Kristin Lavransdatter I: The Wreath
Posted on Jul 04, 2010 under wreaths | 5 Comments
Product Description
In Kristin Lavransdatter (1920-1922), Sigrid Undset interweaves political, social, and religious history with the daily aspects of family life to create a colorful, richly detailed tapestry of Norway during the fourteenth-century. The trilogy, however, is more than a journey into the past. Undset’s own life-her familiarity with Norse sagas and folklore and with a wide range of medieval literature, her experiences as a daughter, wife, and mother, and her deep religio… More >>
July 4th, 2010 at 11:00 am
I was required to read this book for a religion class assignment. If I did not have to read this book, I would have surely dropped it after the first page! This book is incredibly difficult to undersand and difficult to follow. If you are thinking of buying this book, I would like to warn you against it!
Rating: 1 / 5
July 4th, 2010 at 11:47 am
First let me say I have not read the book as of yet. I was most impressed by the Girl contemplating by the fence. I thought to myself how beautiful and rare a scene of a female contemplating during our times. It warmed my heart to see her thinking rather than acting!
Rating: 5 / 5
July 4th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Kristin Lavransdatter misses being Clan of the Cave Bear by that much. Ayla is a Chronic Victim. Kristin Lavransdatter born today would be every litigant on Judge Judy who lent thousands of dollars to Deadbeat Men they Really Loved Because They Were Soulmates.
What makes this book such a unique outrage is that it otherwise would have been a fascinating window on Medieval Norway; unfortunately, Sigrid Undset decided to make her main character a total ninny, while having the other characters react to her as if she were some kind of paragon. Other than Erland and Kristin, the other characters are actually likeable people. Well, except for the tiresome and tedious, self-pitying mother. So the effect is this anachronistic duo fouling the strong mead of Medieval Norway with the 40-ounce malt beverage that is them. When the other characters go on about Kristin, we don’t believe them, and it only adds insult to injury.
I mean, under the circumstances, must we hear, “She has wise eyes, this daughter of yours…” ?
Note to Sigrid Undset (which she can’t read, because she’s dead, which is a mixed blessing because at least it means she can’t write any other books. Happy Times in Norway was excruciating, too.):If a character is going to be a totally self-destructive idiot, then in order to remain sympathetic, the character needs to have some kind of motivation that resonates with us, and gives us the sense that, if this character had been born in another place and time, there might actually have been a way out for her. So, in Anna Karenina’s case, she was married off to a man she doesn’t love, and in Emma Bovary’s case, we get the sense that things would have turned out a bit better for her had she been given some kind of intellectual outlet and a purpose in life. (And we also know in advance that Gustave Flaubert personally hated everyone in the human race, so we can forgive her for being painted in such a harsh light by the creator who hated her so deeply). This is the actual definition of Tragedy. The character must act consistent with her nature, and events twist those actions into something horrible, and the events are inexorable.
In Kristin’s case, there is no such motivation. And there is no logic. If she could defy everyone to run off with Erland, then why couldn’t she have defied everyone to marry Arne Gyrdson in the first place? As for the new translation, I’m glad the double-wide trailer has a better coat of paint.
Rating: 1 / 5
July 4th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
This book takes a long time to read. One of the reasons is because it is so boring. It does help you get a good idea of what life was like in the medieval times though. Out of the 297 pages, there about five times when I got really interested. The rest of the time, I felt like I was going to fall asleep. Although I am a very avid reader, I am only 14 years old, so an older reader might enjoy this book a little more. If you are looking for a book that gives a good description of the medieval time period get this book. If you are looking for an exciting book, don’t even pick it up.
Rating: 2 / 5
July 4th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Without a doubt, one of the worst books I have ever read. Sheer torture. Mercilessly boring, tedious, and dull. Utterly without tension, suspense, or drama. Literally the only question at issue in the entire story is whether or not the teenage girl will be allowed to marry her disreputable lover. If this sort of plot interests you, you’d probably be happier reading Harlequin Romances anyway. Undset had absolutely no sense of drama: events just happen out of the blue, with no preparation. A never-before-seen character appears and immediately attempts to rape Kristin, then disappears and is never seen again–although he does murder a friend of hers offstage. Why did Undset kill this minor character? Who knows? Not long after, Kristin is again threatened by strangers, apparently so that her soon-to-be-lover can come to her rescue. None of the events seem to be connected to one another. Kristin’s mother has some deep, dark secret gnawing at her, which she finally, tediously explains in the final pages of the book; by that point I couldn’t have cared less.
The book averages about two lines of dialogue per page, with the rest of the text comprised of narration and exposition, much of which is descriptions of landscape and leaves. And here is an example of the prize-winning translation:
“Erlend again turned as red as blood under Smon’s gaze. ‘Do you think I would allow myself to be threatened by a whelp like you?’ he bellowed, putting his hand on the hilt of his sword.
‘I’m not so timid that I’m afraid you’ll think I’m afraid of you’, Simon said. ‘I shall fight you, Erlend Nikulausson, you can bet the Devil on that, if you do not ask Kristin’s father for her hand within a reasonable time.’
‘I won’t do it at your bidding, Simon Andresson,’ said Erelend angrily; crimson washed over his face again.
‘No, do it to right the wrong you have done to so young a wife,’ replied Simon, unperturbed. ‘That will be better for Kristin.’
Kristin screamed shrilly, tormented by Erlend’s pain.”
Rancid melodrama. And nothing seems particularly medieval about the book, either. It could have been set in any century prior to the 20th with minimal modifications. In fact, the obsession with the guilt of pre-marital sex is much more Victorian than medieval.
I was repeatedly tempted to claw my own eyes out, just so I wouldn’t have to read anymore, but I paid for it and, by God, I finished it. And now I’m selling it.
Rating: 1 / 5