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Gone Viking
Be bold. Be brave. Be Viking...
The uplifting, laugh out loud debut novel from the bestselling author of THE YEAR OF LIVING DANISHLY
Frazzled mum Alice Ray likes to think she’s on top everything – she has FOUR bags-for-life in the boot of her car for heaven's sake. But after spectacularly embarrassing herself at work, she finally gives in to her sister’s pleas to take a much needed break.
But this is not the luxury spa holiday Alice hoped for – instead, she finds herself in Denmark, in the middle of nowhere, on a ‘How to be a Viking’ getaway.
Can the two sisters finally learn to get along or will learning to embrace their inner warrior just make them better at fighting?
Two sisters. One Scandi holiday they'll never forget...
GONE VIKING is a laugh out loud debut novel perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella's Surprise Me
The uplifting, laugh out loud debut novel from the bestselling author of THE YEAR OF LIVING DANISHLY
Frazzled mum Alice Ray likes to think she’s on top everything – she has FOUR bags-for-life in the boot of her car for heaven's sake. But after spectacularly embarrassing herself at work, she finally gives in to her sister’s pleas to take a much needed break.
But this is not the luxury spa holiday Alice hoped for – instead, she finds herself in Denmark, in the middle of nowhere, on a ‘How to be a Viking’ getaway.
Can the two sisters finally learn to get along or will learning to embrace their inner warrior just make them better at fighting?
Two sisters. One Scandi holiday they'll never forget...
GONE VIKING is a laugh out loud debut novel perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella's Surprise Me
368 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2018
63 people are currently reading
1065 people want to read
About the author
Helen Russell
17 books441 followersHelen Russell is a bestselling author, journalist, speaker and host. Formerly editor of marieclaire.co.uk turned Scandinavia correspondent for the Guardian, her first book, The Year of Living Danishly, became an international bestseller, optioned for television. She's the author of five critically acclaimed books, translated into 21 languages.
Helen writes for magazines and newspapers globally, including The Times and The Sunday Times, the Telegraph, the Independent, National Geographic, Wall Street Journal, the Observer, Metro, Grazia, Stylist and Stella. She’s spent the last ten years studying cultural approaches to emotions and now speaks about her work internationally.
Helen writes for magazines and newspapers globally, including The Times and The Sunday Times, the Telegraph, the Independent, National Geographic, Wall Street Journal, the Observer, Metro, Grazia, Stylist and Stella. She’s spent the last ten years studying cultural approaches to emotions and now speaks about her work internationally.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
September 4, 2018
Let me start by saying that I think Helen Russell paid someone to take all of the negative reviews for this book off the internet, because this book is pretty shitty. It’s not hard to read, but it’s just very poorly written. I like when books set the mood at the beginning — like in A Year of Living Danishly, Russell talked a lot about snegles (Danish cinnamon rolls, yum!) and coffee and cozy blankets and candles and snow. I then developed positive associations with the book throughout. But this book started with a lot of gross references, like vomit and beef pasty on the sister’s cheeks. Like, ew. She also keeps talking about excrement, as one rare harsh reviewer noted in the Amazon reviews. She also keeps using words that I think she thinks make her sound funny and British. Frippery, one could say. She loves the word “ramekin” and “Wheetabix” as they appear in all of her novels, which drives me INSANE. She also keeps saying “-gate” at the end of things that aren’t even “gates” like Watergate. She did this in A Year of Living Danishly too. And her main character is so fucking annoying and immature. She’s a dentist who cheats on her husband in the first chapter at a dentistry conference because she refuses to eat anything that isn’t vegetables or fruit and just guzzles wine. The next morning she vomits all over the place, and says “I haven’t eaten anything since 11am yesterday.” OK, you are a grown 37-year-old woman with children. If Kourtney Kardashian can remember to feed herself, you can too. Why the fuck can’t you take care of yourself!?
