December: We met at Donna's house for a trip back into 14th century Norway. The Wreath, from the trilogy Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset, tells the story of a woman who coped with an undependable husband while raising ten sons and keeping the home fires burning. Sound familiar? Does anything ever change? But she loved him!!! We all agreed that husband Erlend was a pain and did not deserve Kristin. In some ways this book felt like a bodice ripper, but Marilyn L., the romance writer in our group, assured us that it was not formulaic and that the characters were way too well developed.
The book contrasts arranged marriages (Kristin's parents) with love matches (Kristin's). Passion versus practicality. Which results in a better relationship and a happier life? Added to the mix--before she met Erland, Kristin was engaged to Simon. She felt no passion for him, he didn't attract her, but he turns out to be a lovely man and devoted husband to her somewhat feckless baby sister.
January meeting--my house. The book was the Polish Officer by Alan Furst. This was another book that most of us enjoyed. The story was suspenseful, it was well written, and the background fascinating. I, for one, did not know anything about the brave (and hopeless) defense of Poland against the Nazis, the attitude of the Russians and the Germans toward the Poles, and the continuing resistance of the Polish underground throughout Europe.
This book is an interesting contrast to Suite Francaise. Both books describe the exodus of the French from Nazi occupied France. While Nemirovsky in S.F. narrates the micro elements of the event as the poor, the bourgeois, the famous and the cranky exit Paris, Furst, speaking through Alexander de Milja, the Polish Officer, compares the brave resistance of the Poles to the live-and-let-live surrender of the French.
Chris was the expert of the evening, since her parents emigrated from Poland during the war. She also brought Polish candy, imported from Connecticut!
Our next book will be The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson. I read it a while back and it's great.
Well....the plot of "The Wreath" is actually about Kristin's youth and what led up to her marriage---her married life begins in v. 2 of the trilogy. I loved "The Wreath" because it was such a wonderful depiction of young (stupid!) love on the one hand, and the efforts of Kristin's parents to marry her to someone who would make life more stable for her. The book ends with Kristin's parents reflecting on their own arranged marriage--I found that scene especially poignant.
ReplyDeleteMary is right. I read the next book in the trilogy, "The Wife", so it all sort of ran together in my mind.
ReplyDelete