Customer Reviews

The Ice-shirt (Seven Dreams)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First, I feel I should mention that anyone looking for a straightforward historical novel should look elsewhere. However, if you are looking for a fascinating novelisation of primarily Icelandic texts from hundreds of years ago, detailing the first ecounters between the Norse people and the native people of Greenland and North America--well, then this is for you.

Vollmann's imagery is rich, lavish, incredible, and he is quite faithful to the voice of the Nordic saga-writers at the same time, not an easy feat. He even goes so far as to use kennings, the traditional linguistic devices that turn the ocean into a 'swan-field' or the different temperaments and destinies into the 'ice-shirt,' 'bear-shirt,' 'wolf-shirt,' and so forth.

While this novel is not entirely a linear narrative, it is instead a stunning tapestry of novelised sagas and stories (that do tell, in and of themselves, a linear epic)of the Norse, native Greenlander and Micmac people, peppered with the author's own contemporary travelogue and a wealth of complementary information. There is a story central to this work, of Freydis, a very complex and developed character, but it is told within the framework of a greater story... that of her history and heritage and forebears, and the history of the people she encounters across the ocean.

An achingly beautiful work--one of the few novels I have read of late that I could consider a true artistic triumph, and one of exceptional substance.

and "White Sweet Clover": These are a few menu items off of Vollmann's eclectic introductory Preview for his on-going SEVEN DREAMS septology ABOUT OUR CONTINENT IN THE DAYS OF THE SUN.

The Ice Shirt is laced with Norse Sagas and Viking history. It is a modern re-telling of the very first encounter between Europeans and Native North Americans (no, it was not Columbus - it was Leif Ericson who "discovered" America). Actually, as Vollmann relates, it was Bjarni Herjolfsson who first sighted "Vinland" around 986 AD, and by 1000 AD Leif and his fellow Norsemen built settlements on what today is known as Newfoundland. It was all undone, fairly rapidly, by the same forces which brought them there, and especially through the wicked conduit of Leif's own bastard sister, Freydis Eiriksdottir, who truly "brought the frost" to North America.

Beyond a post-modern recreation of myth and history, William Vollmann adds his own contemporary experiences while traveling in the lands he intimately describes. The Ice Shirt is very much a book about the land itself, and Vollmann spends great amounts of time and care writing about the local flora, fauna, and how it relates to the people themselves. The "shirts", as you will see, are our personas, and spirits. They are "the change" in change, and it is the SPIRIT of the lands which Vollmann captures, and the manner in which he blends this together with his own street-level point of view, I think, which makes this an intriguing modern day Saga. Now, it's quite possible after reading this book that you'll disagree with me and think Vollmann over-rated, or perhaps even an "awful" writer, but I bet it would be based on your taste in literature rather than the real quality or scope of the work itself; because this undertaking of his, as far as I know is unprecedented, and will surely one day be considered masterful. At first, because Vollmann came very highly recommended to me about a decade ago, I felt I had to force myself through the first 70 pages or so, namely because I've never read anyone quite like this before and his post-modernist style can take a little getting used to depending on one's reading experience. In addition, the first part of The Ice Shirt (and thus, his whole series) is a lengthy tome on Viking blood feuds, revenge, massacres, political assassinations, executions, raping and pillaging, etc. etc. - with no end in sight - making it a little trying for the unconverted. Because it is all written in saga-like style, this whole section entitled "The Changers" could easily be mistaken for one of the original Viking sagas. What's great about The Ice Shirt (and Vollmann), as I discovered while reading, is that the book is not pedantic or high-brow in any way. Sometimes subject-matter like this comes across in history books as being overly specialized, complex, and erudite because the writer has some agenda to push, or something to prove; or maybe is just trying to write a scholarly work. Blah! The Ice Shirt & THE SEVEN DREAMS is something new, different, and original. The scope seems outlandishly unwieldy, but somehow Vollmann manages to keep it all glued together. When you come across passages entitled "San Francisco Transvestites - 1987" sandwiched between "The Storm, the Spirit and the Island" and "The Woman Shirt" you'll see what I mean. There are plenty of informative source notes in which the author tells you exactly what he's up to, and then there are hand-drawn maps to guide you further, glossaries filled with people and places, and a chronology for good measure, so that you don't get too lost. And yet it all works! That's the amazing thing.

Perhaps you, like me knew of Vollmann's reputation as a trendy, avant-garde writer of prostitutes and grimy street life. And also like me, were put off by this. For this very reason it took me ten years to give this book a shot (if you see my reviews for all of 2004, this is the Capstone). In fact, if you look you'll find some funny and interesting comments from various reviewers who've struggled with his other books - some of the comments which I tended to agree with at first. For example, from "The Atlas" on 3/2/02: "Self-Conciously Avant Garde"; "Beauty in Ugliness"; "Great Ideas in Books". From "The Royal Family" on 12/29/03: "An Interesting Waste of Time". And one of my favorites from 4/6/02 about "Argall", because I agreed with it ten years ago: "Vollmann's Career-Revenge of the Nerd" in which the reviewer harps on the whole Vollmann phenomenon. Finally, from the Ice Shirt reviews on 9/13/98 comes one which states: "Not Sure What it's About, But it Ain't a Novel!". Well, sir, I suppose that all depends on your notion of what a "novel" is. So, before beginning this series I needed to forget the reputation of the man, the phenomenon hype, and just get to the work itself, which always intrigued me: A Symbolic History of North America. (But of course, it's a little harder to forget that the guy writing all this had been known for his lurid, hard-hitting stories on drugs, sex, gangs, and prostituties!).

