
Just finished The Wreath, the first book of Sigrid Undset's trilogy Kristin Lavransdatter, translated by Tiina Nunnally. I'm reading along with Emily and Richard and a number of other bloggers (for which I'm very late, but here it is).
The Wreath was neither gripping nor compelling as I expected. It was a little too underwhelming. Did engage me but failed to impress. Still, in a cozy way, I liked it. Particularly for the setting and the era.
In light of historical fiction, I thought this was an excellent piece of literature. The author painted quite a stunning picture of Norwegian medieval countryside, but did so subtly that, while I focused mainly on the story, it was evident that the backdrop of the place and time was so much more the highlight than it first appeared to be.
I haven't read many historical fiction, but not because I don't want to. In fact, quite the opposite: the Middle Ages fascinate me. It's just that the books I've picked up in the past were somehow disheartening, being so poorly written. (Any suggestions?)
So, even if I wasn't exactly in love with the story, nor with Kristin and any of the other characters, I did fall in love with the setting. Pictured myself running along the meadows, with snow-capped mountains not far ahead (even though I don't ever run), feeling kind of like Maria in The Sound of Music.
I think I understand why this may have been considered a modernist novel. Published in the 1920s, Kristin's sentiments and behaviour reflected that of wantonness and impropriety. Hardly shocking now, but at a time when personal values were still so extremely conservative, she came off as willful and strong-headed. Kristin's struggle with her guilt over premarital sex may seem like a non-issue today, yet it actually made the story believable and authentically medieval. What cares they had that we so overlook today! Religion and faith were evidently big players in society and the individual psyche.
I found Kristin's own feelings for Erlend somehow wavering. The bouts of tenderness she felt towards him were constantly tainted by guilt and contempt. She may have felt lovesick, but I felt they were more fits of passion than true affection. I actually saw her as, not cold exactly but, guarded, as reflected by her encounters with Arne the summer before he left Jorundgaard. Not quite convinced that she completely opened her heart to Erlend. To me this made her more real and human, more believable as a character. As with the time when Erlend visited Jorundgaard to remove Kristin's belongings to Husaby and Kristin noticed for the first time how Erlend walked a little crooked. And her wedding day, when she was gripped with despair instead of happiness.
I'm also not convinced yet that Sigrid Undset deserved the Nobel Prize, but still hopeful that the rest of Kristin's story will prove otherwise. Somehow positive that it will be more than just a romance. So far both plot and writing have not been very remarkable, but after this section's ending I expect the rest to be more enthralling. (I'm especially hoping to read more about Lavrans's and Ragnfrid's past.) Expecting to be, maybe not blown away, but at least moved, further on.








