Apologies for the radio silence over the last little while. Puppy raising has taken up a lot of my spare time recently. I’ve also been in a bit of a ‘book hangover’ after finishing Kristin Lavransdatter III: The Cross. Because, wow. Talk about a book that pulls the heartstrings. Let’s try and explain this ninth book in the 24 in 2024 challenge.
Plot summary
This is the final book in a trilogy. If you haven’t already, you can revisit reviews for Book I: The Wreath and Book II: The Wife.
The Cross picks up a few years after The Wife ends. Kristin and Erlend have been married for over 15 years and their children are starting to reach adulthood. Kristin struggles with the newfound poverty that events in The Cross have led them too. She also faces the difficulty of letting her children go so they can forge their own paths. As the book develops, there is marital strife, death and the beginning of another generation. Towards the end of the book, something dreadful comes to Norway and Kristin faces the largest struggle of her life.
The final chapter is something else
Wow. Honestly, this book got right in amongst it. I was left breathless from the unraveling of Kristin’s life. Then, I was given the warm and fuzzies as good and beautiful things happened. And, just when I thought things were settling down, something dreadful happens. Utterly heartbreaking.
I won’t go into it, because I don’t want to give too many spoilers for those who want to read this series. I would highly recommend this series. It’s not light reading, but it is powerful. It is real. The spiritual and physical worlds are woven together into this deep, compelling and stunning story. Weeks after reading it, I actually hold a bit of grief for the characters. They’re not real, but man, do they feel it! This final chapter is the hardest and the most beautiful of the trilogy.
Kristin Lavransdatter is not peopled by perfect characters. Not even the gently flawed characters that we often meet in novels. But real, failing, weak human beings. I think it gets under your skin for that exact reason. You can see this as a story about real people, not just a story. And that’s a great accomplishment.
I don’t want to say too much more. If I keep going, I might give away too much. I’d like to leave you to discover this book yourself, if that’s something you’re interested in. It is absolutely a fantastic read. It’s a big one, for sure. But don’t let that deter you. Kristin Lavransdatter is worth the heartache.
