The Bridal Wreath : Kristin Lavransdatter, Vol.1

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous book: make sure you read Andrew Lytle's commentary
Review: Dittos to the praise bestowed on the monumental work, but for a complete understanding order "Kristin: A Reading" by the great novelist/critic, Andrew Lytle (I bought mine from Amazon)

Rating:
Summary: addicting
Review: I bought this book when I was sick and by the time I got better I was addicted to the story. I immediately purchased the 2nd and 3rd books in the trilogy. Sigrid Undset is a master storyteller and incredibly descriptive about the characters, landscape, and history. If you like historical fiction, this is a must-read.

Rating:
Summary: Timeless 'saga'
Review: I discovered this book while looking for Norway-related fiction--in preparation for a summer trip there. Although I found the language a bit difficult, I enjoyed the book and found it strangely restful. I cannot say why, but I got an overall sense of peace reading several sections of the book. I understand there may be more 'modern' translations and perhaps that would work better for me. This story of a young couple who are determined to marry despite many objections, does seem timeless and relevant. And, the historical notes are well done and help give a sense of life in Norway during the 13-1400's? (I believe that is the correct timeframe.) If you are interested in a good 'story', with what appears to be a sound historical perspective, try this one.

Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest novels in Western Literature
Review: I think the three volumes that make up Kristin Lavransdatter rank with the world's greatest novels--including Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. The depth of the characterizations, the completeness with which the author captures life in medieval Norway, and the universal emotions and spiritual and temporal struggles which drive Kristin and those around her are unmatched. I have read these three volumes three times (at about decade long intervals) and each time have found new reasons to love and appreciate them. This is a book against which one can mark one's own life.

Rating:
Summary: An unforgettable epic
Review: Kristin's story is universal and timeless. This incredibly rich saga is relevant to twentieth century society and touches on so many of the life experiences we all go through. I read this book when I was sixteen and never forgot it- my oldest daughter is named Kristin.

Rating:
Summary: Not to be missed
Review: My father and sister have been after me for years to read this trilogy and I am so glad I finally did. I have been an avid reader all my life and have read many different types of books, but I have always wondered how I would answer the question "what is your all-time favorite book?" Now I know. You care about all the characters, you feel their emotions and I for one am grateful to be living in the 20th century, not 14th century Norway after the incredibly vivid descriptions bring the period to life in an unforgettable way. So much more than a love story, it is the saga of the age old struggle to survive, emotionally and physically. A wonderful book.

Rating:
Summary: Ummm...
Review: The book was pretty good, but WHY IS KRISTIN SUCH AN IDIOT?
That really annoyed me.

Rating:
Summary: Emotionally packed, you become Kristin.
Review: The story of Kristin & Erlend are what all romances are made of, but more than that, this book tells you about family & community life in Medieval Scandanavia, it makes you long to know more about it. The writing in this book is so good and the story so well told you never wonder why it won the Nobel prize. Do not miss any of these books. Kristin & her Erlend are a couple you must know!

Rating:
Summary: this translation is insufferable
Review: This translation is difficult--difficult to read without gagging, that is. It's extremely stilted and affected. Every sentence reads something like this:

"When the child Kristin was seven years old, it so fell out that she got leave to go with her father..."

I don't have a problem with archaic language per se, but the translators of this version have no ear for language of any kind, in my opinion, and so this archaic prose never achieves any kind of naturalness.

Part of the problem may be that the translators never met an archaism they didn't like. In nearly EVERY line of the book Kristin "must needs" do this or would "nowise that" or so-and-so "was always for making merry."

It was so overdone--and so badly done--that I had trouble focusing on the story instead of on the irritating prose.

If you're interested in style and prose quality as well as plot, don't even think about buying this version.... get the Penguin translation instead.