The only reason that I gave this book 2 stars is because it's sort of a hate-read now, and because I'm traveling and it's the only book I brought with me, so I guess I have Stockholm Syndrome (no pun intended, as the author continues to remind us that "we're in Scandinavia!" every chapter). I'm also still holding out hope that it's going to turn a corner, as I haven't finished it yet but at 250+ pages in, still NOTHING seems to have happened. It’s one of the worst books I’ve ever read. The characters and their interactions and the author’s writing style are appalling. If she says “-gate” one more time I’ll throw up. If she talks about poop again I’ll also throw up, however, I’m sure I only have a couple more sentences to go. The way she keeps repeating the same phrases over and over again because she thinks it makes her sound quippy drives me nuts, like how she keeps reminding us that the narrator Alice has “four bags for life” in her car. We get it, but who the fuck cares?! And the dialogue is atrocious and so cringeworthy I find myself wincing, like how all of the characters except for maybe Tricia — the mom with a boob job who’s one the lookout for her next husband — seem to suffer from some sort of social disorder where they can’t seem to engage in normal conversation and keep ignoring what other people say and have verbal diarrhea (which I guess is appropriate for the amount of literal shit that is in the plot of this story). Alice will randomly shout out words (re: “enzymes!”) and people will awkwardly look away and ignore her. I hope Helen Russell reads this review so she can improve her writing style, because it needs a serious makeover. Seriously, Helen, if you're going to keep re-using the same plot lines in all of your novels (privileged white woman colonizes Denmark and discovers "the meaning of life") at least use a little creativity.
The only reason that I gave this book 2 stars is because it's sort of a hate-read now, and because I'm traveling and it's the only book I brought with me, so I guess I have Stockholm Syndrome (no pun intended, as the author continues to remind us that "we're in Scandinavia!" every chapter). I'm also still holding out hope that it's going to turn a corner, as I haven't finished it yet but at 250+ pages in, still NOTHING seems to have happened. It’s one of the worst books I’ve ever read. The characters and their interactions and the author’s writing style are appalling. If she says “-gate” one more time I’ll throw up. If she talks about poop again I’ll also throw up, however, I’m sure I only have a couple more sentences to go. The way she keeps repeating the same phrases over and over again because she thinks it makes her sound quippy drives me nuts, like how she keeps reminding us that the narrator Alice has “four bags for life” in her car. We get it, but who the fuck cares?! And the dialogue is atrocious and so cringeworthy I find myself wincing, like how all of the characters except for maybe Tricia — the mom with a boob job who’s one the lookout for her next husband — seem to suffer from some sort of social disorder where they can’t seem to engage in normal conversation and keep ignoring what other people say and have verbal diarrhea (which I guess is appropriate for the amount of literal shit that is in the plot of this story). Alice will randomly shout out words (re: “enzymes!”) and people will awkwardly look away and ignore her. I hope Helen Russell reads this review so she can improve her writing style, because it needs a serious makeover. Seriously, Helen, if you're going to keep re-using the same plot lines in all of your novels (privileged white woman colonizes Denmark and discovers "the meaning of life") at least use a little creativity.
May 8, 2018
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
Gone Viking is a humorous, fun story about discovering what's really important, all told through the eyes of 'frazzled' mum Alice.
The characters are good fun (some more likable than others); I found main character Alice quite hard to warm to, especially at first - I suppose I don't have a lot in common with her as a character. However, following her and the group's adventures during their Viking 'holiday' is really amusing, and the story is uplifting and engaging. I really liked Inge, in particular - she is someone to aspire to in many ways!
Some parts of Gone Viking are ridiculous, but you kind of expect that, and there are some more emotional parts too, meaning this isn't completely light and fluffy. You follow Alice as she really changes during her time away, and see her grow as she realises what's really important, and learns to loosen up a bit!
An amusing, fun read in the 'women's fic' category which doesn't just focus on relationships!
Gone Viking is a humorous, fun story about discovering what's really important, all told through the eyes of 'frazzled' mum Alice.
The characters are good fun (some more likable than others); I found main character Alice quite hard to warm to, especially at first - I suppose I don't have a lot in common with her as a character. However, following her and the group's adventures during their Viking 'holiday' is really amusing, and the story is uplifting and engaging. I really liked Inge, in particular - she is someone to aspire to in many ways!
Some parts of Gone Viking are ridiculous, but you kind of expect that, and there are some more emotional parts too, meaning this isn't completely light and fluffy. You follow Alice as she really changes during her time away, and see her grow as she realises what's really important, and learns to loosen up a bit!
An amusing, fun read in the 'women's fic' category which doesn't just focus on relationships!
