogy previously translated as "The Master of Hestviken" and published in 1925. Olav and Ingunn are the epitome of star crossed lovers and have many factors against their love.
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed [b:Kristin Lavransdatter|6217|Kristin Lavransdatter (Kristin Lavransdatter, #1-3)|Sigrid Undset|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388289230l/6217._SY75_.jpg|1370150] last year, I was excited when this book became available. Book 1 in a tetralogy, I hope the rest of the series will also be on Netgalley.com.
4.5☆