Sunday, June 8, 2025

1000 Books Project - Kristin Lavransdatter Discussion Two

Spoilers ahead...do not read if you haven't read the book and/or if spoilers bother you.


One week late with this discussion post. I apologize profusely. We readers know first hand how sometimes real life gets in the way of our reading. I can only strive to do better for our next (and final discussion). 

This will probably be a fairly lengthy post. I have many page flags poking out throughout The Mistress of Husaby. 

I first would like to touch on when Erlend discovers that Kristin was pregnant when they married. I was not happy with his reaction. What did he expect her to do, with her already feeling full of shame? She was trying, in her youthful, unwise way, to not make things worse. And Erlend should have kept in mind her youth, and that it takes two to tango. Imagine how she felt, enduring almost the entire pregnancy alone. It speaks volumes to me that she is indeed more an adult than her older husband.

I stayed angry with Erlend for most of this second book. When Kristin tells him she is with child again, their second child, he says: "Methoughts when once you were mine--'twould be like drinking Yule-tide every day. But it looks as though most of the time would be long fasts." 
Really? What did you think marriage was going to be like, Erlend? In the times before birth control, especially way back in history as this story is, when you had sex, you would most likely get pregnant. Women had very little choice on how many children they had, and each time they went into labor, it was like staring death in the face. But back to his flippant words above. So, since Kristin was so young and beautiful it was just going to be all fun and no duty? Sorry to say, Erlend...in your time marriage meant child after child and with that great responsibility. (Don't even get me started on him hitting Kristin...infuriating!)

After the second child Bjorgulf is born, once again Erlend is lamenting the responsibility and how sickly Kristin is. "Kristin lulled the child softly. The thin small tones of her voice irked him." Then a few minutes later..."He longed to leave her!" Granted, he is afraid of what she will go through with the next birth, but he is also overwhelmed by it all. He loves her, but he's also selfish in his thinking that having married her, "all evil would be wiped away from his life so wholly that he would forget it had ever been." But you can't expect another person to miraculously heal what you yourself have wrought. It speaks to Erlend's childish and reckless nature, which Kristin is learning more of every day.

Amidst the anger felt with this first book was also immense sadness. When Kristin realizes that Lavrans is not long for the world, it is such a heart wrenching scene between father and daughter. It hit home for me, as I was always close with my dad, but over the past 15 years or so, something has driven a wedge between us (you might guess what it is). I still speak to him on a regular basis, but it's not the same. He is 78 now and I feel such sadness that things are this way so close to the end of his life. I sobbed when I read the above scene, and I'm sobbing now. 

I know death is something we all face when our parents become aged. My mom is my best friend. We have always been close and we have lived together for 13 years. She will be 75 in August so I find myself dreading the inevitable. I'm sorry if this seems off topic, but I promise I'm going somewhere with this. When Kristin goes to the chapel to pray over her stepson's grave (Orm...I was so devastated when he died), her thoughts go..."She thought upon her beloved dead--their looks and their voices and smiles and ways and bearing--now that they themselves were gone away to yonder other country, to think on their shapes was sore; 'twas like remembering one's home when one knew that it stood desolate, and the rotting timbers were sinking into the soil." More sobbing on my part. It is part of life that we must endure this, but it's just so unfair that life is so short and we must eventually say goodbye to the ones we love.


Now touching on Erlend and Kristin's marital strife again. Erlend likes to play the blame game. Implying that much of what transpired with his daughter was her fault, when she could never say anything to the girl without Erlend telling her to let Margret be. It was during this heated exchange, where much was said about present and past events, that Erlend struck Kristin again. He professes to apologize, but what does he expect...her not to be angry? More heated words and then Erlend leaves, his final thought being..."Troll she was--and so fair, too--if only he could beat her until she grew good again..." WHAT?! So what does he do? Goes and sleeps with another woman. Typical. This will come back and bite him later, as we find out.
But a man committing adultery, it's never their fault. Erlend: "Since he had broken his troth to Kristin already--and she herself had brought it about, by her hateful and unjust ways towards him--" 

Motherhood. I'm glad that Kristin finds some peace and contentment because of her children. All those boys! As a boy mom myself, I can relate (though I only have two). This one hit home for me too, having not very long ago dealt with the emptying nest.
"Over again and over again had joy in them quickened the beating of her heart, fear for them pierced it--they were her children, these great lads with their lean angular boys' bodies, as they had been when they were so small and plump they could scarce hurt themselves when they tumbled in their journeys between the bench and her knee. They were hers, even as they had been when, as she would lift one of them from the cradle up to her breast for milk, she had to hold up its head , because it nodded on the slender neck as a bluebell nods on its stalk. Wherever they might wander out in the world, whithersoever they might fare, forgetful of their mother, she felt as though for her their life must still be an action of her life, they must still be as one with herself as they had been when she alone in all the world knew of the new life which lay hidden within and drank of her blood and made her cheeks pale." 
SOB! Another life event we must endure, those of us who have children. The inevitable flying from the nest, but they never truly leave us.