Read
March 24, 2018This wouldn't usually be my thing -- I rarely request anything from NetGalley that's classified under "women's fiction", as it tends to aimed at readers who are both older than me and more interested in romance. But this said it was funny, and I like Vikings, so I figured I'd give it a go.
It took a while to get into it, I'll admit. I like books that I can relate to on a personal level, but I have almost nothing in common with the protagonist of this book, so it took a while for me to find an emotional way into the story. But I got there eventually. I loved Inge (she is honestly #goals), and I liked the the book's central focus was on the relationship between two sisters.
It's also very much a book about female friendship. It features a group of women who start out bitchy and competitive and judging each other on their appearance and their background and so on, but become friends and realise they're not actually in competition with each other and don't have to put the others down in order to succeed. It's a sisterhood story -- not just literally, as with Alice and Melissa, but metaphorically too.
It manages to do that without being horribly cringey, though. And their bonding experiences may be rough and outdoorsy, but it lacks the condemnation of femininity it could have had. Alice admires Inge for her housekeeping and parenting skills as much as for her ability to forge a sword or build a boat -- though, granted, she's mostly just overawed that Inge can do both. The novel combines the pursuit of rough outdoorsy Viking life with emotional growth and compassion, which I found really refreshing.
It also gets surprisingly deep at times, and deals with grief: both past grief (a lost parent) and the anticipation of future grief (an illness). The latter was something I didn't see coming, and while in some ways it might have been more admirable if the character growth had occurred without that dramatic push, it was realistic that it would take something like that to trigger change. (And to be fair, it had been happening already.)
I didn't always gel with the writing style and, like I said, it took me quite a while to get into the book, but I ended up enjoying it a lot. I'm by no means a Viking purist, despite my degree (I actually avoid the Vikings as much as possible), and I enjoyed the disclaimer at the beginning aimed at those who are. It wasn't really trying to present any historical facts (though I didn't spot much to object to in those that were given): it's more about the cultural idea of Vikings, rather than Vikings themselves. And really that's Viking Age people rather than Vikings themselves, since the word basically means pirates. But yunno.
Anyway. This was surprisingly fun yet deep, once I got into it.
It took a while to get into it, I'll admit. I like books that I can relate to on a personal level, but I have almost nothing in common with the protagonist of this book, so it took a while for me to find an emotional way into the story. But I got there eventually. I loved Inge (she is honestly #goals), and I liked the the book's central focus was on the relationship between two sisters.
It's also very much a book about female friendship. It features a group of women who start out bitchy and competitive and judging each other on their appearance and their background and so on, but become friends and realise they're not actually in competition with each other and don't have to put the others down in order to succeed. It's a sisterhood story -- not just literally, as with Alice and Melissa, but metaphorically too.
It manages to do that without being horribly cringey, though. And their bonding experiences may be rough and outdoorsy, but it lacks the condemnation of femininity it could have had. Alice admires Inge for her housekeeping and parenting skills as much as for her ability to forge a sword or build a boat -- though, granted, she's mostly just overawed that Inge can do both. The novel combines the pursuit of rough outdoorsy Viking life with emotional growth and compassion, which I found really refreshing.
It also gets surprisingly deep at times, and deals with grief: both past grief (a lost parent) and the anticipation of future grief (an illness). The latter was something I didn't see coming, and while in some ways it might have been more admirable if the character growth had occurred without that dramatic push, it was realistic that it would take something like that to trigger change. (And to be fair, it had been happening already.)
I didn't always gel with the writing style and, like I said, it took me quite a while to get into the book, but I ended up enjoying it a lot. I'm by no means a Viking purist, despite my degree (I actually avoid the Vikings as much as possible), and I enjoyed the disclaimer at the beginning aimed at those who are. It wasn't really trying to present any historical facts (though I didn't spot much to object to in those that were given): it's more about the cultural idea of Vikings, rather than Vikings themselves. And really that's Viking Age people rather than Vikings themselves, since the word basically means pirates. But yunno.
Anyway. This was surprisingly fun yet deep, once I got into it.
July 18, 2018
Przedstawiam Wam najzabawniejszą powieść tego lata (a kto wie, może nawet i roku). Podczas lektury nie zabraknie Wam dzikich rechotów, parsknięć śmiechem i chichotania pod nosem!
