| Author | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sigrid Undset | Kristin Lavransdatter | This book is set in Norway in the 1300s. It is actually 3 books - The
Bridal Wreath, The Mistress of Husaby, The Cross - and tells the story
of Kristin Lavransdatter. When I was in Bergen in August 1996, one of the
exhibitions at Bryggensmuseet (the Bryggen Museum, Bergen) was of the costumes
used in the movie, directed by Liv Ullman, based on this book. At the time
I didn't know anything about the book or the movie. The movie still hasn't
been shown on SBS television in Sydney, but I've had the book for 2 years
now and am slowly getting through it. (Finally finished it while overseas).�
The language is quite difficult as the style of speech is different to what we're used to, as you'd imagine for people in the 14th century. There are also a huge number of characters whose relationships to each other are important in the understanding of the plot so it's important to keep track of them all somehow.� In the background are historical happenings such as Norway's rule by various feuding Danes and Swedes which adds to the potential confusion. However, there are good notes at the back which explain this and other aspects of life in Norway at this time, which makes the book very interesting. Sigrid Undset was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1928 for her work, including this book.� |
| Garrison Keillor | Leaving Home | Lovely amusing stories of the people in the small town of Lake Wobegon. The fact that they are of Norwegian ancestry probably added to their appeal to me. |
| Pernille Rygg | The Butterfly Effect |
Igi (Inger Birgitte) Heitman is a researcher at the univeristy of Oslo. She's trying to link psychology to chaos theory, but after her father dies in a hit-and-run accident she finds herself following up his last job as a private investigator. She hopes to find the truth about his death, but instead is drawn into the lives of an increasing number of people, all somehow connected to Siv Underland, the missing woman at the centre of her father's final case. Apart from enjoying this thriller for its story, I got a real feel for what it would be like to live in Oslo in winter. Brrr! This book has been understandably compared to "Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow", for both its chilly setting and its intriguing narrative. |
Last modified: Thurs May 04 12:48:43
EST 2000