Having done so at last, I can now say that I'm very pleased with The Ice Shirt; and am now hooked on THE SEVEN DREAMS! While Vollmann does have a wildly crazy bio, and some fascinating news and magazine articles, not to mention a massive research project on Violence called "Rising Up, Rising Down" as well as another lengthy foray into SF street life titled "The Royal Family" which I understand is the third in a so-called "Prostitution Trilogy" . . . I leave it to you, new reader, to come to The Ice Shirt with an open mind about what a novel is and isn't, and of course, an interest in a deeper understanding of what it means to be a North American. Ultimately, that's what this book is about, and it stands on its own as such. I am already on my way into "FATHER'S & CROWS" (vol. 2), and look forward to "ARGALL" (vol. 3), THE RIFLES (vol. 6), and the as yet unpublished volumes 4, 5, & 7 - all dealing with North American Indians at various times and tribulations.

I cannot say enough good things about this work. The balances between travel diary, historical information, and fictional account are just perfect. That being said please do not take me for a disciple of Vollmann. I usually find his work on prostitutes and drugs a little boring. The Ice Shirt on the other hand stripped much of the modern "sins" out and left truly moral questions in their place. The work as a whole is an important examination of what is America, who we are, and how we fit into history. On a smaller scale, it is about change and belief. I would suggest this work to anyone interested in reading a good book, be it fiction or otherwise.

I just finished this novel after a month of intense reading and, in my opinion, it comes close to literary perfection. I can't wait to read Fathers & Crows. The sheer epic brilliance of the scope of this novel (and the following dreams) is bigger than The Blue Shirt. It exceeds Freydis's desire to plant frost-seed. This series won't be forgotten.
But be warned: this book is not for everyone. Suspension of disbelief and the ability to immerse one's mind into strange and inspiring places is necessary. Vollmann will leave you breathless with fatique, and sometimes you will love the world while other times you will despise it.
Buy this book and keep it close. It's always good to get another's perspective.

Vollmann can be difficult to read, but this book is worth a little effort. What makes this work interesting is the verbal jazzing of original sources from Icelandic saga, history, travel accounts, scholarship, Arctic folklore, and a little contemporary personal experience. This book is what might happen if Magnus Magnusson had brain fever--a phantasmagoric recreation of the North. What made this book enjoyable to me was the fact that I'm familiar with most of the sources and I appreciate the blends, melds, extrapolations, and abuses that Vollmann perpetuates on them. I'm not sure how this book would come across to someone without this background, but if nothing else they wouldn't be bored.

The Norse sagas as "real", ice as a transforming experience, life on the margins of habitable landscapes, characters from history and modern teenagers from Greenland. All in one novel. And it works wonderfully well because Vollmann imagines the importance of the sagas as religion, as history to the people who then went out "viking" across the north seas. They found sun and warmth and life in Vineland but did not stay.He has a theory as to why. The structure is audacious, the primitive and legendary holding its place against the scientific and modern. This is not a New Age con, like walking the outback, but an excellent novel of balance of new and old. The writing is straightforward, the ideas are not

Vollmann takes his first full length stab at historical writing with an epic proportion. The genesis-style delineation of events leading up to his main story becomes tedious and drawn, but Vollmann's style can perhaps entertain you until the mid-point of the novel when his real story begins. The nordic adventuring is set against a Vollmann adventurer, getting his feet wet in the cold surroundings of the north atlantic. A good start to a much better series.

Fast-paced story of the discovery of Vinland by the Vikings in the 13th century. A good follow-up to Beowulf, keeps you in the period and offers a great measure of Native American mythology as well as the struggles of dealing with a new ideology (Christianity) supplanting the heathen gods of one's ancestors. Fairly quick and a great winter read.

This was the first Vollmann novel I've ever read, but I may just try another one before all is said and done. The book starts out focusing on norse mythology and legend and leads up to the adventure of Leif Erikson's sisters to Vineland (later the Americas). Interspersed between the history/legend are snippits of a modern iceland/greenland that reflects much of the norms set forth in the more historical portions of the piece. A main theme in the novel seems to be change. This is largely reflected in what "shirt" (or serk) a character is wearing and the change in character based on goals. There is also a sort of sad lesson about the "Skraelings" (or perhaps Eskimos/natives/Indians) and their ultimate demise as a race but passing on of noble traits "definitely not acquired from European teachers...." A good read, but a little confusing at first.

A wonderful book blending Norse mythology, character studies of the Ericksons and their families, life in Greenland, and the discovery of America. The way the story jumps around from myths to the present-day is disconcerting at first, but becomes charming, presenting a scrapbook of history. This book will stick with you a long time