Dina's Book

by Herbjørg Wassmo

Book Overview

Set in Norway in the mid-nineteenth century, Dina's Book presents an extraordinary heroine. Beautiful, eccentric, and tempestuous, Dina carries a terrible burden: at the age of five she accidentally... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0552996734
• ISBN13: 9780552996730
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Black Swan
• Length: 527 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.0" x 1.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Norwegian life

A very fetching book, that is if you're into Northern European stories. If you get depressed by the thought of long winters... don't start upon it. But if you do like the atmosphere (and i do) it's very, very good. Dina is a very strong woman who grows up in the northern part of Norway around 1900. She is involved in an accident in which her mother dies and this has a very profound effect on the rest of her life, and that of her son and granddaughter. The life's of both (son and granddaughter) are told in the sequels 'Benjamin's book' and 'Karna's book' (i'm not sure about the titels since i read them in Dutch).

Strong book about a strong woman

Herbjørg Wassmo is a Norwegian writer writing about Norwegian people. Her characters are always strong and Dina is no exeption. This book is one of the best I have ever read...Herbjørg Wassmo has a fantastic, colorful language, and as soon as you are drawn into this small North Norway community of the 1900th century you will stay there through the book and still for a long time after the book is finished. The book is not at all an easy beach read, but you should give yourself the opportunity to read the book. It will change you as a person.Britt Arnhild Lindland

Couldn't put it away!

Wow! This book is like ... probably the best I've ever read, and believe me when I say that I read A LOT! Dina is a child of destiny who becomes a woman of pride. Now she must use the power within her, and the forces around her to change the past and escape her fate.Because her past is something she is reminded of every single day... Her mother. When Dina was about six years old, she managed to cause an accident which killed her mother. And after this, Dina sees her mother following her through her live, always appearing whenever Dina makes a decision or a new turn.The book is about who Dina is, and how she meets the world when she gets married to her father's best friend. You should also see the movie "I Am Dina" (2002), which is based on this book. Starring the wonderful, norwegian actress Maria Bonnevie as Dina. Also together with Gérard Depardieu. The cast is just simply brilliant, an the movie has it all: drama, humour, suspense, love, betrayel... I've seen the film twice already, and I feel like I can totally relate to Dina. In an interview, Maria Bonnevie said that all women would feel they have a little Dina inside. And I couldn't agree more! "I am Dina. This is my story".

Wassmo

Wild Northern Norway. More to the North of this Most Northern Country than most of Norwegians live. Herbjørg Wassmø creates the atmosphere that you allow yourself to get involved to the maximum extent. Snip: (...)

A jewel of a book, masterfully written and translated.

Herbjorg Wassmo succeeds in captivating the imagination of the reader with a powerful narrative set in a mystical Norway of the early 1800's. Young, tender Dina is irrevocably traumatised when she indirectly causes the death of her mother. Sent away by a father who cannot bear the sight of her, she becomes a wolfcub - untamed and unloved and constantly tortured by the spirit of her suffering mother. She matures into beautiful, willful young woman, reckless in her ways and relationships. Jacob, a wealthy older landower falls under her strange spell, and she is convinced to marry him by a father who is relieved to be rid of his wild child. Jacob is killed mysteriously, after which Dina is tortured by yet another ghost. She gains power and influence on his estate, but cannot rid herself of the immenent presence of the dark shadows of those she loved. Dina seeks refuge in her cello and solidarity, which only seem to disturb her more. The arrival of a Russian traveller plays havoc with her emotions and she is compelled to posess him. But this Russian will not be captured... This old-wordly novel pulls one into a restless Norway - as with Dina, the moments of serenity are shortlived. You are shocked and moved by her, feeling the intensity of her emotions and the unrelenting force of nature. This is a tale that has become part of me, a special volume on my bookshelf that may be revisited again and again. Bravo and encore!