10 Norwegian Classics That Must Be Read!

[@Nigelzenig]

Thank you for this. I am an Irish lover of literature and currently reading K O Knausgaard has made me obsessed with Norwegian literature. I am reading all i can get of this and looking forward to visiting this great literary country

[@tarquinmidwinter2056]

Kristin Lavransdatter is my favourite novel. I guess you've read it by now, but my one tip for reading it would be: get it in three separate volumes if you can, even though it really is one book and you should read it all. The single volume edition is much too big and heavy to read in bed. For English speakers/readers, there are two English translations, the old one by Archer and Scott and a newer one by Tina Nunnally. Nearly all of the critics prefer the new translation, but I prefer the old one. I find the language to be more atmospheric, and it makes fewer concessions to late 20th century sensibilities. This is the whole point of Kristin after all; she takes us back to the 14th century.

[@becomingabookworm]

Nice! I did read and enjoyed it quite a bit. The first volume was my favourite, but in total a good experience. Thanks for the tip about translators. Ill keep that in mind for later. KL is one of the novels I get the most questions about on this channel :)

[@biankakoettlitz6979]

Correctiion: the 1.book of the series called ‘ Dinas bok’ by Herbjørg Wassmo. The 3. I liked most about Benjamin.

[@Opalinapearl]

Sounds like Norwegian literature is quite dark, right up my street! I will have to track some of these down! I too loved The Birds and The Ice Palace 😀

[@becomingabookworm]

It sounds like Norwegian classics could be your thing! Vesaas is great! If you want to go into the holiday season with a dark/sad Norwegian classic, there is a short story by Amalie Skram called "Karen´s Christmas". Its maybe the story I remember the most from school. Because it is sad.

[@Opalinapearl]

Thanks! Will check it out 😀

[@iftikharhusain6286]

Interesting

[@becomingabookworm]

Thanks :)

[@iftikharhusain6286]

Most Welcome

[@travelthroughstories]

Thanks for this! I learned about a lot of authors I haven't even heard of. Added a lot to my tbr. I've read the first book in Undset's trilogy, but I still need to read the other two. I read Growth of the Soil earlier this year and enjoyed it, though it was a bit a slog at times. And Vesaas is just one of my favorite authors of all time, though I haven't gotten to The Seeds yet! Great video - you did a really good job providing summaries and making them all sound very appealing.

[@becomingabookworm]

Thank you! Glad i could inspire :) Did reading the first Undset book encourage reading the other two? When I first read Vesaas I was a little surprised of just how much I enjoyed his books. I hope some of the other authors on this list will give me that same experience.

[@travelthroughstories]

@@becomingabookworm It certainly did - I just got distracted. Hah. I think I'll reread it and continue with the series in 2022.

[@becomingabookworm]

Puh! Good to know :) Maybe I should consider try reading it next year as well..

[@biankakoettlitz6979]

Have you read *I am Dina * the series is better than Lavransdatter and the Music in the movie is great,not just the music 😀

[@becomingabookworm]

No, but maybe I should put it on my list. I will check it out :)

[@ana-anatomiadolivro-2244]

Thank you for all these suggestions! I’ve read Hunger and Mysteries from Knut Hamsun and The Birds by Tarjei Vesaas and loved them all.

[@becomingabookworm]

You are very welcome :) The Birds is one of my all time favourites. Hope I will like Hamsun as well.

[@LunaciaBooks]

I have Kristin Lavransdatter on my TBR as well. So many of my bookcrossing friends brag about it. I absolutely HATE Hamsun's works. I have tried a few of his works, only finished Mysterier because I had to read it for my Library and Information Science degree. I love Amalie Skram, though. And Ibsen (especially En folkefiende!) and Vesaas. Do you follow Silje (Norwegian KZbinr)? She has a few videos on Vesaas and Fosse! But I have read sadly few Norwegians classics. I really should read Camilla Collett. I have no clue why I haven't. I am also thinking I should read Cora Sandel, have you read anything by her?

[@becomingabookworm]

Well now I am intrigued! What is it about Hamsun that you really dont like? I follow Siljes channel :) She reads a lot of things I have never heard of, so that is very useful! Not read any Sandel, but I have some short novels from her in my shelf. At one point I will :)!

[@LunaciaBooks]

@@becomingabookworm I think the most prominent thing is his writing style. It really doesn't speak to me at all. 😉

[@becomingabookworm]

@@LunaciaBooks I see. Good to know his writing also splits peoples opinions!

[@biankakoettlitz6979]

Have you Bern at the Knut Hansum Museum? In 2020 , I think, Theo redd his boooks and broadcasted them (P2, NRK)😏 we were creative.

[@becomingabookworm]

Not yet, but that seems like something I should be doing :)!

[@biankakoettlitz6979]

@@becomingabookworm good Choice, bit tale with you some warm clothes, you know The North can be chilly ;-), bare Nordlendinger bytter til kortbukse fin 1.mai:-)