The Catholic Book Club discussion
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The Wild Orchid
Wild Orchid, December 2021
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3. How did you experience the book?
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It is a big book, which can help to understand the northern countries and the modern secularism ruled by ideologies, but all topics of this novel are closed in "The burning Bush" indeed although this novel was written before the Burning Bush. It had not happened anything if this novel it had not been written.
Mod
Fonch, I strongly disagree. Precisely because of what you say, "The Burning Bush" would mean nothing without "Wild Orchid." I don't understand why you have such a strong opinion against the first part of what for you is a very good second part.
I have now read about 20% of "Wild Orchid" and like it. I can see where the plot is going, and I think Paul's conversion would not be credible without "Wild Orchid."
I'm having trouble getting "engaged" in the book, and I have trouble holding onto all the characters. For example, when Randi shows up at Paul's door, it sounds like we should have heard about her before but I couldn't find her.
Mod
Yes, I also noticed this. In fact, I made a search in the novel (I'm reading an e-book) and found no previous mention, either of her family name or of Randi. But apart from this, I feel engaged in the book.
The novel has a lot of characters for me it is not a fail. It is true that i forget the part of the Gootas but for me "The burning bush" is much better than "Wild Orchid" perhaps becauese it is more religious and all subplots of Wild Orchid are closed there. Although i must admit that Wild Orchid is much better that i reminded however some experience i Will have that i read both books ;-).
Mod
In this novel, Undset has made one of the children (Paul) the main character, and moved back in time from the twenties to 1905.
I also struggled with the book. It is the first by Sigrid that I have read and it was a slog. I almost gave up several times, but because of this group did not add it to my 'did not finish' pile. I had great expectations of this work and at best was underwhelmed.
I was engaged from the start. I’ve spent the last three days reading it. I am in chapter 15 now.
Jill wrote: "I'm having trouble getting "engaged" in the book, and I have trouble holding onto all the characters. For example, when Randi shows up at Paul's door, it sounds like we should have heard about her ..."This happens a few times, not only with characters but also with events in Paul's life. I realize that it is Undset's way of telling hte story, but it is confusing sometimes. She mentions the name of the new person, and little by little in the conversation we learn how Paul knows that person, as if we were a recent acquaintance of Paul's who is learning something new about his past.
By the way, Selma Lagerlof sometimes writes in this way too.
To me, this book is so simple and straightforward compared with her novels set in earlier times. It's interesting to me how Paul perceives Catholicism while he's a pretty indifferent Protestant. This novel reminds me just a bit of Robert Hugh Benson's novels (which I love) -- the story comes out of the author's love of Catholicism and the desire to help others love the Church, too.
Paul has some similarities to Olav in The Master of Hestviken -- each is bound (Paul initially only emotionally) to a woman who is inferior to him in character and intelligence.
The connection made more sense to me in Master -- it's hard to understand why Paul loves Lucy, other than that he's immature and projecting a lot onto her.
What a relief when Lucy runs off! Don't share spoilers, but I assume I'll see her again in the Burning Bush -- Paul seems to have unfinished business with her.
It is really curious Kristi because the next year i Will read the Master of Hestviken in Spain this novel it is known as Olav Audunson. I have reread The burning bush it is very good, although the third part was a bit heavy.
Fonch wrote: "It is really curious Kristi because the next year i Will read the Master of Hestviken in Spain this novel it is known as Olav Audunson. I have reread The burning bush it is very good, although the ..."I'll be interested to hear what you think of it! I found it a bit hard to read due to so many hard things happening, but the ending doesn't feel as heavy, and I'm glad to have read it.
I just started The Burning Bush.
I have written the review of Wild Orchid. It is true that i commited some mistakes about this book. I thought that i read a long time ago but the reread gave me the reason. I undervalued the Gotaas, i reduced the importance of the catholicism but the most important is that this book it is not bad but it was very cold and it was very heavy especially the second part. I totally agree with Mari Ángeles Whom i dedicated my review of this book. The Burning Bush it is a very good book especially the first, and second part it has not to envy to Brideshead Revisited and Selmer grows up hugely perhaps the third part was a bit heavy. There are three characters Who gives a big life to this novel and two have been mentioned in this book. I am waiting that Manuel Alfonseca started and concluded The Burning Bush for publishing my review of The Burning Bush.
sad, disturbed, confused, bored...?