Erlend's arrest and Simon's goodness. Though Erlend did what he did for the good of Norway, he was also very careless, which we have learned is his nature in this second book. His dealings with Lady Sunniva got him more than he bargained for. She wasn't so stupid as he thought. Definitely a man who does not carefully consider before acting. Yet this is where we learn how truly Kristin loves him still, and he her. Marriage is complicated and it seemed even more so in their time. Simon, who we learn is just a downright good person, goes above and beyond to help save Erlend. When he confronts Sir Erling about what happened with Halfrid (bargaining chip, bribery?), it is out of character for him, and he regrets it, but it shows how much he truly cares for Kristin and even Erlend. Sir Erling angrily brings up what happened between Kristin and Erlend and how she broke her promise of marriage to another. Simon selflessly admits it was him who was wronged. It could not have been easy for him to admit this, but this is what changes Sir Erling's mind on helping Erlend when he sees what Simon is willing to do for his family. 

And so, they go to the king and Sir Erling's son diabolically alludes to King Magnus's secret...and that's the end of it. Erland is free. Side note: King Magnus was king of Norway and Sweden from 1319 - 1364. There were actually rumors of homosexuality and other "erotic escapades" during his reign. 

The Mistress of Husaby is my favorite of the three so far. Undset did an excellent job of depicting life in medieval Norway, touching masterfully on themes of marriage, motherhood, faith, adultery, kinship, and loyalty. I'm looking forward to reading the concluding third book.

What are your thoughts on book two, The Mistress of Husaby (or The Wife)? Share any and all thoughts in the comments.

Here is the reading schedule if you need to reference it again. (Click link and scroll down)

I'll be back on August 31 with the discussion post on book three, The Cross.

Thursday, March 6, 2025

1000 Books Project - Kristin Lavransdatter Discussion One

Spoilers ahead...do not read if you haven't read the book and/or if spoilers bother you.


I apologize profoundly for how late I am with this first discussion post. I planned my reading very poorly and found myself way behind. For the second leg of our reading, I will try to stay better on track. Thank you for bearing with me!

I'll admit I was worried that this novel might be dry...boring...though I had been told by my good friend Lucy that it was an excellent read. She was not wrong (not that I ever doubted her). I have thoroughly enjoyed our first section, The Bridal Wreath (The Wreath). 

First, a quick question on what version you are reading? My edition, as mentioned in the announcement post, is Abacus (January 1, 1995) - Paperback, 1072 pages. This is a republish of the original translation by Charles Archer and J.S. Scott. This translation was criticized for its use of archaic language (reflecting the novel's 14th century setting) and also for expurgations, as some scenes, particularly sexually explicit ones, had been omitted or edited. Apparently, the newer Penguin Classics translation by Tina Nunnally has been praised for its clarity and does not make the expurgations as in the earlier translation. (Source)
Personally, I'm not having a problem with the language in my edition. I have read historical fiction extensively, and many classics which use archaic language, so that has not been a deal breaker for me. I'm also not upset about the purged sexually explicit scenes. It's easy enough to put two and two together without having it described explicitly. If you are reading the newer translation, let me know your thoughts.

I first want to briefly touch on Lady Aashild. When she is called upon to help heal Ulvhild, we learn that she has been rumored to be a witch. The age old suspicion when a woman knows about healing...well, she must be a witch. I liked Lady Aashild and her being sort of a mentor to Kristin. 

I have never been fond of the tradition of arranged marriages. It was obvious that Kristin was not thrilled with the idea of Simon as her betrothed. At that point, I think her father's happiness was utmost in her mind. When she learns that Arne truly loved her and would have had her to wife (barred by their social standing it seemed), and then the dreadful experience with Bentein, I think she truly starts to consider herself and her own feelings. Then we know she is having serious doubts about the bethrothal. Though she is clearly devastated by Arne's death, I think her desire to go to the nunnery for a year was also a way for her to delay the marriage and perhaps figure a way out of it...though I don't think she quite anticipated it happening the way it did. 


