It's really satisfying to hear you say that the "entire enterprise turns on marriage difficulties"--I once described the trilogy as "about marriage" at an extended family dinner, only to be told that the scope of Undset's work was so much deeper than that (rigorous historical research that reveals the tensions between Christianity and Nordic myth in medieval Norway and whatnot...)
The review is steeped in the love of literature so carries that dimension too. Catnip! I certainly want to read The Story of Kristin Lavransdatter. Reading the review I was continually drawn back to Laurus, another historical novel with religious currents set in the Medieval period. That alone makes me want to read it.
I have to write again and say, I received the book recently through an interlibrary loan and am enjoying The Story of Kristin Lavransdatter very much. A part me me now lives in medieval Norway! I am an armchair traveler.
The copy I received (the Novel Prize edition) was published in 1929. It's written in an antiquated English that I find charming, with turns of phrase and words that have almost dropped out of the language. All these help create the aura of another time and place.
Great review. I just read this a couple months ago and was blown away by it. This book made me emotionally invested in the characters like few others have. I genuinely grieved at their hardships and deaths.
You noted its depiction of the characters’ religious life. Religious themes are central to it much like many of the great classic novels like Moby Dick, Middlemarch, and the works of Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, among many. As someone who grew up In a religious home, I’m able to appreciate much of the richness of what these writers are doing, even though I’m part of that growing demographic who have left the pews of the church. I think it will be harder for those who grew up in a secular or non-Christian environment to “get” Lavransdatter and these other novels. (Just as I felt like I was missing quite a bit when I was reading a Rushdie novel because of my ignorance about Islam.)
I bet you’re right about readers with little connection to Christianity. I would think the feel of it would already be foreign to many modern Christians.
I had the same experience of emotional investment. Kept me going all eleven hundred pages!
I can pay you no higher compliment than you’ve made me want to read this trilogy as soon as possible. Just from your synopsis I am already resonating with some of the themes of Kristin’s book.
Thank you so much for bringing this tale to my attention. Hopefully it is available through my local library
I have had the audio book for quite a while. Your review makes me want to queue this one next. Thanks! I’ll be reading Their Eyes Were Watching God in August. Can’t wait to see your review.
It's really satisfying to hear you say that the "entire enterprise turns on marriage difficulties"--I once described the trilogy as "about marriage" at an extended family dinner, only to be told that the scope of Undset's work was so much deeper than that (rigorous historical research that reveals the tensions between Christianity and Nordic myth in medieval Norway and whatnot...)
Don't see why it can't be both.
It's the best book about marriage I've ever read.
It’s definitely both. If that book isn’t about marriage, it’s not about anything :)
The review is steeped in the love of literature so carries that dimension too. Catnip! I certainly want to read The Story of Kristin Lavransdatter. Reading the review I was continually drawn back to Laurus, another historical novel with religious currents set in the Medieval period. That alone makes me want to read it.
I thought of Laurus several times when reading it. If you enjoyed Vodolazkin’s novel, you’ll enjoy this as well! It’s a remarkable book.
I have to write again and say, I received the book recently through an interlibrary loan and am enjoying The Story of Kristin Lavransdatter very much. A part me me now lives in medieval Norway! I am an armchair traveler.
The copy I received (the Novel Prize edition) was published in 1929. It's written in an antiquated English that I find charming, with turns of phrase and words that have almost dropped out of the language. All these help create the aura of another time and place.
Thank you Joel, for the recommendation.
Delighted to hear you’re enjoying it!
Great review. I just read this a couple months ago and was blown away by it. This book made me emotionally invested in the characters like few others have. I genuinely grieved at their hardships and deaths.
You noted its depiction of the characters’ religious life. Religious themes are central to it much like many of the great classic novels like Moby Dick, Middlemarch, and the works of Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, among many. As someone who grew up In a religious home, I’m able to appreciate much of the richness of what these writers are doing, even though I’m part of that growing demographic who have left the pews of the church. I think it will be harder for those who grew up in a secular or non-Christian environment to “get” Lavransdatter and these other novels. (Just as I felt like I was missing quite a bit when I was reading a Rushdie novel because of my ignorance about Islam.)
I bet you’re right about readers with little connection to Christianity. I would think the feel of it would already be foreign to many modern Christians.
I had the same experience of emotional investment. Kept me going all eleven hundred pages!
I can pay you no higher compliment than you’ve made me want to read this trilogy as soon as possible. Just from your synopsis I am already resonating with some of the themes of Kristin’s book.
Thank you so much for bringing this tale to my attention. Hopefully it is available through my local library
Thank you! I hope you can get a copy and dive in. It’s an amazing book.
I have had the audio book for quite a while. Your review makes me want to queue this one next. Thanks! I’ll be reading Their Eyes Were Watching God in August. Can’t wait to see your review.
Excited to hear what you think. You’ll need to drop back here and share your take on it.
This is one of my favorite trilogies, and your review is excellent. Now I want to reread it.