Atšiaurus Norvegijos kaimelis, 20 metų atsiliekantis nuo gretimo kaimo, stingdantis šaltis ir lėtas gyvenimas padalintas į pusmečius. Žiemą temperatūra nukrenta žemiau 40, bet užšalus ežerui, galėjai aplankyti kitus, susitarti dėl santuokos, parduoti paraką. Vasarą visur pelkės ir purvas, tačiau didesnė tikimybė išgyventi žvejojant ar bent jau mirtinai nesušalti per pamaldas bažyčioje. The novel is structured in short chapters with fable-like names – The Artillery Officer’s Son ; The Girls Who Shared a Skin ; Passion’s Braid – which compelled me to search for morals and messages in each one, making for a more inquisitive and alert reading experience. The stories in the book are based on local tales recounted to the author, as well as on ancient legends about Stave churches; these unique structures are made entirely from wood, and were built by the Vikings on the arrival of Christianity. The richness of this history comes through beautifully in the novel. I learned much about Norwegian culture and absorbed the atmosphere and spirit of the place and its people. Er is niks mis met het geloof,�� zei ze voordat ze de kamer uitliep. ‘Maar de honger en het gezond verstand zullen altijd sterker zijn.’”

Astrid is the eldest girl, and does her duty in the family -- everyone has to pitch in for them to survive -- but she seems to be the only one that has inherited the once proud wild streak in the family. So this is not a novel with much moping -- and its three main characters understand that quite well, taking charge when necessary and doing what needs be done; most impressively, Mytting allows even that to often not be nearly enough. The child that is born is a doubled one, Siamese twins joined not just at but from the hip down, baptized as Halfrid and Gunhild Hekne. With Gerhard Schonauer being the first human being from the outside world Astrid has ever encountered, describe their first meeting. As a descendant of the conjoined Hekne twins, Astrid considers herself the guardian of the Sister Bells and feels called to sabotage their removal. Not only are they a family heirloom, they are believed to give supernatural protection to Butangen, such that taking them away might unleash a curse. The novel's title refers to what goes wrong as the bells are transported away from the village. While one bell is later rescued from the lake, the other remains submerged. As Gerhard moves on to document more churches, Astrid must decide where her loyalties lie and to what extent she can influence the future of her village.Just as the villagers’ character avoided dilution by strangers, so this hidden medieval masterpiece remained untouched by fads or fashion. The decorations were not wiped away when the Reformation stripped God’s houses bare, and Pietism never set its claws into the furniture and fixtures. The eight dragon heads continued to snarl towards the sky, and the outer walkway and walls released the fragrance of centuries of thorough tarring.” Inspired by David Copperfield, Kingsolver crafts a 21st-century coming-of-age story set in America’s hard-pressed rural South.

The Bell in the Lake" by Lars Mytting is the first historical novel in a planned trilogy. To Astrid, Pastor Kai Schweigaard personified the comfortable old ways and traditions in an unchanging community while Gerhard Schonauer painted a picture of a colorful new life in Dresden. I enjoyed the descriptive passages denoting the history of Stave Churches. Highly recommended. How does the environment factor into the local folklore of Butangen and villager perceptions of the outside world?

In het verhaal van de vroedvrouw van het dorp schuilt op een bepaalde manier meer wijsheid dan bij gediplomeerde artsen uit de dichtstbijzijnde echte stad Kristiania. Astrid beseft voor welke keuze ze gesteld wordt en trekt daaruit de juiste gevolgen, ook al legt ze daarvoor het zwaarst mogelijke offer in de schaal. Tel ook eens het een en ander samen aan het eind van dit verhaal, let even op de jaargetallen en kijk met huiverachtige nieuwsgierigheid naar het volgende deel van deze epische familiesaga, dat binnen een afzienbare twee jaar tijd zal verschijnen. Dat mag ook sneller verschijnen, geachte heer Mytting. Zo veel is zeker! Butangeno bažnyčia ir legenda apie seserų varpus iš tikrųjų egzistuoja. Ji taip sužavėjo knygos autorių, jog jis smulkiai viską išanalizavo, išnagrinėjo bažnyčios žemėlapius, įpynė Heknių šeimos istoriją ir turime rezultatą - "Seserų varpai". This novel is a rare gem. It has a beautiful depth and interestingly developed characters. The compelling storyline is flawlessly woven with sharp prose and undeniable humor. Excellently balanced story with history, fiction and suspense makes it a seamless read. This is a powerful, intelligent book that would be perfect for a book club read. It really makes you think, the mythology is guaranteed to spark a wide-ranging discussion and the character Astrid is both endearing and exasperating in her struggle to escape conformity. The way she’s at times frustratingly naïve, and at other moments wise and worldly, feels deeply human; best demonstrated when she’s out in nature. She stays with you long after finishing the novel. Bij elke stap voorwaarts die de wereld doet, vertrapt hij mensen in zijn opmars, iemand moet altijd het gelag betalen”