Comments on: Kristin Lavransdatter: The Wreath – Book Review http://www.caribousmom.com/2009/12/04/kristin-lavransdatter-the-wreath-book-review/ reading a good book with a furchild by my side Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:14:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Caribousmom http://www.caribousmom.com/2009/12/04/kristin-lavransdatter-the-wreath-book-review/comment-page-1/#comment-12136 Caribousmom Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:10:03 +0000 http://www.caribousmom.com/?p=5919#comment-12136 Swapna: I'll look forward to reading your thoughts! Teddy: Sorry you didn't enjoy the story. I am now nearly finished with Book 2 (The Wife) and have not enjoyed it as much as The Wreath...it is very heavy on the religion in Book 2 and I'm finding that a bit tiresome. So although we disagree on The Wreath...we might be closer in opinion on The Wife :) Swapna: I’ll look forward to reading your thoughts!

Teddy: Sorry you didn’t enjoy the story. I am now nearly finished with Book 2 (The Wife) and have not enjoyed it as much as The Wreath…it is very heavy on the religion in Book 2 and I’m finding that a bit tiresome. So although we disagree on The Wreath…we might be closer in opinion on The Wife :)

]]> By: Teddy http://www.caribousmom.com/2009/12/04/kristin-lavransdatter-the-wreath-book-review/comment-page-1/#comment-12127 Teddy Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:52:38 +0000 http://www.caribousmom.com/?p=5919#comment-12127 I read this book back in 2005. So many people love this book. I loved the scenery and setting but I found the story okay. I didn't enjoy it enough to continue the series. Gosh Wendy, a book we don't totally aree on. LOL! I read this book back in 2005. So many people love this book. I loved the scenery and setting but I found the story okay. I didn’t enjoy it enough to continue the series. Gosh Wendy, a book we don’t totally aree on. LOL!

]]> By: S. Krishna http://www.caribousmom.com/2009/12/04/kristin-lavransdatter-the-wreath-book-review/comment-page-1/#comment-12109 S. Krishna Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:57:19 +0000 http://www.caribousmom.com/?p=5919#comment-12109 Wow, I'm glad you loved this one so much! I'll have to check it out. Wow, I’m glad you loved this one so much! I’ll have to check it out.

]]> By: Caribousmom http://www.caribousmom.com/2009/12/04/kristin-lavransdatter-the-wreath-book-review/comment-page-1/#comment-12040 Caribousmom Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:38:41 +0000 http://www.caribousmom.com/?p=5919#comment-12040 Raidergirl: Oh, you have made me feel better that I am not the only straggler here! I think you're right - passion has always ruled behavior...but in Kristin's time it was considered much more sinful! Kathy: I absolutely love historical fiction - and this one is really captivating. Hope you'll like it! Lilly: If you're an HF fan, you will be sure to enjoy this one. Don't let the size of the trilogy turn you away - it is worth the read. Les: Glad I got you interested in reading this book...it really is a classic! I do think it would be fun to discuss in a book club. Dawn: Yes I agree - very reader friendly. It is not too late to join in! El Fay: I am planning to get out and read other reviews of The Wreath over the next few days - glad to hear you and I agree! I do think Undset captured the time period in which the book was set - women were quite melodramatic (swooning and all that!) during medieval times! Raidergirl: Oh, you have made me feel better that I am not the only straggler here! I think you’re right – passion has always ruled behavior…but in Kristin’s time it was considered much more sinful!

Kathy: I absolutely love historical fiction – and this one is really captivating. Hope you’ll like it!

Lilly: If you’re an HF fan, you will be sure to enjoy this one. Don’t let the size of the trilogy turn you away – it is worth the read.

Les: Glad I got you interested in reading this book…it really is a classic! I do think it would be fun to discuss in a book club.

Dawn: Yes I agree – very reader friendly. It is not too late to join in!

El Fay: I am planning to get out and read other reviews of The Wreath over the next few days – glad to hear you and I agree! I do think Undset captured the time period in which the book was set – women were quite melodramatic (swooning and all that!) during medieval times!

]]> By: EL Fay http://www.caribousmom.com/2009/12/04/kristin-lavransdatter-the-wreath-book-review/comment-page-1/#comment-12038 EL Fay Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:09:42 +0000 http://www.caribousmom.com/?p=5919#comment-12038 Thank you! Someone else who agrees with me! You're right: Kristin is not an entirely likeable character, but she is a very realistic one. One of the points I've been making with my <i>Kristin Lavransdatter</i> posts is that historical fiction all too often features heroines whose attitudes and behavior are too modern for their time periods. Kristin, by contrast, feels very true to her era. (Although I feel that Undset could have toned down the melodrama and all the descriptions of how beautiful Kristin is.) Your review is the most balanced one I've read. Thank you! Someone else who agrees with me!