Alice nie ma czasu na przyjemności: pracuje jako dentystka, ogarnia dwójkę dzieci i męża-łajzę, ma na swojej głowie domowe obowiązki, poza tym we wszystkim chce być najlepsza i nie pozwala sobie na potknięcia (no, może jeden jedyny raz na wyjeździe służbowym). Jej siostra Melissa nie mogłaby się bardziej różnić od naszej bohaterki: żyje w domu pełnym zwierząt, uwielbia niezdrowe żarcie i patrzy na świat z dystansem, podczas gdy Alice ma przysłowiowy kijek w tyłku i jest ździebko aspołeczna. Gdy obydwie dziewczyny postanawiają wybrać się razem na wywczas, Alice ma nadzieję, że trafi do jakiegoś przytulnego hoteliku, odpręży się i zrelaksuje. Nic z tego! Melissa zabukowała im tydzień na obozie przetrwania dla Wikingów. W Danii! Spartańskie warunki, hipsterski opiekun i jedyne w swoim rodzaju towarzyszki sprawią, że będzie to dla naszej bohaterki niezapomniana podróż (również w głąb siebie)!
Nie będę się zbyt długo rozwodzić - ta książka jest genialna! Musicie jedynie wiedzieć, że zarówno komizm językowy, jak i sytuacyjny dosłownie zwalają z nóg. W drugiej połowie książki robi się odrobinę poważniej, dziewczyny zmagają się z sobą nawzajem i ze swoimi problemami, nie znaczy to jednak, że humor kompletnie zanika. To jest niezwykle pozytywna i ciepła opowieść, wypełniona komicznymi sytuacjami i kilkoma świeżymi, życiowymi hasłami - instagramowi kołcze mogliby się wiele nauczyć od wikingów ;)
BARDZO POLECAM! A w przyszłości, gdy tylko dowiem się, że Helen Russell wydaje u nas kolejną książkę, to bierę ją w ciemno i bez zastanowienia!
Alice nie ma czasu na przyjemności: pracuje jako dentystka, ogarnia dwójkę dzieci i męża-łajzę, ma na swojej głowie domowe obowiązki, poza tym we wszystkim chce być najlepsza i nie pozwala sobie na potknięcia (no, może jeden jedyny raz na wyjeździe służbowym). Jej siostra Melissa nie mogłaby się bardziej różnić od naszej bohaterki: żyje w domu pełnym zwierząt, uwielbia niezdrowe żarcie i patrzy na świat z dystansem, podczas gdy Alice ma przysłowiowy kijek w tyłku i jest ździebko aspołeczna. Gdy obydwie dziewczyny postanawiają wybrać się razem na wywczas, Alice ma nadzieję, że trafi do jakiegoś przytulnego hoteliku, odpręży się i zrelaksuje. Nic z tego! Melissa zabukowała im tydzień na obozie przetrwania dla Wikingów. W Danii! Spartańskie warunki, hipsterski opiekun i jedyne w swoim rodzaju towarzyszki sprawią, że będzie to dla naszej bohaterki niezapomniana podróż (również w głąb siebie)!
Nie będę się zbyt długo rozwodzić - ta książka jest genialna! Musicie jedynie wiedzieć, że zarówno komizm językowy, jak i sytuacyjny dosłownie zwalają z nóg. W drugiej połowie książki robi się odrobinę poważniej, dziewczyny zmagają się z sobą nawzajem i ze swoimi problemami, nie znaczy to jednak, że humor kompletnie zanika. To jest niezwykle pozytywna i ciepła opowieść, wypełniona komicznymi sytuacjami i kilkoma świeżymi, życiowymi hasłami - instagramowi kołcze mogliby się wiele nauczyć od wikingów ;)
BARDZO POLECAM! A w przyszłości, gdy tylko dowiem się, że Helen Russell wydaje u nas kolejną książkę, to bierę ją w ciemno i bez zastanowienia!
December 13, 2018
Most excellent
This is more of a woman's book, an empowering story highlighting some of the ways women in the modern world are challenged by themselves, their career, and their families.
Having read Helen's Year of Living Danishly I was prepared for all the mess of life presented here and the Scandi (Viking) solutions.
I loved it. I loved the relationships, the characters, and the simple plot. Look, a good story does not need to be convoluted.
I listened to the audio version. Be warned there is a lot of screaming in the beginning.
