There are many strange happenings throughout the book, especially regarding the mystical nature of the Sister Bells. Is there one that sticks out to you? Why?
Created: 09/28/22
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I was most impressed by the passage when Astrid climbs the belltower and discovers from the inscriptions on the bells that the name of the legendary Heckne sisters’ mother, which no one remembered, was Astrid. That moment firmly fixes her connection to the bells and the Sisters’ story. She sees a faint figure, who says to her “Thou art their mother,” then feels herself tumbling back into the past, merging into her distant ancestor Astrid. For me, one of the critical moments in the story.
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I also agree that the lone bell whispering in the lake stood out. I also think the falling bell as the bells were being lowered from the bell tower was dramatic. It changed direction in mid air and would have hit Gerhard if it hadn’t lodged on a diagonal cross.
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Gerhard's fleeting vision of the ancient Astrid when gazing at the present Astrid at the trout fishing pool. Her vision and feeling of her ancestor in the belfry was haunting but she bore the blood of the woman who went before. Gerhard was an outsider and yet,he was given this glimpse of the past. Why? What would his relationship with Astrid entail? His resulting struggle to paint what he'd seen was just thought provoking---how would he fit into the narrative of the Schwesters?
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There were so many mysterious events surrounding the bells and I agree that the whispering of the lone bell in the lake was the saddest of all events.
I had forgotten about Gerhard's vision of ancient Astrid and thank katherinep for the reminder. I think Gerhard was allowed the vision because as an outsider, he came to valley without preconceived notions. As an architect and artist, open he was open to the emotional and intuitive aspects of the world as he exhibited in his visionary and imaginative drawings. He of all of the characters could see and experience dimensions of the world that most could not.
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Certainly most of the strange happenings are connected to Butangen’s stave church and its bells. After reading the book I was quite interested in learning more about the (fictional) setting’s history and culture.
My curiosity led me to articles written in Norwegian, and I found it interesting that the Norwegian book title was one word: Søsterklokkene, meaning Sister Bells (plural), while the English book title is The Bell (singular) in the Lake.
I’m puzzled that the English title so obviously hints at a “spoiler” while the Norwegian does not. Surely it’s not an error in translation! Perhaps the publisher thought readers for whom English is the first language would be more inclined to buy the book with the title’s promise of something mysterious / mystical “in the Lake” added???
Any other ideas about the difference in the titles?
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Astrid's visit to the midwife stuck with me the most because of the issue of abortion and that saving the mother was the main concern but that it was concealed and that the midwife quietly buried the baby that had died. Then Astrid found herself in the birthing hospital and she received worse care there than she probably would have from the midwife.
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