Last week I decided to take part in the Classics Spin. The idea of the Spin was to list twenty books from my Classics Club list, number them 1 to 20, and the number announced today (Monday) represents the book I have to read before 2nd May 2016.
The number that has been selected by the Classics Club this time is #8, which means the book I’ll be reading is:
Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset
I have to admit, this is not one of the books I was hoping for – although I’m still quite happy with this result. I do think I’ll enjoy it, but having just finished Vanity Fair today I would really have liked something shorter and lighter. This is the longest book left on my Classics Club list so trying to read it by the May deadline might be too ambitious, but I should at least have time for the first volume, The Wreath.
Have you read Kristin Lavransdatter? What did you think? And if you took part in the spin too, what will you be reading?
She Reads Novels 
I think you’ll find that very interesting. I’m reading A Wreath of Roses by Elizabeth Taylor.
I have read Kristen Lavransdatter more than once, though not recently. It is a very, very rich trilogy, which I found fascinating. However, I found it also very sad, with people paying for their youthful sins their entire lives, and often desperately unhappy, “living lives of quiet despair”. There is no HEA (happily ever after) in any of Sigrid Unset’s books that I have read. Since I am a big believer in redemption (not necessarily religious, but not leaving that out either), and in giving second (third, fourth, twenty-seventh) chances, it was difficult for me to accept the despair of her characters, and not keep trying to figure out ways the characters could have made things work out better.
She was describing a grim life, that’s for sure.
It does sound like a very sad story, Rachel, although I don’t always need a happy ending to be able to enjoy a book. I’m pleased to hear you liked it enough to want to read it more than once.
I read The Wreath five years ago and liked it very much. I couldn’t get through the next one though. I’m not sure why.
I’m glad you liked The Wreath, even if you didn’t manage to read the second one.
I haven’t heard of this book before – I hope you enjoy it even if its longer than you wished for.
I don’t think I had heard of it either until I started blogging and saw some positive reviews by other bloggers. I think it is something I’ll enjoy, but the length has been putting me off.
Perhaps this is the best choice for the Spin then, as it should give you that extra push to read it.
I agree with you that a May deadline might be a bit ambitious. But I do hope you’ll like it! I got North and South, which I am very happy with.
North and South is a good result. I read it a few years ago and remember enjoying it.
Oh, I can’t wait to get to this one. I wouldn’t worry about the deadline. Just read and enjoy! 🙂
No, I’m not going to worry too much about reading it by the deadline. I hope I can at least get the first volume finished, though.
I have meant to read Sigrid Undset for a long time. She won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1928, one of the handful of women who have been so honored. I also just learned that there is a 1995 movie of Kristin Lavransdatter. Good luck! Look forward to your review.
Knowing that she was a Nobel Prize winner makes me even more curious about Sigrid Undset’s writing. I’m looking forward to starting the book.
I haven’t read anything by that author. I got Oblamov by Goncharov, a book I’ve had in the house for years. It’s not what I would have chosen to read and at 515 pages I’d better start it soon.
I’ve found that with the previous spins, the books I was least hoping for have often turned out to be the ones I’ve enjoyed the most. 🙂
I’ve read the first of the three volumes and I loved the writing. I think you will too, and maybe you’ll inspire me to finish the whole work.
I’m pleased to hear you loved the writing, even if you didn’t manage to finish all three volumes. I’m hoping to start volume one in the next few days.
I haven’t read her work, but I went to read about it after your last post and it sounds interesting; just a pity it’s long. Here’s hoping it’s a great book and you speed through it 🙂
I hope so too. I don’t mind long books at all, but I have to be in the right mood to start one.
A friend of mine loves the trilogy, and I’ve read part of it, but bounced off the 1920s translation by Archer. There’s a much more recent translation that is far more readable by Nunnally. At the least, I recommend getting a look at both before blindly starting to read. Wiki and comments I remember from when the Nunnally came out say the Archer edition bowdlerized some scenes, too.
Thanks for the advice, Elaine. I have checked the edition I have and it’s the Nunnally translation.