DoorstopKristin

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I've reviewed each book in this trilogy but as the final month of the #KLBR winds up, I wanted to review the collection as a whole. I mean this with no hyperbole- this was an earth-shaking read. I'm in awe of the balance of the epic scale and the nuanced specificity of the writing, and how it evoked a bygone time and place yet felt so contemporary and fully human in every struggle and relationship. Conquering this chunkster was worth every minute!

Andrea313 Huge kudos to @BarbaraJean for sheparding us through this read! #DoorstopKristin #BooksAndBlooms 2d

BarbaraJean 🎉 🎉 HUGE congrats for finishing this chunkster!! I'm so glad to have (finally) read it, and super glad for the solidarity of everyone who read along with me!! 2d

GatheringBooks Wow! That‘s amazing. I have this book - bought it a few years back but have never had the chance to crack it open. Congratulations to all of you for devouring this. 2d

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Ruthiella The balance is indeed impeccable. 2d

Andrea313 @BarbaraJean And congrats to you, too! 🎉 The group read aspect was honestly key to my finally picking it up, and the pace gave me permission to take a whole summer to read it. So often I feel like I need to race through everything, so thanks for giving me the chance to slow down and savor! 2d

Andrea313 @GatheringBooks When the time is right for you, I hope you love it! I do believe that there are some things we pick up at the exact right moment. 🩷 2d

33 likes6 comments

Andrea313

Kristin Lavransdatter, III: The Cross | Sigrid Undset

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I finished Part 3 with unabashed tears streaming down my face and my husband sitting next to me giving me The Look I get when I'm being a little ridiculous. I managed to choke out, "It's futile but beautiful!" and really, I can't give a better encapsulation than that. It ended as it must, as I knew it would, and the novel's great world went on spinning - characters moving forward and a new snow falling. But I'll stay thinking about it for years.

Andrea313 #KLBR #DoorstopKristin 2w

BarbaraJean 💜💜💜 I‘m so looking forward to reading the rest of this! 2w

AmyG Same. This book will always stay with me. 2w

25 likes3 comments

BarbaraJean

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

I‘ve finished Part 1 of Book 3, and this continues to be so absorbing. My views of each character keep changing—in this section, Simon and Erlend especially—their growth and complexity just deepens as I get further in. Kristin has felt very much in the background during this first part of Book 3, though… I‘m so curious where her path will lead as this trilogy wraps up. How‘s everyone else‘s reading coming along?

#KLBR #DoorstopKristin

BarbaraJean @Ruthiella @Andrea313 @Daisey @quietjenn @Librarybelle @lauraisntwilder @MaureenMc @Gleefulreader @Deblovestoread @MeganAnn @AmyG @JenLovesJT47 @rubyslippersreads @bklover @Texreader @AnneCecilie @suet624 @Leniverse @CrowCAH @Caterina 3w

Ruthiella I haven‘t started book three yet. Next weekend ! 🤞 3w

Texreader I finished the trilogy this weekend. 3w

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Andrea313 I finished Book 2 today and am eager to get to the end! Everyone relationship is becoming even more complex and I can't get enough! I have a feeling I'll be racing through Book 3. 3w

Suet624 Book 3 may take me a while to get to. But I‘m happy to hear how much you are enjoying it 3w

AmyG Finished part 3. 3w

44 likes6 comments

MeganAnn

Tilt | Emma Pattee

My library hold for Tilt finally came in so I‘m spending today reading to catch up with #camplitsy25 . So far, I‘m completely engrossed in Annie‘s story.

Also still making my way through #doorstopkristin — July was a busy month with little reading time so book 2 is slow going but I am enjoying it. Hoping to finish book 2 and at least get part of the way through book 3 before the end of the month but we‘ll see.

