 19 cent book
Yep, I spent 19 cents for this book. Was it worth it? That all depends. If you're looking for trashy beach reading save you money. Having spent mine I decided to read it anyway. The book turns out to be a semi-scholarly attempt to define every day life, particularly that of women, in Viking times. The result is semi-interesting but not exactly a page turner.
 A good read.
Very interesting book on a under reported part of European history in Iceland, Greenland & North America.
 Spellbinding
Fascinating!!
I only wish more photos, diagrams and website links and/or information (on those specific archeological discoveries and digs) would have been provided, so that we could have researched it a bit more, and tracked any furhter progress.
The listings of the incredible array of artifacts found in these archeoligical digs would have also benefited by some drawings and photos.
That being said, this is a wonderful book that brings the action to life -- I can almost see the ship rise and fall with the waves. The natives (skraalings) and the landscape of the new world is rendered in vivid word pictures. The descriptions of the Viking farms in Greenland and the hazardous trips sometimes needed to be made to reach those farms, gives me a sense of the tremendous resiliency and resourcefulness of those heroic people way back then.
Exceptional -- but would definitely benefit from photos, diagrams, links, -- even a rendering of what Gudrid may have looked like.
A Superb History
This is an extraordinary acheivement. The author follows the character of Gudrid throughout her journeys through in Viking world of the late 900s and early 1000s and, along the way, paints a vivid picture of life at that time. The writing is engaging and apparently effortless, but the research that supports it is massive, as described in 35 pages of footnotes and references at the end of the book. The author's passion is clear throughout, and further evidenced by her having worked as a volunteer archaeologist one summer in Iceland to excavate Gudrid's home. This is essential reading for anyone interested in the Vikings.
The Far Traveler
This book enlightens a period of history not well known to date. It is very interesting reading, especially for anyone with Scandinavian roots. The research the lies behing this work is remarkable. I highly recommend this book.
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