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The Bell in the Lake


The engrossing epic novel - a #1 bestseller in Norway - of a young woman whose ...
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Of the many strange happenings, which one sticks out to you?

Created: 09/28/22

Replies: 18

Posted Sep. 28, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Of the many strange happenings, which one sticks out to you?

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?


Posted Sep. 29, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
pauj's Gravatar
pauj

Join Date: 04/26/14

Posts: 56

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

I was most taken with the whisperings of the lone bell in the lake when it had been separated from its sister bell. It was absolutely heartbreaking.


Posted Sep. 29, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Dianelouise

Join Date: 07/15/21

Posts: 27

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

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.


Posted Sep. 29, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Maggie

Join Date: 01/01/16

Posts: 434

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

The whispering of the lone bell in the lake this also was what broke my heart I loved the idea of the twin bells that were in memory of the twins and how sad that the bells were separated. I can imagine the twins crying out, no!


Posted Sep. 30, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
johnw

Join Date: 03/11/12

Posts: 102

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

I would have to agree the whispering of the lone bell in the lake.


Posted Oct. 01, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Patricia Ann

Join Date: 05/24/21

Posts: 72

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

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.


Posted Oct. 02, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
katherinep

Join Date: 07/16/14

Posts: 374

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

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?


Posted Oct. 03, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
shannonl

Join Date: 12/04/17

Posts: 50

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

Me Too! There is nothing more powerful than the whispering of the lone bell.


Posted Oct. 04, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Lloster

Join Date: 04/23/11

Posts: 12

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

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.


Posted Oct. 04, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Ms. Kitty

Join Date: 10/02/17

Posts: 5

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

When Gerhard first heard the bells, “a sound from the cosmos itself” relaying the message, “You have been warned.”


Posted Oct. 06, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
redheadedsusie

Join Date: 09/30/22

Posts: 3

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

Klara’s cheek freezing to the church wall was odd.


Posted Oct. 09, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
NCjeanne

Join Date: 04/26/20

Posts: 18

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

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?


Posted Oct. 10, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
WPitts

Join Date: 01/13/22

Posts: 7

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

I have to agree with many others the description of the whispering of the lone bell in the lake was just so sad.


Posted Oct. 13, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mariont

Join Date: 08/12/11

Posts: 38

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

Without giving out the ending, it is the ending that truly caused me to stop, think, cry a little and smile!


Posted Oct. 13, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mariont

Join Date: 08/12/11

Posts: 38

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

Without giving out the ending, it is the ending that truly caused me to stop, think, cry a little and smile!


Posted Oct. 29, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
marganna

Join Date: 10/14/11

Posts: 153

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

the falling bell & results
the lone bell in the lake


Posted Nov. 03, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Navy Mom

Join Date: 04/12/12

Posts: 294

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

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.


Posted Nov. 26, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 548

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

This is a difficult question. I agree about the visit to the midwife and about the ending being unforgettable, but part of that unforgettable ending was Astrid's earlier ghost-like vision of what seemed to be conjoined young men awkwardly walking towards her.


Posted Dec. 18, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
julib

Join Date: 10/07/20

Posts: 49

RE: Of the many strange happenings, ...

The whisper of the lone bell in the lake, mourning the separation from the other twin bell was heartbreaking.


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