Megabooks, squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

MeganAnn #klbr @BarbaraJean 3w

Megabooks Such a great book! Tilt is really captivating! 3w

squirrelbrain It won‘t take long to catch up - it‘s a quick read! 3w

Suet624 Book 2 of Kristin‘s story was a bit slow going but there‘s a lot happening in it. 3w

49 likes4 comments

Andrea313

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

Shots fired!!!! And is Arngjerd wrong? Is Simon more honorable than Erlend? I've just finished Book 3, Part 1 and can't get over how into this I am. #KLBR #DoorstopKristin

AmyG Book 3 was great. Alot happens. 3w

BarbaraJean Oof. Yeah, she‘s not too far off base! 3w

24 likes2 comments

Andrea313

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

#TomKitten and I are completely sucked into Book 3 of Kristin. Life back at Jørundgård is bittersweet, as Kristin grapples with memories of the past and the sometimes stark reality of the present. I hope I can stay fully spoiler-free as I continue to read because this is nothing less than gripping and I can't wait for all of the twists as turns as I come closer to the (sadly) inevitable end. I'm so glad I finally took the plunge on this series!

Andrea313 #KLBR #DoorstopKristin #CatsOfLitsy 4w

Ruthiella 😻😻😻 3w

35 likes2 comments

Daisey

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

I‘m behind on our readalong, only starting Part 2 of Book 2, but I‘m hoping to have more reading time this month and catch up some.

Also, I love sunset reading in the hammock.

#HammockReading #KLBR #DoorstopKristin

Tamra Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh 😍 4w

Leftcoastzen Nice ! 4w

BarbaraJean This looks delightful! So relaxing! 4w

Andrea313 This looks like a dream! 😍 4w

Daisey @Tamra @Leftcoastzen @BarbaraJean @Andrea313 It‘s one of my very favorite places to read! 3w

61 likes5 comments

BarbaraJean

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

#DoorstopKristin #KLBR Discussion Questions (5/5):

Overall: what is it about these books that keeps you reading (or re-reading!)? Or, if you‘re struggling to get through them: what about the books has been an obstacle to keeping you engaged?

Are there any other themes, scenes, or characters you‘d like to discuss from The Wife?

Ruthiella One of the things that really impresses me about the novels is how the characters are very much of their time and mores and yet so comprehensible and recognizable to the modern reader. People haven‘t changed that much, really. 1mo

AmyG @Ruthiella Exactly! This could have been written today. I thought that many times. 1mo

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lauraisntwilder @Ruthiella Yes, exactly. 4w

Andrea313 @Ruthiella I definitely agree with this! Human nature doesn't change and it feels so contemporary as I read througg. At the same time, I'm fascinated by the historical details and traditions, and by the descriptions of the natural landscape! Vacation to Norway when?? 4w

BarbaraJean @Ruthiella @AmyG @Andrea313 YES! These characters feel so real. The palpable humanity of these characters and their very relatable emotions have me hooked. It's amazing to me how contemporary it all feels, even with so many traditions and details that seem so distant and unfamiliar. 4w

Suet624 I agree with everyone that it feels so recognizable. What I also love is how Undset puts you in the place in the story - I felt I could smell the fir trees and see the views from the manor. 4w

22 likes7 comments

BarbaraJean

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

#DoorstopKristin #KLBR Discussion Questions (3/5):

There are SO many changing relationships to consider in this book, from the marriages (Erlend and Kristin, Lavrans and Ragnfried, Simon and Ramborg) to the family relationships (Erlend and Lavrans, Kristin and Lavrans, Simon and Kristin, Simon and Erlend…).

Which changing relational dynamic stood out to you the most? Which surprised you?

Ruthiella The change in passion between Kristen and Erland at the end. Apparently they can only really connect when under threat. That surprised me. What did not surprise me was Simon‘s obvious love for Kristen, even though she refused him. He‘s still carrying a torch. 1mo

AmyG Yes, Simon did carry a torch. I wondered what her life would have been like if she had married him. The choices people make that lead them to their lives. 1mo

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lauraisntwilder I really liked Simon in the first book, but I had a hard time imagining that character living through that first marriage. Then he marries Kristin's teenaged sister and I admit it was hard not to judge that through the lens of modern sensibilities. So, I guess I was most surprised by both of Simon's marriages. 4w

Andrea313 @lauraisntwilder I had some side-eye for that second marriage, too, but what made it worse for me was the author/the story pushing that Ramborg was the one who pursued it. Shades of "she asked for it" when this was a literal child. Weirdly, if it had been presented as normal for the time in which it was set, I may have shrugged it off as history. But instead there seemed to be this added level of desperate justification that felt off to me. 4w

