Rating: 
Summary: "Little House on the Prairie" for grownups
Review: A refreshingly stark view of pioneer life -- the hardships, fear and depression that one women experiences when her husband takes her from her Norwegian homeland and moves her steadily westward across the northern plains. This novel is gothic in dimensions -- the physical landscape becomes the characters' mental landscape -- the vast expanse of snow in winter and grass in summer become a metaphor for boredom and isolation. And yet, Rolvaag's work does not devolve into a catalogue of mental horrors, even while we watch the protagonists slowly fall apart. His book is fascinating and enthralling from start to finish. He writes of a lifestyle and of motivations unimaginable to the modern American, and yet, he writes of a time that was shockingly recent in the history of the Midwest
Rating:
Summary: A realistic pioneer story, great historical fiction
Review: A saga-like tale of Norwegian immigrants to America, specifically to Dakota territory, travelling in covered wagons, living in sod huts dug into the ground, isolation, blizzards, planting & plagues of locusts, this book will make you feel you were there.This story is also about the marriage between Per & Beret Hansa, a difficult relationship: He wanted to emigrate and she did not but went along with him, unfortunately it is all too much for her and she loses her mind. I think this book presents a very realistic picture of marital relations of that time. The ending was somewhat bizarre and made me laugh out loud though I'm not sure it was supposed to be funny. I intend to read the sequel and will probably reread this one again one day, it's a great immigrant/pioneer classic.
Rating:
Summary: Follow Your Father's Advice
Review: For years, my father repeatedly urged me to read this book about the pioneer life of Norwegian immigrants. Although my father is from Texas and has no Norwegian roots, he read this book in high school and it apparently made quite an impact upon him. Moreover, my great-grandmother on my mother's side immigrated from Norway around 1900 and this gives me some insight into her experience. The author does an outstanding job of conveying the mental as well as the physical struggles that pioneer families faced in the 1870's. I never contemplated that the isolation of pioneer life could be so difficult. The book was a quick read after the first 50 or so pages, and I am now moving on to Peder Victorious. I am glad I finally followed my father's advice.
Rating:
Summary: A powerful and unique view on the human will and spirit.
Review: Giants in the Earth is a beautiful tapestry of language and feeling. It describes life on the lonely plain with great depth and simplicity. A narrative of the soul.
Rating:
Summary: A Dramatic Yet Frustrating Portrayal of Pioneer Life
Review: Having grown up on the prairie, I have always found the tales of pioneer life absolutely intriguing. Both sides of my family come from pioneer roots and stories such as "Giants in the Earth" never fail to move me. This novel was particularly wonderful. I wasn't sure what to expect when I began to read "Giants in the Earth." Having never read Rolvaag I was a little nervous, but it has turned out to be an experience that has helped to guide my course of studies over the past year. The character development is extraordinary. One can't help but feel an intimate attraction to the characters and Rolvaag's dramatic portrayal of their lifestyle can't help but inspire empathy in readers. The characters each inspire different emotions - Per Hansa: Pride; Beret - Frustration! I would strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for an absolutely unbiased portrayal of pioneer life. It will inspire you.
Rating:
Summary: A Dramatic Yet Frustrating Portrayal of Pioneer Life
Review: Having grown up on the prairie, I have always found the tales of pioneer life absolutely intriguing. Both sides of my family come from pioneer roots and stories such as "Giants in the Earth" never fail to move me. This novel was particularly wonderful. I wasn't sure what to expect when I began to read "Giants in the Earth." Having never read Rolvaag I was a little nervous, but it has turned out to be an experience that has helped to guide my course of studies over the past year. The character development is extraordinary. One can't help but feel an intimate attraction to the characters and Rolvaag's dramatic portrayal of their lifestyle can't help but inspire empathy in readers. The characters each inspire different emotions - Per Hansa: Pride; Beret - Frustration! I would strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for an absolutely unbiased portrayal of pioneer life. It will inspire you.
Rating: 
Summary: Giants in the Earth
Review: I enjoyed this book from the minute I picked it up, however I cannot say that I enjoyed it until I put it down. It was so well written that I was drawn into the book and details that I couldn't put it down. However, near the end of the book it became a little dry. It seemed like to much was going well for them, and everything that was happening was a little repititious. However, aside from that, this and A Tree Grows In Brooklyn are the two best books I have ever read!
Rating:
Summary: The Norwegian Character
Review: I grew up around Norwegians and felt I never really knew them. They seemed to be a dour, austere, pensive people. Rolvaag wrote this book in Norwegian for Norwegians, capturing the nature of that character. Per Hansa and Beret can't communicate what they really feel. Tonseten comes off as the stereotypical pompous know-it-all that non-Norwegians find hard to take. I can easily understand why some readers find the book boring. I first heard of the book many years ago growing up around Norwegians. If not for that I never would have read it.
Rating:
Summary: The Norwegian Character
Review: I grew up around Norwegians and felt I never really knew them. They seemed to be a dour, austere, pensive people. Rolvaag wrote this book in Norwegian for Norwegians, capturing the nature of that character. Per Hansa and Beret can't communicate what they really feel. Tonseten comes off as the stereotypical pompous know-it-all that non-Norwegians find hard to take. I can easily understand why some readers find the book boring. I first heard of the book many years ago growing up around Norwegians. If not for that I never would have read it.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: I read this book as a required reading in high school, back in the early 60s. I read it again because I remembered how I was taken by it back then. This time it was even better. It brought me into the lives of the people that gave up so much to better their world...and our current world. It tells about the good and bad times of those early Norwegian pioneers. It reminded me of just how much we take for granted today. I recommend it highly!
| 