This is more of a woman's book, an empowering story highlighting some of the ways women in the modern world are challenged by themselves, their career, and their families.
Having read Helen's Year of Living Danishly I was prepared for all the mess of life presented here and the Scandi (Viking) solutions.
I loved it. I loved the relationships, the characters, and the simple plot. Look, a good story does not need to be convoluted.
I listened to the audio version. Be warned there is a lot of screaming in the beginning.
on-hold
December 15, 2020*UPDATE 15/12/2020
I decided to give this another chance, because, honestly, I've DNF'ed much worse books.
DNF'ed at 48%.
Not a bad read, but not exactly what I was in the mood for.
I decided to give this another chance, because, honestly, I've DNF'ed much worse books.
DNF'ed at 48%.
Not a bad read, but not exactly what I was in the mood for.
March 26, 2020
‘I keep four Sainsbury bags for life in my car. I’m the in charge person’
Sensible 30 something Alice Ray always keeps it together. But after a drunken encounter with ‘Mr. Teeth’ at a Dental Convention, she finally gives in to her estranged sister and goes on holiday with her.
But when she finds herself freezing in a Danish field, she didn’t expect to be signed up for a berserker Viking camp. If Alice and Melissa are to survive each other, they’re going to have to embrace their inner Viking....
In this unprecedented time of a global pandemic, urgent measures are required for mental survival. So, I grab Helen’s Russells debut novel on sisterly survival in Denmark. Russell previously penned her adventures relocating to the land of the Viking in ‘The Year of Living Danishly’. A travelogue which proved equal measure hilarious and insightful.
We meet Alice attending a Dental convention. A so - so marriage with indifferent kids back home, she has a fumble at her Premiere Inn hotel with a fellow delegate she vaguely remembers as ‘Mr. Teeth’.
Under duress she seeks distraction by Melissa’s offer to get away. For all Alice self loathing, Melissa is her opposite, who thumps her sister on the arm in greeting and eats ‘....like Elvis after Ramadan’
Visions of spa relaxation are gone when Alice finds herself in front of topless Magus, their Viking guide. A man in love with his own skin wearing palatial pants and a braided beard in the manner ‘...of an old fashioned bog chain’.
In Viking tradition he bequeaths their other party noble names: Tricia, a buxom older blonde: ‘Proud Chest’, Margot ‘...a model - esque twenty something with caramel coloured hair and the ass that won’t quit’ - ‘Night Wolf’. Melissa is ‘Strong Legs’ and to Alice horror she is known as ‘Aslog’ - ‘“Ass Log”? As in Ass Log?’
When Magus is taken out by some rogue berries - it is the ‘Amazonian Goddess’ that is Inge who steps up to complete their Viking training. All knowing, she dispenses such Viking lore as ‘Don’t apologize!’
The women under Inge wisdom, work out their individual issues including the reckoning of the sisters fraught relationship involving the demise of their mother. At times while a little overly dramatic, the humour is fast with many funny cultural references of days past. (Melissa stopped watching TV after 1997 ‘...as a one women protest at ‘Soldier, Soldier’ being axed from ITV. I feel her pain).
A fast and entertaining read with parts social commentary, humour and pathos. A welcome distraction, as we all need a good dose of Inge to repel the dark times of COVID - 19. 8/10
Sensible 30 something Alice Ray always keeps it together. But after a drunken encounter with ‘Mr. Teeth’ at a Dental Convention, she finally gives in to her estranged sister and goes on holiday with her.
But when she finds herself freezing in a Danish field, she didn’t expect to be signed up for a berserker Viking camp. If Alice and Melissa are to survive each other, they’re going to have to embrace their inner Viking....
In this unprecedented time of a global pandemic, urgent measures are required for mental survival. So, I grab Helen’s Russells debut novel on sisterly survival in Denmark. Russell previously penned her adventures relocating to the land of the Viking in ‘The Year of Living Danishly’. A travelogue which proved equal measure hilarious and insightful.
We meet Alice attending a Dental convention. A so - so marriage with indifferent kids back home, she has a fumble at her Premiere Inn hotel with a fellow delegate she vaguely remembers as ‘Mr. Teeth’.