You’re right: Kristin is not an entirely likeable character, but she is a very realistic one. One of the points I’ve been making with my Kristin Lavransdatter posts is that historical fiction all too often features heroines whose attitudes and behavior are too modern for their time periods. Kristin, by contrast, feels very true to her era. (Although I feel that Undset could have toned down the melodrama and all the descriptions of how beautiful Kristin is.) Your review is the most balanced one I’ve read.

]]> By: Dawn - She is Too Fond of Books http://www.caribousmom.com/2009/12/04/kristin-lavransdatter-the-wreath-book-review/comment-page-1/#comment-12024 Dawn - She is Too Fond of Books Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:04:39 +0000 http://www.caribousmom.com/?p=5919#comment-12024 I read the first book in the trilogy (the same translation as you; I found it very reader-friendly), then fell behind in my reading! I love the idea of reading this somewhat imposing book as part of a group. I read the first book in the trilogy (the same translation as you; I found it very reader-friendly), then fell behind in my reading! I love the idea of reading this somewhat imposing book as part of a group.

]]> By: Les in NE http://www.caribousmom.com/2009/12/04/kristin-lavransdatter-the-wreath-book-review/comment-page-1/#comment-12016 Les in NE Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:21:46 +0000 http://www.caribousmom.com/?p=5919#comment-12016 I've seen this 3-part collection of books on the shelf at work, but haven't even bothered to skim the back covers to see what they're about. Thanks to you, I'm adding the books to my TBR list. I love historical fiction and I know I want to at least read The Wreath, if not the other two. The Wreath sounds like a great book to discuss, so I think I'll make a note to suggest it to my book club. Thanks, Wendy. I love your 5-star recommendations! :) I’ve seen this 3-part collection of books on the shelf at work, but haven’t even bothered to skim the back covers to see what they’re about. Thanks to you, I’m adding the books to my TBR list. I love historical fiction and I know I want to at least read The Wreath, if not the other two. The Wreath sounds like a great book to discuss, so I think I’ll make a note to suggest it to my book club. Thanks, Wendy. I love your 5-star recommendations! :)

]]> By: lilly http://www.caribousmom.com/2009/12/04/kristin-lavransdatter-the-wreath-book-review/comment-page-1/#comment-12014 lilly Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:36:12 +0000 http://www.caribousmom.com/?p=5919#comment-12014 I would love to get my hands on this book. As a matter of fact, I will. Not only did you give it a five-star rating but the whole premise sounds really like something I could enjoy. I am an HF fan but never read anything about Norway and it will add nicely to my interests. I would love to get my hands on this book. As a matter of fact, I will. Not only did you give it a five-star rating but the whole premise sounds really like something I could enjoy. I am an HF fan but never read anything about Norway and it will add nicely to my interests.

]]> By: Kathy http://www.caribousmom.com/2009/12/04/kristin-lavransdatter-the-wreath-book-review/comment-page-1/#comment-12003 Kathy Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:14:02 +0000 http://www.caribousmom.com/?p=5919#comment-12003 Wow, a five star read! I love a good coming of age story and the fact that it's set in a different culture is an added bonus. This is going on my wish list. Wow, a five star read! I love a good coming of age story and the fact that it’s set in a different culture is an added bonus. This is going on my wish list.

]]> By: raidergirl3 http://www.caribousmom.com/2009/12/04/kristin-lavransdatter-the-wreath-book-review/comment-page-1/#comment-12002 raidergirl3 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:11:14 +0000 http://www.caribousmom.com/?p=5919#comment-12002 I too was struck by the role of women. Kristen was pretty strong willed though, and managed to get her way. She was like a teenager, ruled by hormones. I imagine that throughout history, people were forever being ruled by their passions, going against the ruling church's views. It was just more shaming when it occurred, not less frequent. I'm at about the same place as you Wendy - I finished The Bridal Wreath a few weeks ago. I have the next book out from the library,but I think I'll try to read it over Christmas holidays. I wont' look at the last book until into the new year. So, you're not behind, you are staying back with me:) I too was struck by the role of women. Kristen was pretty strong willed though, and managed to get her way. She was like a teenager, ruled by hormones. I imagine that throughout history, people were forever being ruled by their passions, going against the ruling church’s views. It was just more shaming when it occurred, not less frequent.

I’m at about the same place as you Wendy – I finished The Bridal Wreath a few weeks ago. I have the next book out from the library,but I think I’ll try to read it over Christmas holidays. I wont’ look at the last book until into the new year. So, you’re not behind, you are staying back with me:)

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