This Shining Land

by Rosalind Laker

Nordic beauty Johanna Ryen is scarcely more than a girl when the Germans invade her home city of Oslo. In one terrifying night, her gentle life is shattered and her innocence ends. Then she meets Steffen Larsen who ignites in her feelings as fierce as the war raging around them. Risking everything, Johanna joins Steffen in Norway's Resistance and enters a dangerous double life...

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Romance, Classics, Fiction, War, 20th Century

Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

A pseudonym used by Barbara Øvstedal.

Barbara Øvstedal was an author previously writing under the pseudonym Barbara Paul and Barbara Douglas. She wrote a few books under this pseudonym but later changed to Rosalind Laker when Barbara Paul gained recognition. Her many books include The Sugar Pavilion and To Dance with Kings.

Reviews

[Left Coast Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Aug 09 2024] Okay, I was wrong about this one. When I first attempted it, I grew discouraged after the first ten pages did little but describe how fox and ermine furs enhanced dresses and jackets worn by Olso's high and mighty. But then a leg injury left me nearly bedridden for a few days, and I had nothing else within reach, so in desperation, I pressed on, and was pleasantly surprised.

I originally read this because I know almost nothing about Norway, and even less about the German occupation during the second world war. Once this book finally got rolling, it provided a very good and grim look at what day-to-day life in an occupied nation actually is like, as well as accurate use of historical events and individuals. It described very well the conflicts many Norwegians felt when they felt forced to collaborate to some degree with the enemy in order to protect their families; guilt and shame are emotions not often addressed in these sort of novels, and Laker captured these moods very well.

I was unaware that the leader of the pro-German government was named Quisling; his name has become a synonym for traitorous behavior. In the book, German strategic interests were centered around the production of heavy water somewhere on the north coast; in reality, Germany's prime strategic interest in Norway was access to Swedish iron mines. Because the Nazis arrived early in the 1940's and encountered very little resistance, they had time to really dig in and fortify the coast against British attack. For a while, the Brits actually fought on Norwegian beaches and sank German ships, but with the surrender of France the British had more pressing things to deal with and left the Norgies on their own.

There was an icky romance at the center of the book and lots of icky treatment of (without exception) fair and virtuous Norwegian young ladies by Nazis. But there was also quite a bit of toughness in the book, with main characters getting killed off in a matter-of-fact way which is how people actually tend to die in wars.

I can recommend this book to anybody with interest in the topic. (I'll note that my copy had a much more attractive cover, showing a small creek running through a forest with hills behind, all with a fresh dump of snow on top. A much better match with the title.)

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[Aug 01 2024] Ooof -- I can't remember why I thought it would be a good idea to read this, but my inability to find a copy should have been a clue. I finally managed to buy a large-print edition through Abe Books, but couldn't even make it through ten pages.

The author is well regarded in some circles, but this ain't my thang.

[Misfit · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5) This is not your typical Laker story -- but that's a good thing in this case. This Shining Land begins in April 1940 as German troops invade and occupy Norway. During one of the initial bombing raids secretary Johanna Ryen gets a quick introduction to her landlord's other tenant Steffen Larsen, as they barely make it to the basement shelter in time. Sparks fly (of course) and as the Germans continue to take control of the country and its people Steffen and Johanna become involved in the Norwegian Resistance Movement in a dangerous game of cat and mouse -- doing anything and everything to subvert the Germans and gain intelligence for the Allied Forces.

Sounds simple enough, but I found this quite interesting as Laker details not only the politics of the time, but the effects of the occupation by even the smallest details on the populace, as all the basic necessities (food, clothing, etc) were sent to Germany, travel without passes is restricted, radios become secret contraband along with the absolute terror of the constant presence of the Gestapo and SS.

Much of the book is based upon Laker's husband's experiences working in the resistance movement and Laker herself came to Norway as a young bride after the liberation. Laker takes the reader on quite a journey from the first bombing of Oslo to hair raising escapes and nail biting close calls, secret rooms, torture at the hands of the Gestapo to a the horrific details of life in a concentration camp, as Steffen and Johanna try to keep themselves and their love alive. While this story is very different from Laker's usual formula and some of her fans might not care for it, I was quite fascinated and learned much about Norway, its history and customs and how they fought the Nazi occupation. 4.5/5 stars.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Joanna Ryen and Steffen Larsen, a young couple who joined the Norway's Resistance during World War II.

Even if it's not the main plot, this story reminds me the story of "The Heroes of Telemark" which was the Norwegian heavy water sabotage. The goal of the Resistance was to prevent the German attempt to develop a nuclear weapon.