Under duress she seeks distraction by Melissa’s offer to get away. For all Alice self loathing, Melissa is her opposite, who thumps her sister on the arm in greeting and eats ‘....like Elvis after Ramadan’
Visions of spa relaxation are gone when Alice finds herself in front of topless Magus, their Viking guide. A man in love with his own skin wearing palatial pants and a braided beard in the manner ‘...of an old fashioned bog chain’.
In Viking tradition he bequeaths their other party noble names: Tricia, a buxom older blonde: ‘Proud Chest’, Margot ‘...a model - esque twenty something with caramel coloured hair and the ass that won’t quit’ - ‘Night Wolf’. Melissa is ‘Strong Legs’ and to Alice horror she is known as ‘Aslog’ - ‘“Ass Log”? As in Ass Log?’
When Magus is taken out by some rogue berries - it is the ‘Amazonian Goddess’ that is Inge who steps up to complete their Viking training. All knowing, she dispenses such Viking lore as ‘Don’t apologize!’
The women under Inge wisdom, work out their individual issues including the reckoning of the sisters fraught relationship involving the demise of their mother. At times while a little overly dramatic, the humour is fast with many funny cultural references of days past. (Melissa stopped watching TV after 1997 ‘...as a one women protest at ‘Soldier, Soldier’ being axed from ITV. I feel her pain).
A fast and entertaining read with parts social commentary, humour and pathos. A welcome distraction, as we all need a good dose of Inge to repel the dark times of COVID - 19. 8/10
June 16, 2019
I did not expect this book to affect me so much. I picked it up randomly at a newsagent's (not even at a proper bookstore!) because I finished the book I had with me and needed something light to read on the way back home. Anyways, I was expecting a light, cheesy, slightly goofy book and 'Gone Viking' definitely has moments that are a little bit cheesy, it contains more poop and barf jokes that you would imagine but at the same time it is surprisingly deep and emotional. It actually made me rethink my actions and how I treat others (a thing that none of the self-help, psychological books managed to accomplish so far). + I'm a total fan of everything Viking so I loved the concept and setting of the book. Much recommended!
August 27, 2019
I love Helen Russell. She is the master of a too-relatable voice that makes you laugh while gently introducing a heavy dose of introspection--with a truly smart, life-improving perspective. All of this tied up in a delicious novel with an uber-original plot full of heart-string tugging? Count me in for whatever Russell pens!
July 30, 2018
2.5 stars.. what to write about this? Parts of it I enjoyed yet other parts I wanted to stab my eye out with a spoon.. it really wasn’t what I was expecting, what I was expecting I don’t really know but this wasn’t it hah... I enjoyed the Viking bits.. I think Alice was my problem
April 26, 2018
Buckle up!
As others have said this is a laugh-out-loud gallop of a read. Beware of snorting if you read it in public. Great fun with touching moments.
As others have said this is a laugh-out-loud gallop of a read. Beware of snorting if you read it in public. Great fun with touching moments.
January 15, 2019
Abandoned on page 70 of 360, plus I skimmed the final chapter to find out what happened. Just wasn’t funny.
January 29, 2024
I can see what other people may dislike about this book - rinsing dry jokes, characters practically talking to walls (a gone viking character may say something and get no response, or just blurt something out randomly)
However, I did really enjoy this book. To me, the issues are minor enough and personally I did not suffer cringe reading it. The story is about our main character, Alice Ray, discovering herself during a viking retreat with her sister. She has to come to terms with her flaws and each one of the viking training components brings her closer to discovering what she needs to change about herself, and coming to terms with the fact that she hasn't been dealing with her past trauma very well. The story is very heartwarming, and I found each aspect of 'viking training' very different, fun and exciting.
I've heard that 'a year of living danishly', is a slightly better version of this book. Since I enjoyed this one, I will consider picking it up sometime in the future.
3 / 5 but you should read it :)
However, I did really enjoy this book. To me, the issues are minor enough and personally I did not suffer cringe reading it. The story is about our main character, Alice Ray, discovering herself during a viking retreat with her sister. She has to come to terms with her flaws and each one of the viking training components brings her closer to discovering what she needs to change about herself, and coming to terms with the fact that she hasn't been dealing with her past trauma very well. The story is very heartwarming, and I found each aspect of 'viking training' very different, fun and exciting.
