Book Review: Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset

The story was written as a trilogy in three books. I read the combined version with all three books which was 1,124 pages. Even at this length, I didn't want it to end.

I can say this is one of the best, if not the best including The Brothers Karamosov, books I have ever read. Universal themes are ascribed to some books, but how many of those can one with complete accuracy say it is timeless in characterizations and events. Kristin's story is one of every woman or any woman in any time or place. The setting is 14th century Norway, but as the reader you are only aware of the time through the peculiarities of every day living, working , traveling, and religion. The humanity is timeless, the emotional spectrum staggering.

Kristin is a victim of circumstance, yet she is also the hero of her own life. She is the wife of a man for whom her devotion is unwavering; however, she remains in some ways unfulfilled and suffers the loss of perhaps her one true love. Her loyalty to her family, her children in particular and her community are unparalleled and earns her esteem and status, but she is haunted her entire life by a deception when she married under the pretense of virginity when she was, in fact, pregant. She lied to her parents. One of the most poignant passages in the book is a conversation with her father on his death bed when they both reveal their heart and soul to each other one final time affording them closure.

To say Unset's prose is eloquent is inadequate. Let her words speak to you here as they spoke to me.

A description of the Norwegian countryside:
Smoke drifted through the air as dry grass and leaves were burned, and in the field
a bonfire flared red; the great fiery rose made the clarity of the night seem dim.

In the final pages she describes The Plague:
Death and horror and suffering seemed to push people into a world without time.
No more than a few weeks had passed, if the days were to be counted, and yet it
already seemed as if the world that had existed before the plague and death
began wandering naked through the land had disappeared from everyone's memory--
the way the coast line sinks away when a ship heads out to sea on a rushing wind.
It was as if no living soul dared hold on to the memory that life and the progression
of work days had once seemed close, while death was far away; nor was anyone
capable of imagining that things might be that way again, if all humans did not perish.

One characteristic of many books is toward the end the story becomes less compelling and the characters have lost their ability to develop or surprise, leaving the reader with an unsatisfying ending. This is not the case with Kristin Lavransdatter. It is vibrant to the last page, the last word, the last sigh.

New Grandson: Cruz Lucero Castillo

My first grandchild was born on November 7, 2010. He is a beautiful baby boy born to my son Cary Castillo and Angelica Lucero. He was welcomed into the world by both families at the hospital who celebrated his birth with heart-stirring hugs and smiles.

I tried to add a picture, but the feature did not work.