I’m currently reading Kristin Lavransdatter, by Sigrid Undset, for a read-a-long. At over 1000 pages, this puppy is a chunkster. Luckily, it is comprised of three books (The Wreath, The Wife, and The Cross), and we’re reading a book a month. So what follows is my ramblings on The Wreath (and some of The Wife, since I’m about halfway through the entire thing at this point). And be warned…my ramblings include some pretty important plot points and other significant shit (and yes, that’s a literary term).
Sigrid Undset won the Nobel Prize back in the 1920’s, primarily for this book and another Norwegian saga. She is known for her sweeping tales of Norway in the Middle Ages. Kristin Lavransdatter is set during the 14th century. It is the story of Kristin (duh), the beloved daughter of Lavrans, a prosperous landowner and farmer. Kristin’s mother, Ragnfrid, is a bit distant. I’d say she suffers from depression, but in the book she just runs hot and cold. I actually feel bad for Ragnfrid…I think she got a bit of a raw deal from both her husband and her daughter, and the author. The Wreath sets up some tension between mother and daughter, yet by the time she dies (oh please, no squawking…at 1000+ pages you can’t tell me you didn’t see that coming) nothing had really come of it. I think Ragnfrid needed more air time, so to speak. I would’ve liked to have read more about her.
Anyhoosie, back to the story. Kristin is betrothed to Simon, a nice young man. However, after a near rape and the death of a close friend, she is sent to a nunnery for a year (to let gossip die down). There, she meets Erlend. While Erlend can do no wrong in Kristin’s eyes, he has been ex-communicated from the church for having two children with a married woman. Kristin is able to convince Simon to break the betrothal (no easy thing that, in 14th century Norway). But when news gets out about who she truly loves, Kristin’s father is appalled and refuses to let them marry. After many months spent moping around the family farm, her father finally relents. And when faced with such conversations as “Jesus Christus, little Kristin, are you so unhappy” - “I think I’m going to die from it, Father,” (p. 238) you can’t blame the man. And the fact that this book predates Twilight by almost 90 years is a good thing; otherwise I’d be crying that it was a Twilight knockoff. Okay, not really. The writing is much, much, much better. But the teenage angst? That is most definitely present.
And since that is essentially the end of Book 1 (well, there’s a marriage and whoopsie, Kristin realizes she’s preggers before the wedding), it’s now time to end the synopsis and dish.
I’m having mixed thoughts. On the one hand, I love the writing and the setting…the smoky halls…the fearsome wolves in the forest…the icy winters. And lowing cows. I just adore lowing cows…they’re so much more eloquent than when they moo, don’t you think? I know my synopsis sounds kind of soap opera-ey, but the book certainly doesn’t read that way. Undset is good at sneaking in historical stuff in a subtle way, so it’s like you’re right there with Kristin and the lice and the mite-ridden fish and the brewing ale.
However, the politics of 14th century can be a bit confusing (as I know squat about Norwegian history…and I’m too lazy to go read the endnotes, especially as they interrupt the flow of the story). At first, I wasn’t too concerned about not understanding, but as I get further into Book 2 I realize that the politics are going to impact the story. So…uh-oh. Also, Kristin needs to get over herself. She has quite the talent for self-recrimination, and for other-recrimination, too. If she doesn’t shape up, I’m going to loathe her by Book 3. As we know from Frankenstein, I have little patience for “oh woe is me” characters. And while Kristin isn’t really “oh woe” she is a bit “what have I done.” She also has a disturbing tendency to cry as soon as a conversation starts not going her way. I’m this close to tossing her a hair shirt and telling her to get over herself.
However, what makes me want to bop the characters over the head is part of what makes this book timeless. Undset wrote flawed characters. They doubt themselves (and we’re talking some serious, serious doubting). They screw up. They’re jealous. They’re accusatory. They’re, well, you get the idea.
Another reason for the genius of this book is that it deals with themes that are still applicable today. Kristin is a disobedient daughter. She refuses to listen to what others have to say about her boyfriend. She has premarital sex. She loves her boyfriend so much she could die. See, it’s just like Twilight! Okay, kidding, but still.
There is also some heavy religious stuff that I’m struggling with. These people go to mass all the freakin’ time! And the emphasis on chastity and being born within wedlock and recrimination and repenting is almost too much. But then, this is the Middle Ages. I’m torn between wondering if Undset was serious (she converted to Catholicism later in life) or if I’m supposed to want to bop everyone on the head. The one thing I do know is that I am forever grateful I wasn’t a woman (or a man) during this time. I love refrigeration and indoor plumbing way too much.
So there you go. Yes, I like the book and I’m glad I’m reading it. No, I’m not loving the characters, but the immersion into history is totally worth it.
I am so undecided about this trilogy. I’ve seen a lot of posts about it recently because of the readalong, but I just can’t decide if I should read it or not. Time will tell, I guess!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Book Review: Betsy and Tacy go Downtown =-.
Excellent review – made me giggle, especially the comparisons to Twilight.