I've heard that 'a year of living danishly', is a slightly better version of this book. Since I enjoyed this one, I will consider picking it up sometime in the future.
3 / 5 but you should read it :)
April 18, 2018
Alice Ray doesn’t have time to sit and relax. She has a full-time job as a dentist, two young children, and a husband who spends his days watching news on TV, while she cleans, cook, and takes the children to school. With a house full of animals and no wi-fi, her sister Melissa couldn’t be more different, but when she proposes a week away in a spa, Alice can’t say no. But the spa turns out to be a getaway in Denmark on how to be a Viking, learning to build boats, use swords, and become a warrior, together with two other women. For Alice this is also a chance to let herself go, improve her relationship with her sister, and face the fact that she is in an unhappy marriage.
This book is hilarious, the characters are hilarious, and the situations they get themselves in are hilarious. I laughed out loud from start to finish, although there are also a few moving moments. The characters are engaging and realistic, each of them with a different story to tell. An uplifting, very well-written, and witty novel with the perfect ending to a great story!
This book is hilarious, the characters are hilarious, and the situations they get themselves in are hilarious. I laughed out loud from start to finish, although there are also a few moving moments. The characters are engaging and realistic, each of them with a different story to tell. An uplifting, very well-written, and witty novel with the perfect ending to a great story!
February 5, 2018
An absolutely fantastic, uplifting, laugh-out-loud story that had me turning the pages at pace. This will resonate with every woman who lives her life struggling to maintain balance. I loved Alice and every member of her Viking group, each bringing something different to the story. It left me with a tear in my eye and a wish to live more in the moment. Highly recommended!
February 26, 2021
Un libro para leer en un momento en el que te apetece desconectar y no pensar mucho. Es ligero, divertido y te hace pasar un buen rato con unos cuantos giros argumentales. Es rápido y fácil; si lo lees cuando buscas entretenimiento y ya, te gustará. No le doy 5 estrellas porque no lo veo a la altura de un librazo, pero a mí me ha encantado.
August 13, 2019
Having read The Year of Living Danishly, which was a pleasant and interesting surprise, I had expected more from this one, but it was a deja-vu, predictable and hence boring. Nonetheless, I admit that at times it was funny.
May 5, 2021
This book was absolutely delightful from beginning to end. I never wanted to finish it but I must go practice my axe throwing and find my hygge now. Seriously...read this!
August 16, 2024
Not the rip-roaring read I was hopeing for it must be said. Nor was it particularly enlightening either. Bit of a damp squib all round. But I did finish reading it.
Toast.
Toast.
February 5, 2024
Largely predictable but still a good read.
October 3, 2018
Really good laugh put loud book
August 24, 2024
Много харесвам стила на авторката, която забавно представя любопитни факти от живота на датчаните.
May 17, 2018
*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Two sisters, who couldn’t be any different from each other. Alice is busy with her job, family and life in general. Melissa, however, loves animals and leads a very diverse lifestyle. It’s her, who suggests a spa holiday for the two of them.
The two women find themselves in Denmark, on a “How to be a Viking” getaway. Alice finally needs to learn to let go and it’s the chance for the siblings to finally put away all their problems and differences.
There are a lot of characters and all of them have a story to tell. I felt it was a bit too much at times. The book is full of hilarious moments and that made the storyline very authentic.
I also learned a lot about the Viking culture, which was very interesting. There are sad and thought provoking parts as well, which gives the book a great mixture and makes the plot exciting.
This book is an uplifting, easy and fun read, perfect to relax!
3.5/5
Two sisters, who couldn’t be any different from each other. Alice is busy with her job, family and life in general. Melissa, however, loves animals and leads a very diverse lifestyle. It’s her, who suggests a spa holiday for the two of them.
The two women find themselves in Denmark, on a “How to be a Viking” getaway. Alice finally needs to learn to let go and it’s the chance for the siblings to finally put away all their problems and differences.
There are a lot of characters and all of them have a story to tell. I felt it was a bit too much at times. The book is full of hilarious moments and that made the storyline very authentic.
I also learned a lot about the Viking culture, which was very interesting. There are sad and thought provoking parts as well, which gives the book a great mixture and makes the plot exciting.
This book is an uplifting, easy and fun read, perfect to relax!
