A review by silverliningsandpages
The Bell in the Lake by Lars Mytting

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Lars Mytting is a very skilful writer, who mesmerises with his rich language.  First, he had me captivated by the arht of cabinet making in The Sixteen Trees of the Somme, and this time, fishing, carpentry and stave churches in The Bell in t he Lake.  I so loved his poetic descriptions of the forest in Sixteen Trees that I bought his non fiction Norwegian Wood as a Christmas present for my son - he loves woodwork (and no he doesn’t read my posts)! 

One of my favourite literary settings is the frozen north - it must be my Nordic ancestry calling me!  The story focuses on a nineteenth century community in remote Norwegian village nestled into a valley.  There is a mournful beauty to the landscape, in which it’s people struggle against the bitter winters and extreme poverty.  It’s a place of legends and superstitions as well as patriarchal expectations, but the effects of industrialisation are stretching out from the faraway cities.

There is an absorbing, passionate love triangle in which Pastor Schweigaard and German architecture student compete for the affections of forthright young woman Astrid.  Ultimately the men’s desires for her start a chain of events that affect the entire community, its symbolic church and legendary bell.

Mytting is a hugely observant and philosophical writer; I’m so pleased this is the first in a trilogy - you bet I want to read the other two!  I’m giving this 4/5🌟 (rather than five) because the pacing dipped a bit in the middle.

Thank you Maclehose Press for the PR review copy - it took me longer than intended to post this but better late than never!