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dreesreads's review against another edition
4.0
Part 1 of a tetralogy, with anew translation from Tiina Nunally (who also did the fabulous translation of Kristin Lavransdatter).
In many ways this book is similar to KL--it too takes place in Medieval Norway. The main characters are landowners and those in the church. But Olav is an orphan raised as a foster son, betrothed to his foster sister by their fathers before his father's death.
This volume shows their happy childhoods, and then the whirlwind of familial manipulation, misunderstanding, benign neglect, greed, and rampant misogyny that was all part of upper class Norwegian life. Olav and Ingunn are determined to marry--this volume details the trouble, suffering, difficulties, violence, negotiation, and waiting (so much waiting) that they go through to fulfill their betrothal.
I didn't find this volume quite as gripping as book 1 of KL, but that may be partly because OA is a man. I personally relate more to Ingunn, but she is a little insufferable.
Looking forward to part 2, though I have no idea when it will be out.
In many ways this book is similar to KL--it too takes place in Medieval Norway. The main characters are landowners and those in the church. But Olav is an orphan raised as a foster son, betrothed to his foster sister by their fathers before his father's death.
This volume shows their happy childhoods, and then the whirlwind of familial manipulation, misunderstanding, benign neglect, greed, and rampant misogyny that was all part of upper class Norwegian life. Olav and Ingunn are determined to marry--this volume details the trouble, suffering, difficulties, violence, negotiation, and waiting (so much waiting) that they go through to fulfill their betrothal.
I didn't find this volume quite as gripping as book 1 of KL, but that may be partly because OA is a man. I personally relate more to Ingunn, but she is a little insufferable.
Looking forward to part 2, though I have no idea when it will be out.
luftschlosseule's review against another edition
3.0
trigger warning
kidnapping, mention of rape, suicide attempt, mentall illness, torture, dementia, death of a parent, being orphaned
It is with good intentions that Olav and Ingunn are betrothed as children, and Olav is taken in by his future father-in-law as a foster child as his own father lies dying.
No one senses what troubles will come of this.
You see, the trouble was that the adults didn't think the children would remember while the children grew up in the knowledge they would spend their whole life together. Insert a bit of misfortune and complicated politics, and it gets dramatic quick.
This was not at all what I thought it would be though it fits the blurp exactly. One setback was that I did not realise as I requested this arc that this book is set after people in Norway became Christian and I was excited for the Norse mythology featuring as a backdrop to this, which didn't happen.
And teenagers doing stupid stuff really, really, really annoy me.
The book starts with a short introduction by the translator, who outlines that this is the first book of a tetralogy that hasn't been newly translated in over 100 years and it's been overdue, that Sigrid Undset was the child of an archaeologist and an artist who both inspired her.
We also get footnotes that explain terms that refer to certain things found in scandinavian medieval times. Sadly, in my version the footnotes are at the back of things so I mostly ignored them as jumping back and forth in a digital copy is no fun. I much prefer the annotations to be at the bottom of the page.
The characters are very three dimensional and especially the depiction of trauma, grief and dementia were superb. Also, this one is character driven, there is no real plot. And I don't do well with those books in the most cases, so it's safe to say that this one simply isn't for me.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
It is with good intentions that Olav and Ingunn are betrothed as children, and Olav is taken in by his future father-in-law as a foster child as his own father lies dying.
No one senses what troubles will come of this.
You see, the trouble was that the adults didn't think the children would remember while the children grew up in the knowledge they would spend their whole life together. Insert a bit of misfortune and complicated politics, and it gets dramatic quick.
This was not at all what I thought it would be though it fits the blurp exactly. One setback was that I did not realise as I requested this arc that this book is set after people in Norway became Christian and I was excited for the Norse mythology featuring as a backdrop to this, which didn't happen.
And teenagers doing stupid stuff really, really, really annoy me.
The book starts with a short introduction by the translator, who outlines that this is the first book of a tetralogy that hasn't been newly translated in over 100 years and it's been overdue, that Sigrid Undset was the child of an archaeologist and an artist who both inspired her.
We also get footnotes that explain terms that refer to certain things found in scandinavian medieval times. Sadly, in my version the footnotes are at the back of things so I mostly ignored them as jumping back and forth in a digital copy is no fun. I much prefer the annotations to be at the bottom of the page.
The characters are very three dimensional and especially the depiction of trauma, grief and dementia were superb. Also, this one is character driven, there is no real plot. And I don't do well with those books in the most cases, so it's safe to say that this one simply isn't for me.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
gretel7's review against another edition
4.0
I received this from Netgalley.com.
"Olav Audunsson: I. Vows" by Nobel Prize winner Sigrid Undset is the first book in a new English translation of the tetralogy previously translated as "The Master of Hestviken" and published in 1925. Olav and Ingunn are the epitome of star crossed lovers and have many factors against their love.
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed [b:Kristin Lavransdatter|6217|Kristin Lavransdatter (Kristin Lavransdatter, #1-3)|Sigrid Undset|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388289230l/6217._SY75_.jpg|1370150] last year, I was excited when this book became available. Book 1 in a tetralogy, I hope the rest of the series will also be on Netgalley.com.
4.5☆
"Olav Audunsson: I. Vows" by Nobel Prize winner Sigrid Undset is the first book in a new English translation of the tetralogy previously translated as "The Master of Hestviken" and published in 1925. Olav and Ingunn are the epitome of star crossed lovers and have many factors against their love.
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed [b:Kristin Lavransdatter|6217|Kristin Lavransdatter (Kristin Lavransdatter, #1-3)|Sigrid Undset|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388289230l/6217._SY75_.jpg|1370150] last year, I was excited when this book became available. Book 1 in a tetralogy, I hope the rest of the series will also be on Netgalley.com.
4.5☆
kleonard's review against another edition
2.0
After reading the translator's outstanding introduction to this I thought I'd be in for a treat, but alas the repetition and unending grinding of slow-moving plot points and relationships didn't keep my attention.
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