I won't bother anyone explaining the technical and physical details about this failed essay.

A movie was made based on these Heroes of Telemark (1965) starring Kirk Douglas, Richard Harris and Michael Redgrave among others.



This a very different book by Rosalind Laker, a writter who is more known by her romantic novels.

[Diane Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book... I was down at the pool and this book was on a table so I picked it up and started reading. Finished it overnight. Was about the second world war and had to do with the occupation by the Germans... Although it was fiction I felt it was pretty factual.. The Resistance was remarkable during that time....

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting read. It certainly told me about Norway's invasion during WWII. It shows (what I believe) a fairly accurate depiction of what the average (non-Jewish) citizen of Norway would have went through during German occupation.

I did find the romance at the start (and how she fell in love with Steffan) a bit quick given the circumstances.

[Leah Sayre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I learned so much about occupied Norway. Very engaging and wonderful individual stories throughout!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. I didn't realize that Norway was affected by the Nazis during WW 2. This may be fiction but the basic facts are true.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really 4.5 stars. Very interesting portrait of Norway, and the WW11 invasion of the country.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was a very good book I encourage people to read it

[Bryony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing special about this book, given the subject line I would expect it to invoke some proper feelings but it really didn't

[Barner · Rating 4 out of 5]

World WarII in Norway is the setting for this novel. Having had the opportunity to visit Norway, I so appreciated the setting and the various locations. I am sure the novel is fairly well researched; the story of the various hardships in Nazi occupied Norway makes for interesting/freightening reading. And the tale is realistic. Not all the major characters live through the ordeal, many show extreme courage, and the women play as vital a role as the Resistance as the men. A friend suggested I read her copy. I hope to pass it on to another friend before I return the book.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of a Norwegian non-Jewish family, their different loves, and their differing involvement in the resistance against German occupation of Norway.

I was caught up in the story even though the book moved at a slower pace than I'm used to. The second half picked up for me after I got used to the play by play descriptions of the German/Nazi invasion and occupation of Norway.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Norway during WWII, the novel describes the invasion of Norway by the Nazis, and how the locals struggled to live during the occupation.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and well written... how Norwegians were affected by Hitler. Going to look for more by this author. Oh and a love story to boot. What's not to like:)

[Nightwitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was super hopeful when I began reading this, but I rapidly got... well, bored. Too much telling rather than showing, and Laker was determined to show (or tell) the reader everything there was to know about the German invasion of and occupation of Norway. Our hero and heroine, despite lodging at the same house, have never met before the day before the invasion, but they fall in love pretty much instantly (despite the fact that the morning opens with the hero's departing English girlfriend, with whom he slept the day before, stopping by to say farewell) and then are immediately parted. I'll be trying something else of Laker's, but this is definitely not a book to read unless you really want to learn the daily details of 1940s Oslo. Which I might at some point, but not now.

[Jillean Ansley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. At my age, 81, I really enjoy reading about history. I live in NZ so really only learned about the war in school as none of my immediate family were involved. Three uncles fought, one died, but no one in the family talked about the war and I dont blame them.
I always wanted to know more so now read a lot of historical fiction which is educational and entertaining without being too graphic and upsetting about the atrocities. I never knew Germany occupied Norway for most of the war, so through these writers I'm learning history. Thank you to writers like Rosalind.
And after two world wars, there's talk of another, incredible.

[Bianka Brankovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

The topic was interesting and the story did have quite a few good descriptions and good plot twists. Over all, I had this feeling the author wanted to write about everything happening in Norway during World War Ii. The love story was not really convincing. I enjoyed the read and I value the author‘s research but this book is not one of those I would read again.

[Sybil Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was a very good World War II. I haven’t read very much about the Nazis in Norway and the Norway resistance. Well written and interesting. 💕💕

[Bev W · Rating 3 out of 5]

The condensed version was good.

[Ram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing war time story by Rosalind Laker in “The Shining Land”

More in
https://medium.com/@vram45/the-shinin...

[Billy Forbes]

very enjoyable read.

[Allan Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about the occupation of Norway by the German Army during WWII and the activities of the resistance in combating the intense repressive actions of the "Quislings" and the German SS and Wermact. A very interesting book.

[Alice Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Norway refreshing and original perspective on realities of German occupation and brave resistance fighters.

Highly recommended.

[My_every_day_chilling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I the time of W.W.II, discover how they hid from the Nazis and how they created the organizations that sames them.