Andrea313 The change-up between Kristin and Erlend at the end really surprised me, particularly when Kristin suddenly blamed herself for Erlend's actions. I'm a bit apprehensive to see where their relationship goes in Book 3! 4w

BarbaraJean @Ruthiella @Andrea313 I wasn‘t that surprised by the change in passion between Kristin and Erlend at the end—I feel like it‘s a pattern for them to swing from passion and love to grudges and blame, and then back. But I was surprised by Simon! @AmyG @lauraisntwilder I didn‘t much like Simon in the first book (maybe I felt Kristin‘s ambivalence/aversion). Here he seems to have matured a lot, and I saw parallels to Lavrans in the way Simon is such ⬇ 4w

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d)…a stable son-in-law/brother-in-law. I was super surprised by his marrying Ramborg and also had a hard time with her supposedly “pursuing” him at such a young age. I could see a 12-year-old getting it into her head that she wants to marry this person who‘s such a good friend of the family and acting that out inappropriately, but I can‘t stomach Simon taking it seriously. At one point we see him thinking about how he was manipulated ⬇ (edited) 4w

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) …into marrying a woman he doesn‘t really care for—but, um, he‘s the adult and he doesn‘t HAVE TO marry her! 4w

AmyG I liked Simon more, too. @BarbaraJean Wait ‘til book 3. 4w

Suet624 Kristin clinging to Erland as he is arrested was so surprising to me. @Ruthiella stating that they connect when under threat made it make sense to me. I appreciated Lavrans & Ragnfried's final days together, that they were able to express their love & appreciation. And Simon and Ramborg's marriage - I just think some crazy crap took place in the 1200's. With the book being written in the 1920's I'm not sure what Undset thought about it. 4w

16 likes11 comments

BarbaraJean

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

#DoorstopKristin #KLBR Discussion Questions (2/5):

What growth or change do you see in Kristin from The Wreath to The Wife?

Do you see any growth in Erlend? Has your opinion of him changed from The Wreath to The Wife? Why or why not?

Ruthiella She becomes much more confident in her abilities as a wife and mother, managing the estates and her children. I liked seeing her come into her own like that. Clearly her parents brought her up well in that respect because she pretty quickly learns how to manage the servants and household. 1mo

AmyG Not an Erland fan. Erland was more about Erland. But Kristen had children and the land to manage. She had to support everyone. Kristen grew, Erland didn‘t. 1mo

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lauraisntwilder I was surprised at how impetuous Kristin still was, as an adult, like when she reacts in anger (and I hope embarrassment?) when she hears the family talking about how her wild kids killed her sister's favorite lamb. She seems stretched thin, taking care of the land, supervising servants, constantly pregnant, and grieving her parents. Erland takes on more responsibility publicly, but he doesn't seem to have grown up. 4w

Andrea313 Kristin has grown into a capable and admirable woman, whipping a chaotic household into shape, managing the estate from top to bottom, and dealing with more children than she should have to with little support from her partner. But then seeing her boys' behavior through Lavrans' eyes made me cringe! However, I do respect how she always kept trying with Margret. That was a lose-lose situation but it seemed she always tried to be a good stepmother. 4w

BarbaraJean @Ruthiella @AmyG @lauraisntwilder @Andrea313 Like you, I definitely saw growth in Kristin. She becomes so capable with the household so quickly. I loved how her relationship grew with her stepson. I do think there was some growth in Erlend, but it was more of an awareness of how his actions affect others. He doesn‘t actually change or mature. I did feel more compassion for Erlend here than I did in Book One, but I still wanted to just shake him! ⬇ 4w

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d)…He‘s infuriatingly irresponsible, but he isn‘t cruel or malicious. He doesn‘t have the maturity to act responsibly and he deals with difficulty or hurt through avoidance, but he also didn‘t have the stable parent figures or parent/child relationships Kristin did. He doesn‘t seem to have had healthy models for how to be mature and responsible. He does seem well-intentioned and also seems to love Kristin deeply. 4w

Suet624 Not much to add to these comments. They are all spot on. Kristin is definitely a more mature woman in this book. Her care for her stepson was a lovely thing to see. When I first read this trilogy in my 20's my husband was very much like Erland and I was so impacted by Book 2 because of it. His inability to see what Kristin had to deal with - all those kids, all that property to manage - was infuriating. 4w

14 likes8 comments

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