A review by lisafall
Marta Oulie by Tiina Nunnally, Sigrid Undset

dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.0

Such beautiful writing! Throughout my read I could clearly sense the anxiousness and unease Marta had been feeling alongside the early stages of her fulfilled marriage. I truly felt like Marta’s friend whilst reading this as the writing was so intimate. The scenery was beautiful captured really helped me immerse myself into Marta’s life as well. 

I think anyone how liked Madame Bovary and Lady Chatterly’s Lover would enjoy this book. But unlike those two books, you could clearly sense that Marta Oulie was written by a female author as it captured a female voice in-depth which the other two works seemed to lack that readers today can still relate to (well at least I could relate to). I’d be interested to read Henrik’s perspective to see the double standards set in the era too. 

*spoiler* As non religious person I found Ottos gradually acceptance towards religion very interesting as well. I wonder if I would feel the same way when I am near to death. 

I definitely would like to read this again when I get married and have my own children to further my appreciation towards the work. I really wish I could read Norwegian as I would have loved to read a non translated version. I’m looking forward to reading more of Sigrid Undset’s work. 

Some of my favourite quotes 

*”Our young love burned out, and I let it be extinguished, never seeing how easily I could have nourished the fire of a love that might have made things bright and warm for both of us, lasting our whole life. And yet I thought I was so clever.” 

*”As I got undressed, the thought raced, hot and fearful, through me sever- al times: What if he doesn’t love me in that way? What if it’s merely passion? These words and thoughts belonged to someone else. They appeared for a second but vanished again; they had no meaning for me. I sank into my joyous intoxication.” 

*”I’m tired of these useless words of mine. I use them to try and stanch the bleeding of my pain.”