I think my reaction is similar to yours – liking the book but wanting to bop the characters over the head. Ye gods.
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Persepolis =-.
Haha! Bopping the characters on their heads and your observations about how often they go to mass made me laugh out loud. My favorite church-related moment is when Erlend comes home after only two Christmas masses, and Kristin is like “Home already? Didn’t you want to stay for the third?”
I agree that Ragnfrid is one of the more compelling characters, and also that Kristin can be frustrating – but also, she’s only, what? Nineteen? when she marries Erlend, and when I think back to myself at 19, I took myself about that seriously as well. Except that I didn’t have such a dire religious outlook. Luckily.
.-= Emily´s last blog ..Meditations =-.
Some of my favorite quotes from the book have been when various priests or others say something to Kristin to the effect of: EVERYTHING IS NOT ABOUT YOU!!!!!!!!!! But she never seems to get it…..
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Shelf Cleaning Giveaway Winners =-.
I agree: I kept wanting to tell Kristin “You can’t change the past. Get over it!” But I love how you explained why the book is timeless! So true!
.-= Eva´s last blog ..Women Unbound: a New Reading Challenge =-.
I’m also not terribly in love with Kristin. I loved her at the beginning, she was such a sweet child who loved her family, etc, blah blah blah. And then it went very very quickly to “I”m in love forever, promise.” I don’t know that I’ve ever fallen in love – real or fake – that quickly.
I’m hoping she redeems herself and grows up a little in the next one.
.-= lena´s last blog ..Clown Girl by Monica Drake =-.
I’m with you on the flawed characters are good, teenage angst is bad part! I also would have liked more airtime for Ragnfrid (and Ulvhild). I actually hope the book gets more into the heavy-duty religious stuff as things progress because a soap opera without sin is just a soap opera! In other words, the spirituality angle didn’t do much for me either. Hmm. P.S. You live in Morro Bay? My parents live less than an hour from you!
.-= Richard´s last blog ..Kristin Lavransdatter I: The Wreath =-.
I am like Stephanie on this one – not sure if I should read it or not. Having being raised a catholic and now a firm atheist I’m not sure if I could handle all the mass going!! It does sound like an amazing book in so many ways though. Decisions, decisions!!
.-= Karen´s last blog ..The Bradshaw Variations – Rachel Cusk =-.
Yeah, any time I read about how women have been treated throughout history I’m glad to have been born when and where I was.
.-= Alyce´s last blog ..Happy Halloween! =-.
I’m actually glad there was a lot of stuff about Christianity and sin. It made the book more believable as a depiction of medieval Norway than to make everyone all modern and tolerant and non-judgmental.
But it looks so far like most of us had mixed feelings toward it. (Unlike our last selection, Roberto Bolano’s 2666, which we mostly enjoyed.) I wouldn’t compare it to Twilight, though. No self-respecting book deserves that horror.
.-= EL Fay´s last blog ..Kristin Lavransdatter and the Anachronistic Feminist =-.
One reason why I liked Part I is because the emotions of the characters were beleiveable to me. We all remember what we felt experiencing teenage love (no matter how long ago it was), and that’s how I see Kristin –she’s still a teenager by the end of the book. Even though people grew up faster back then–marrying younger, dying sooner, etc.
Yet, it is understandable to feel frustrated towards them — for example, I sure did when Kristin and Erlend have to deal with Erlend’s ex!! Their reactions to that episode seemed immature to me.
.-= Valerie´s last blog ..R.I.P. IV Challenge: Finished =-.
Ah, I hate mopey characters too. I wanted to scream at Bella in New Moon for that very reason!
This book sounds very interesting, though. And by a Nobel-winning author, no less!
.-= Hazra´s last blog ..New Award….and a New Design =-.
Loverly! You just make me laugh, and I understand your love of lowing coes. Billy must like them too.
Right now I’m not too fond of Kristin or Erlend but I’m hoping that things will change in The Wife. I do love Undset’s writing, her historical depth and the conflicts between paganism and the Catholic church. Ah, guilt and sin.
Indoor plumbing, oh, and I’m fond of electric lights (even though candle light is soo romantic, it is hard to read by).
.-= gavin´s last blog ..Kristin Lavransdatter – The Wreath – by Sigrid Undset =-.
Lol! I love lowing cows too. I agree, the setting was inculcated so subtly that it was so naturally “there.” This was what I loved most about it. Just finished the first part and have to say that I was indifferent to most of the book until the ending, which at least sets us up for a (hopefully) more substantial second part. I actually want to read more about the religious and political aspects. Though I do not like politics at all, I’m actually wanting for this book to touch on them more so that I don’t feel like I’m reading a bodice-ripper, haha.
.-= claire´s last blog ..Kristin Lavransdatter: The Wreath =-.
I agree with you completely! Excellent review. I think that there really are some super frustrating things in this section, but I don’t know if it’s a product of the times or Undset’s doing! All I do know is that I’m looking forward to reading more.
.-= Lu´s last blog ..Review – The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters =-.