This is a double time line story – perhaps one even may call it triple time line, since the 1897 time line of Odd Einar Eide is its own double time line after he recounts his survival adventure after arriving home to find his funeral in progress.

It had been reported that Odd Einar and his partner had been killed by an ice bear on Krossferden while hunting for seals. Since only Odd Einar’s boots, but no part of his body was found, his beloved hardingfele (a traditional Norwegian musical instrument) was buried in his grave.

The modern story is of Odd Einar’s great great granddaughter Greta Nansen, who, a hundred years later in 2017 finds her marriage is over. Did she ever really love her husband? Her husband has returned to his homeland of Norway, where he is having an affair. Greta determines to follow him from their home in Minnesota to Oslo to confront him. Once in Norway, she turns aside to go to Hammerfest, a town where her ancestors lived. And there she meets a man.

She determines over the course of the next year that although her happiness with her husband is over, she still must create a nurturing home for her children. She realizes that her husband, despite his affair, still loves her and that leaving him may destroy him; but she can no longer stay without destroying herself.

So this novel is the story of two very different types of survival - with Odd Einar surviving physically and Nora struggling to survive emotionally. Both must search out the meanings of life and of love after life changing circumstances.

It seems like an odd combination of subjects - yet somehow it worked for me. ( )

Norway, 1897, Odd Einar Eide returns home from a sea voyage to find that his burial is taking place. He had been declared dead after his voyage went seriously awry. How he survived for months on the Arctic ice is one he will tell and one that will give him myth like status.

Five generations later, Gretchen is confronting the end of her marriage. She travels from Minnesota to Hammerfest, Norway and there she will find both an old and new future.

The coldness of the ice reflects the coldness Gretchen feels in her marriage. Survival in life,whatever the conditions, endings, beginnings and the ties we have to the past. This is a beautifully written book, in every way. We get a full look at how life was for these Eide ancestors of a time passed. Amazing character portrayals. Two timelines but I enjoyed them both. Both these characters are doubting but brave. There is so much love here, sorrow yes, but it is love that binds.

If you enjoyed [book:Heaven and Hell|12745352], than you will enjoy this third book of the Eide family, though this book has more sexual scenes within. The good kind though, scenes of want and love. A slower paced, a quieter book but so incredibly moving.

"Wasn't it strange how music could rest in you for so long without being heard, but still be called up from old stores of memory."

"Yes, but I only took comfort in how the snow obliterated me. How it made me meaningless. How, when measured against it, I was nothing."

"Isn't it often true that our lives are but pale reflections of our aspirations, Herr Eide."

ARC from Edelweiss. ( )