The meeting of Erlend was a great example of the chivalry of the time. The damsel(s) in distress and the dashing knight who comes to the rescue. Not surprising that a girl of 17 would be so impressed and fall so easily for him. I guess I'm not very romantic because I kind of thought of Erlend as taking advantage of Kristin's young age and her naivete. Then the unthinkable happens...sexual relations outside of marriage. Egads! But for the time, it was scandalous for a maiden of high breeding (or any maiden, for that matter) to have relations with a man she was not wed to. Setting aside the romantic, I'll admit to feeling a bit on the edge of my seat on what would happen next with Erlend and Kristin. Would they be found out? Is she pregnant? Is Erlend really a cad, and will he end up leaving her in the dust? I never thought her father would approve the marriage so when they make their plan to run off together via Lady Aashild's home, it was getting exciting...and then Eline shows up! Somehow I knew that was going to happen. I was shocked when she tried to poison Kristin and being still such a naive girl, she almost drank it! Luckily, Erlend walked in when he did. What an awful thing to have forced Eline to drink the poison. However deserving she was or not, I feel like that occurrence added a heaviness to their courtship that was not there previously. 

Finally Kristin's father agrees to the marriage, though begrudgingly, and the preparations begin. Then...Kristin is pregnant?! Another nail biting part where I kept waiting for someone to notice and bring about yet another scandal. All the while, I can't help but notice how Erlend just does not take anything very seriously. But then, the wedding is done. Phew! In the final scene between Lavrans and Ragnfrid, we find out that Ragnfrid was also not a maid when she married Lavrans. I wondered why Ragnfrid, who always seemed the more strict parent toward Kristin, was not as mad and was more understanding of Kristin's situation than her father. Now we know why. 

My final thoughts: I feel like Undset's depiction of the consequences of adultery rang true to me. That it happened more frequently than is normally depicted in classic novels is my conclusion. When we talk of "love at first sight" maybe that should be more like "love at first attraction." Kristin was attracted to the chivalry and perhaps the excitement of their "courtship" though she also had trouble reconciling that with her religious beliefs and feelings of being sinful. I think she is going to find that Erlend is not quite all he seemed to be at first sight. Sadly, such is the way of many relationships as time wears on. 

What are your thoughts on our first section, The Bridal Wreath (or The Wreath)? Share any and all thoughts in the comments.

Here is the reading schedule if you need to reference it again. (Click link and scroll down)

I'll be back on May 31 with the discussion post on our next section, The Mistress of Husaby (or The Wife).

Friday, January 3, 2025

2024 Yearly Challenges - Wrap-Up Post

This is the wrap-up post for the 2024 yearly challenges...

2024 Book to Movie and 2024 Read Your Shelf.

A wrap-up for the 1000 Books Project 2024: Collins/Dickens is not necessary, as it's essentially read-alongs which we discuss as we read. It will not be linked below for wrap-ups.

I'm posting the links to the 2024 challenges below. If you completed the challenge (or even if you didn't) and you post a wrap-up, please link up in the original linky on the challenge sign up post. When you put your name/blog name, just add "wrap-up." Like so: truebookaddict/wrap-up

Here are the links to the 2024 challenges:

2024 Read Your Shelf Challenge

2024 Book to Movie Reading Challenge

Be sure to leave a comment on the post so I know you added your wrap-up.

In case you missed the sign-up for this year's yearly challenges, you can find them below.

2025 Read Your Shelf Challenge

2025 Book to Movie (and TV) Reading Challenge

1000 Books Project 2025: Sigrid Undset's Kristin Lavransdatter

Here's to a new year of reading!

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

2025 Read Your Shelf Challenge


Just in the nick of time! We're back for another year!

As you know (hopefully), Read Your Shelf had an overhaul in 2023. Previous incarnations weren't working for me and then I found this article on Book Riot...
PRETEND YOUR HOUSE IS A LIBRARY: A STRATEGY FOR ACTUALLY READING THE BOOKS YOU OWN.

Basically, the premise is to take one shelf on your bookshelf (or some other designated place where you can place books for this challenge) and think of it as your "holds shelf." If you buy or receive a book you haven’t read, it automatically goes onto that shelf.

Below is an image of my current holds shelf. I managed to read 13 books from the 59 books that were on the shelf starting in 2024. When I did read a book from my holds shelf, I shelved it on my main shelves and chose a book from my main shelves to replace it. I changed this up a bit in 2024. I made a list of new books as they arrived and for every third book I read from the holds shelf, I would replace it with one of the new books. That way I'm still replacing the majority of books from my main shelves. (I realize this sounds confusing. Sorry!)


