Reviews

The Cross by Tiina Nunnally, Sherrill Harbison, Sigrid Undset

ugla's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

krobart's review against another edition

4.0

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2020/10/20/review-1568-the-cross/

aleatha's review against another edition

5.0

I rarely cry while reading, and I didn't cry while reading this trilogy. But for some reason, as soon as I closed the book, I burst into tears. What a beautiful book! It is so full, of everything! This is the sort of book I will be pondering for the rest of my life.

pellesmith's review against another edition

slow-paced

reluctantacademic's review against another edition

5.0

My father once spoke of three great female characters in fiction - Kristin Lavransdatter was one. Becky Sharp of Thackeray's Vanity Fair another. I wish I could remember who the third was (not Elizabeth Bennett - not in his opinion, anyway), but I can't. I've two translations of one of the books - read this translator, not the other. Bought the first one at a Little Professor bookstore in Burlington, VT in the late 70s and the manager was very excited to see the book in paperback. That's how much of an impression these books made on me, though I didn't finish the series until well into the 90s. My own life and family got in the way, I suppose!

vgrande's review against another edition

5.0

This conclusion to the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy captivated me as tragedy after tragedy struck Kristin’s life. However, amidst the tragedy was the hand of God in the gifts of mercy and understanding.

ingvilds's review against another edition

5.0

Wow! Boka er så rik og full av dybde at jeg blir helt målløs.

gracerowland's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

ddejong's review against another edition

4.0

This was my favorite of the trilogy in terms of the character complexity and the crescendo to the final section of the final book, also called The Cross. It was poignant to read about the impact of the Black Plague while living through a pandemic. Many themes of the book came to fruition here- for good or for ill. I was lukewarm on Kristin throughout the trilogy (and particularly found her a little obnoxious in her obsessive mothering) but I thought Undset brought her life to a close in a very rich, moving way. Erlend was a fundamentally stagnant character to the end, in my opinion— lazy, arrogant, and self-interested. The end of Kristin’s life reveals her to be a woman willing to take up her cross for the sake of others, a woman held securely by God despite her life’s sins and struggles, and ultimately a soul at peace when it is time for her to go. Full thoughts on the trilogy taken as one novel to come separately.

miquemarie83's review against another edition

5.0

"It seemed to her a mystery that she could not comprehend, but she was certain that God had held her firmly in a pact which had been made for her, without her knowing it, from a love that had been poured over her — and in spite of her willfulness, in spite of her melancholy, earthbound heart, some of that love had  stayed  inside her, had worked on her like sun on the earth, had driven forth a crop that neither the fiercest fire of passion nor its stormiest anger could completely destroy"

There is plenty of tragedy in this final book of the trilogy. Kristin loses several family members to death, even before the black plague comes to Norway. She and Erland still have a tumultuous relationship. He continues to be lackadaisical about protecting his sons' inheritances, and she continues to hold a hatred and resentfulness towards him. She finally makes peace with Erland, and let's go of her resentment towards him on his deathbed. From there she works only to secure the welfare of her sons. After this is done she becomes a nun, and she nurses those with the black plague. This was actually the most interesting part of the book to me. Kristin eventually gets the black plague, herself, and dies. Even though this novel ends with her death, she finally let's go of her guilt, learns to trust in God, and dies in peace. This book moved a lot faster for me than The Wife. Like the previous books in the trilogy, The Cross is beautifully written, despite being a bit wordy and repetitive in some areas, with a strong theme of love and redemption. This trilogy is not an easy read, but it's definitely worth it.

CAWPILE Rating:
C- 10
A- 10
W- 8
P- 8
I- 9
L- 9
E- 9
Avg= 9= ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#backtotheclassics (Classic Tragic Novel)
#mmdchallenge (three books by the same author)