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mjsteimle's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
heidihaverkamp's review against another edition
4.0
I find Kristin so irritating, and yet I can't stop reading about her life or her medieval Norwegian culture.
krobart's review against another edition
4.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2020/08/31/review-1547-the-mistress-of-husaby/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2020/08/31/review-1547-the-mistress-of-husaby/
roomforastory's review
4.0
The sequel to The Wreath, where Kristin falls in love with and marries Erlend. In this volume, Kristin is the wife of Erlend, has children (seven sons that all live, a feat for the 14th century), lives with some regret about her past choices, and her love for her family and specifically Erlend is tested by difficult experiences. The plot gets a little tedious towards the end, but you love the characters so much by then that you can let it go.
The thing I love about historical fiction is that if written well, so many of the human experiences are similar to the present. Even though the story takes place in 14th-century Norway, I found myself relating so much to Kristin's struggles with her past choices and current situations in her experiences as the head of household, wife, and mother.
The thing I love about historical fiction is that if written well, so many of the human experiences are similar to the present. Even though the story takes place in 14th-century Norway, I found myself relating so much to Kristin's struggles with her past choices and current situations in her experiences as the head of household, wife, and mother.
ddejong's review
Takeaway: being a woman in medieval times was rough. You’re a pawn in the men’s chess game. There’s no birth control. With every pregnancy you wonder if you’ll die while giving birth. Then you have to start worrying about what land your kids will inherit and who they’ll marry. Wash rinse repeat. Kristin had 7 children by the end of Book 2. I found myself feeling rather exhausted just reading about it. Erlend reminds me of Ross Poldark minus Ross’s underlying goodness that is always visible in spite of his terrible decisions and rash behavior. If anything, I like Erlend less and less all the time and admittedly struggle to even like Kristin. The characters who have most won my affection are the unexpected ones, for which I admire Undset. Kristin’s father, Lavrans, was a character of great pathos for me in so many ways and the noble actions of her former betrothed, Simon, were very moving to me in this second book of the trilogy.
miquemarie83's review against another edition
4.0
"Are you so arrogant that you think yourself capable of sinning so badly that God’s mercy is not great enough?"
Book 2 deals with Kristin's marriage, and as I suspected, there is trouble in paradise. Kristin is haunted by her sins, and this guilt consumes her. Even when the priests, including her brother-in-law, Gunnulf, advise her not to focus on her sins so much, but to live her life doing good. Still, Kristin struggles with trusting in God's mercy. It's heartbreaking because I'd like to see her experience the peace thatvtge Catholic Church is offering her, but she just can't get over her guilt. She makes a pilgrimage and gives her bridal wreath as penance, and after this she is able to move on for a time. She and Erland experience many struggles in their marriage. Kristin is consumed with guilt. Erland doesn't understand this. He doesn't take his sins very seriously. Kristin is a good steward of of their household and properties. Erland is wasteful and let's his properties fall to ruin. Kristin is obsessed with her seven sons. Erland doesn't want much to do with them. These and many other differences between them cause serious rifts in their marriage as neither of them is very good at communication and compromise. Kristin's guilt festers into a hatred of Erland. She takes everything out on him, and even her father and her brother-in-law, Simon, rebuke her over this. Erland resents Kristin for her "holiness". Despite her resentment of him, he sees so much goodness in her that it pricks his conscience, and makes him feel worse about his own sinfulness. This harkens back to the first book, where Brother Edvin points out that once people sin, they have a tendency to delight in others sins, because it makes them feel better about themselves. Erland cheats on Kristin, and this exposes his plot against the king. He is convicted of treason, and sentenced to death. Only then does Kristin let go of her hatred for Erland. Simon helps them, and gets the king to pardon Erland. At the end of the book it is revealed that Simon still loves Kristin, his sister-in-law and ex-fiance. This book is more political than the first and it's a bit difficult to keep track of all the political history of Norway at that time, so it was a slower read for me than the first book, but it was still very good and worth the read. Oddly enough, I sympathized with Simon the most, and I'd like to see more of him in Book 3.
CAWPILE Rating:
C- 9
A- 8
W- 8
P- 6
I- 7
L- 8
E- 6
Avg= 7.5= ⭐⭐⭐⭐
#backtotheclassics (classic in translation)
#mmdchallenge (three books by the same author)
Book 2 deals with Kristin's marriage, and as I suspected, there is trouble in paradise. Kristin is haunted by her sins, and this guilt consumes her. Even when the priests, including her brother-in-law, Gunnulf, advise her not to focus on her sins so much, but to live her life doing good. Still, Kristin struggles with trusting in God's mercy. It's heartbreaking because I'd like to see her experience the peace thatvtge Catholic Church is offering her, but she just can't get over her guilt. She makes a pilgrimage and gives her bridal wreath as penance, and after this she is able to move on for a time. She and Erland experience many struggles in their marriage. Kristin is consumed with guilt. Erland doesn't understand this. He doesn't take his sins very seriously. Kristin is a good steward of of their household and properties. Erland is wasteful and let's his properties fall to ruin. Kristin is obsessed with her seven sons. Erland doesn't want much to do with them. These and many other differences between them cause serious rifts in their marriage as neither of them is very good at communication and compromise. Kristin's guilt festers into a hatred of Erland. She takes everything out on him, and even her father and her brother-in-law, Simon, rebuke her over this. Erland resents Kristin for her "holiness". Despite her resentment of him, he sees so much goodness in her that it pricks his conscience, and makes him feel worse about his own sinfulness. This harkens back to the first book, where Brother Edvin points out that once people sin, they have a tendency to delight in others sins, because it makes them feel better about themselves. Erland cheats on Kristin, and this exposes his plot against the king. He is convicted of treason, and sentenced to death. Only then does Kristin let go of her hatred for Erland. Simon helps them, and gets the king to pardon Erland. At the end of the book it is revealed that Simon still loves Kristin, his sister-in-law and ex-fiance. This book is more political than the first and it's a bit difficult to keep track of all the political history of Norway at that time, so it was a slower read for me than the first book, but it was still very good and worth the read. Oddly enough, I sympathized with Simon the most, and I'd like to see more of him in Book 3.
CAWPILE Rating:
C- 9
A- 8
W- 8
P- 6
I- 7
L- 8
E- 6
Avg= 7.5= ⭐⭐⭐⭐
#backtotheclassics (classic in translation)
#mmdchallenge (three books by the same author)
eososray's review against another edition
2.0
I guess I'll be right up front and say that after my opinion of the first book there is no way I should have read this one but when you need the right topic for a group challenge.....
ingdivid's review against another edition
Må bare beklage til alle som har møtt meg de siste ukene for at dette er alt jeg klarer å snakke om