Kristin Lavransdatter II: The Wife (Penguin Classics)

The Kristin Lavransdatter Series is outstanding. It takes a few pages to get into the writer's rhythm, but it is well worth the effort (like reading Shakespeare!). The books are well written, the characters are deeply flawed (like the rest of us!), the history is fascinating. This is one of the best series I have read in recent time (and I read constantly). Enjoy!

An intricately plotted, beautifully written story and every day I look forward to being able to snatch some time to immerse myself in it. I think I gave it four stars because I get frustrated with the characters - I would like to bop them over the head and make them all start behaving themselves! The view into medieval life in Norway is fascinating. My copy of the book has an intro that lays out the history during the time of the books, which is a good thing because otherwise I would be completely at sea. I do find it hard sometimes to keep all the names straight, in part because the cast is large and in part because I read the first volume a couple months ago. You do need to read these in order - the three books are one continuous story in 3 volumes.

Enjoy the story, characters. The descriptions and context of the seasons, the landscapes, are so central to the story, and make me want to see Norway.

We read The Wreath and The Wife for our book club. I couldn’t stop. I read the third book too - The Cross. A wonderful classic.

my old copy of the book was of an earlier translation and was hard reading--a good story but not easy to get "to the meat" of it. This translation is so much better, it makes the character of Kristen easier to understand and her problems easier to relate to. I am amazed at home much her husband Erlend and my husband had in common! The triology is a great read! Don't miss it in the translation by Tiina Nunnally.

I read this way back when I was in high school. Only one other person had checked it out in the previous ten years. Obviously, this fine work of literature is nowadays overlooked. I was delighted to learn that my husband's grandmother had read it.The often foolhardy Kristin made many poor choices in her lifetime, from choosing a husband, to naming her children. Unglamorous life in the age of Plague.

good reading

Love it, but winced my way through this marriage. No way it was going to turn out well. If you loved the character you met in book 1 enough, you wont be able to resist reading. But then,I'm sure you are wincing already

Just about the best trilogy I've ever read. It will stay with me for ever.