Further challenge details

For this challenge, you will only read the books on your holds shelf. When you have read one of the books, you put it back on one of your other shelves (think of it as "main circulation"). By design, there is no room in main circulation for this new book (probably not the case in some instances) so you must take a book from main circulation and place it on your holds shelf.

If you want, you can leave some space on your holds shelf for any new books you might receive or buy, just be sure to set a number of spaces available so you don't go over (or you can do as I do and only replace every third book read from your holds shelf with one of your new books). Remember, the ultimate goal is to read books you already own. Not only are you reading newer books you were excited about when you bought them, but you're knocking out books that have been languishing on your shelves for years.

From the original Book Riot post (linked above): "This revolving door system has turned my bookshelves into my own mini library. Each time I finish a book I own, I return it to main circulation, and then I get to spend a few minutes browsing the stacks. I pick out a new book I’m excited about reading, and get the satisfaction of putting that book on hold (i.e. on my TBR shelf).

The best part: eventually all the unread books in my house will either get cycled onto the holds shelf, or I’ll realize there aren’t any unread books left in main circulation that I still want to read, in which case, I’ll donate them."


The goal of this yearly challenge is to see how many books you can get through on your holds shelf, and your "main circulation," by keeping track of how many you read from each. You can set a personal goal of a set number, or just see how far you get. There's no winning or losing here. It's all in fun.
  • Challenge runs January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025
  • You can use books from your holds shelf for other challenges (this will give you even more incentive to get them read!)
  • Hashtag for social media #ReadYourShelf
  • Any questions? Leave me a comment below, or contact me via the button in the sidebar.
Sign up in the linky below, and grab the button at the top of the post. Sharing is appreciated. Happy Reading in 2025!

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Sunday, December 29, 2024

1000 Books Project 2025 - Sigrid Undset's Kristin Lavransdatter


Project Backstory:
I picked up a copy of James Mustich's amazing 1000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life Changing List and upon looking through it, I realized it really is a well-rounded reading recommendation book. I was pleased to discover I have read quite a few of the books he lists, and that many of them are on my personal reading lists (and they are books I own). So, to ever expand my reading horizons, and include others in the journey, I decided to create a read-along challenge, or project, if you will.

The theme for this year...and it's an important theme given the current situation in our country (U.S.) in regards to women (one example - your body, my choice)...Honoring women: A woman's life saga.


Kristin Lavransdatter
by Sigrid Undset is the work that formed the basis of Undset receiving the 1928 Nobel Prize in Literature, which was awarded to her "principally for her powerful descriptions of Northern life during the Middle Ages." (Wikipedia source)

A passage from the 1000 Books' coverage of the book (page 817): 

A summary does not do justice to Undset's achievement, nor to the singularity of her central character, who maintains a riveting identity in the midst of her struggles with family, community, and convention. Next to Kristin Lavransdatter, Emma Bovary is bloodless. In her book, 13 Ways of Looking at the Novel, Jane Smiley astutely describes Kristin's--and Undset's--originality:

Perhaps the biggest difference between Undset's protagonist and most other female protagonists is that she is never without work to do...Life is arduous in a way that is never true in novels about women of the middle and upper classes in France and England. Undset writes about work and weather and famine and accidents, illnesses, pregnancy, animals, and the natural world with immediacy and ease. Though Undset, too, explores the classic conflict between female virtue and female desire she sets it into the context of female usefulness.

I've been wanting to read this book for a long time. I hope you will join me.

Since we are starting on January 1st, I'm posting the reading schedule now. 

My edition: Abacus (January 1, 1995) - Paperback, 1072 pages.

Discussions will be posted here on the blog on the dates indicated in the schedule. Feel free to stop by the discussions any time. Post your thoughts in the comments, or share a link to a blog post.

The schedule does not include the notes section at the back of the book. The ending page in my edition is 1,047. We are reading according to each book of the original trilogy.
  • January/February: The Bridal Wreath, pp 1 - 272
    Discussion post: February 28
  • March/April/May: The Mistress of Husaby, pp 273 - 643
    Discussion post: May 31
  • June/July/August: The Cross, pp 645 - 1047 (end)
    Discussion post: August 31
If you would like to join us, sign up by leaving a comment below (and a link, if you post about it on your blog or social media).

2025 Book to Movie (and TV) Reading Challenge


Welcome to year nine of the Book to Movie (and TV) Challenge!

Let's see what books are coming to the screen in 2025. As usual, these releases are subject to change.

The info below comes from CinemaBlend and Screen Rant.

