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jennyrpotter's review against another edition
4.0
I found this to be a quick, compelling read. I agree with another reviewer that a map would have been wonderful! At times it was really hard to envision what landmass Gudrid and the men might have landed upon.
This is a work of fiction that is based on what is known about Gudrid the Far Traveler, whose name appears more than once in the Icelandic sagas. The author is a scholar in this area, has made many trips to Iceland, and has participated in archaeological digs in what is believed to have been areas where Gudrid traveled and lived. Ms. Brown is therefore quite knowledgeable about the subject, but has also used her imagination to weave together a very interesting narrative of what could have been Gudrid's young adulthood. The book was quite grim at times, but that seems to be expected when your subject is Vikings trying to survive winters a thousand years ago. She helps to paint a detailed picture for the reader of what life was like back then, about how much preparation was involved in mere survival, and how perilous life at sea was, particularly during those days.
For readers interested in Iceland, the sagas, strong female characters, or historical fiction, I recommend this book! Four solid stars.
This is a work of fiction that is based on what is known about Gudrid the Far Traveler, whose name appears more than once in the Icelandic sagas. The author is a scholar in this area, has made many trips to Iceland, and has participated in archaeological digs in what is believed to have been areas where Gudrid traveled and lived. Ms. Brown is therefore quite knowledgeable about the subject, but has also used her imagination to weave together a very interesting narrative of what could have been Gudrid's young adulthood. The book was quite grim at times, but that seems to be expected when your subject is Vikings trying to survive winters a thousand years ago. She helps to paint a detailed picture for the reader of what life was like back then, about how much preparation was involved in mere survival, and how perilous life at sea was, particularly during those days.
For readers interested in Iceland, the sagas, strong female characters, or historical fiction, I recommend this book! Four solid stars.
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