Legend: Movies = M, Streaming series = S, Streaming movie = SM (these will only be indicated if I know for sure which format the adaptation is.)

M: Paddington in Peru, based on the Michael Bond stories (Jan 17)
M: Dog Man, based on the David Pilkey graphic novels (Jan 31)
SM: The Witcher: Sirens Of The Deep (Book title: The Witcher: Sword of Destiny), Andrzej Sapkowski (Feb 11)
SM: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Helen Fielding (Feb 13)
M: Not Without Hope, Nick Schuyler and Jeré Longman (Feb 20)
M: The Unbreakable Boy: A Father’s Fear, A Son’s Courage, And A Story Of Unconditional Love,  Scott Michael LeRette (Feb 20)
SM: The Electric State, Simon Stalenhag (March 13)
M: The Amateur, Robert Littell (April 11)
M: Mickey 17 (Book title: Mickey7), Edward Ashton (April 18)
M: How to Train Your Dragon, Cressida Cowell (June 13)
M: Animal Farm, George Orwell (July 11)
M: Cold Storage, David Koepp (Sept 18)
M: The Running Man, Stephen King (Nov 21)

The following adaptations' release dates TBD
M: Frankenstein, Mary Shelley 
M: The Housemaid, Freida McFadden 
M: People We Meet on Vacation, Emily Henry 
M: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid 
The Midnight Library, Matt Haig 
M: Wildwood, Colin Meloy 
M: The Twits, Roald Dahl 
M: Book Lovers, Emily Henry
S:A Court Of Thorns And Roses TV show (by Sarah J. Mass)
S: Fairy Tale, Stephen King
S: Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros
M: Funny Story, Emily Henry
M: Hamnet, Maggie O'Farrell
S: Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling
S: The Institute. Stephen King
M: The Life Of Chuck, Stephen King
M: The Long Walk, Stephen King
S: Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Rufi Thorpe
M: The Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman
M & S: Recursion, Blake Crouch
M: Whalefall, Daniel Kraus
M: Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë

This list is by no means exhaustive. If you find out about any I haven't mentioned, leave me a comment and I'll add to the list.

Main Levels

The Enthusiast: read 1-3 books
First One to the Theater: read 4+ books

Read only books being made into movies/series for release in 2025 (you are not required to only read from the list above. As I stated, if you find another movie or TV series/mini-series, based on a book, coming out in 2025, feel free to read it).

Additional Levels

Not Ready to Let Go: read at least one (1) book made into a movie or series in 2024

Here's a list of 2024 movies adapted from books. (Note: Some of the movies listed may have been moved to 2025).

Living in the Past: read at least one (1) book made into a movie in previous years

You can Google for previous years, or check Goodreads lists.

The Movie Was Better (What?!): watch the movie(s) for the book(s) you read.

*the additional levels are optional, you still must complete one of the main reading levels above

Additional Guidelines
  • The books you read can count for other challenges. Ebooks, audiobooks, and traditional formats all count.
  • The start date is January 1, 2025. End date is December 31, 2025.
  • Remember, TV series/mini-series count too.
  • Pick your level (and additional levels, if you like)
  • Sign up below and grab the button (top of post). I hope you will join me!
  • If you have any questions, click the contact me button in the sidebar, or leave a comment.
Sign up here:

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Wednesday, October 30, 2024

1000 Books Project - Nicholas Nickleby Final Discussion

Spoilers ahead...final thoughts...do not read if you haven't read the book and/or if spoilers bother you.


I finished! I feel like throwing a party! 😄

While this one was tough to get through due to the sheer breadth of it, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It helped that I was able to listen to some of it on Book Radio. That way I could listen while I was doing other things. 

What I love most about Dickens is his ability to tell a story with a large cross section of characters and somehow tying them together in the story. 

Nicholas is such an admirable character, despite his tendency to get extremely angry. I can't say I blame him though. So much outrage due to the poor treatment of Smike and his sister. Smike's death is so heartbreaking. What a hard life he had, and then he didn't even get to live a full life. At least his last years were spent in happiness with Nicholas and his family. 

As happens in many a Dickens novel, the "evil" characters get their comeuppance. What a shame that Ralph Nickleby was such a miserable person. He could have been happy if he could have seen past his greed. He needed visits from three spirits, but that's another story...

What are your final thoughts on the book? Share any and all thoughts in the comments.

If you joined in on the read-along, thank you! Hope to see you for our next 1000 Books Project!

I'm working on our book selection for 2025. I'm thinking we will do one book over the entire year, or for eight months. Stay tuned for the announcement.