3.5/5
February 22, 2019
This was such an irritating book! For a start there seems to be a new and very broad definition of "viking". I couldn't stand the main character. Alice was horrible, selfish and pathetic, and I just didn't buy her sudden change in attitude after only one week. She did illogical things such as changing clothes numerous times after vomiting (instead of having a shower), making pasta (seemingly in seconds) and eating it with just broccoli (who does that?). Her sister does an equally illogical thing by choosing to sail a boat at night during a storm. What the?
The term "four bags for life" is mentioned 11 times! I have no idea what it means or the significance of it (could someone please enlighten me?) but it was extremely irritating! (I also have no idea what "peak bell" means).
I'm surprised I finished this book, probably only because I had nothing better to read at the time.
The term "four bags for life" is mentioned 11 times! I have no idea what it means or the significance of it (could someone please enlighten me?) but it was extremely irritating! (I also have no idea what "peak bell" means).
I'm surprised I finished this book, probably only because I had nothing better to read at the time.
July 3, 2019
Ha sido una decepción, al principio pintaba bien eso del retiro vikingo en el cuál tendría que sobrevivir por ella misma, aprender las costumbres vikingas, pero a medida que avanzaba el libro se hacía más pesado y había momentos en los que odiaba a la protagonista por ser tan tonta y quejica.
No dejaba en paz a su hermana, siempre estaba peleando con ella, su hermana solamente la estaba ayudando a volver a llevar las riendas de su vida y ha decidir que era lo mejor y lo que más feliz le hacía a ella, su hermana no buscaba ningún beneficio propio sino buscaba que ella fuese feliz.
Del final mejor no comentar nada porque no sabría que decir ni como describir ese final.
No dejaba en paz a su hermana, siempre estaba peleando con ella, su hermana solamente la estaba ayudando a volver a llevar las riendas de su vida y ha decidir que era lo mejor y lo que más feliz le hacía a ella, su hermana no buscaba ningún beneficio propio sino buscaba que ella fuese feliz.
Del final mejor no comentar nada porque no sabría que decir ni como describir ese final.
October 17, 2018
totally lost interest 3/4 of the way though, couldn't keep my attention.
October 18, 2022
no i actually loved it. quirky real characters. the forest and the wild. made me wish to go viking myself. i loved everything about them going berserk at the end. perfect scene.
January 12, 2018
I loved this- my perfect read.
Alice Ray is the kind of modern woman many of us will identify with: in a quest to "have it all" as a career woman (dentist, weirdly) and a mother she ends up spreading herself much too thinly to take any pleasure from either. After conditioning herself to bury her feelings from a young age following the death of her mother, Alice stumbles through life on autopilot, burying negative thoughts, compulsions and obsessions deep inside. The contrast to the character of Alice is made by the inclusion of her sister Melissa, who is as unAlice-like as it is possible to be. Melissa is overweight (Alice has an undiagnosed eating disorder). Melissa lives and works with animals in the countryside (Alice needs things to be pristine and germ free). Melissa is loud and fun and connects with everyone, whereas Alice is socially awkward and afraid of being out of her depth in conversation. The sisters have little in common Alice tells herself, while avoiding the obvious elephant in the room: their mother's death.
Gone Viking follows the sisters' trip to a Viking retreat in rural Denmark for a week of activities aimed at teaching them to "be more Viking." Together with two other British women, Tricia and Margot, they are put through their paces by self- styled Viking Magnus and his wife Inge and of course, learn a lot about themselves along the way.
This is a book about relationships and about finding and reconnecting with yourself and those you love. It is beautifully written in the first person and is exceptionally easy to read and digest. The thoughts of Alice are so like my own at times and I love the contrasts between what she thinks and what she says/does which are often laugh-out-loud funny. It's always the characterisation in a novel that makes or breaks it for me, and that is why I rate this so highly. The characters are real, well-rounded and for the duration of my time reading it I carried them with me like friends. A highly recommended read.
Alice Ray is the kind of modern woman many of us will identify with: in a quest to "have it all" as a career woman (dentist, weirdly) and a mother she ends up spreading herself much too thinly to take any pleasure from either. After conditioning herself to bury her feelings from a young age following the death of her mother, Alice stumbles through life on autopilot, burying negative thoughts, compulsions and obsessions deep inside. The contrast to the character of Alice is made by the inclusion of her sister Melissa, who is as unAlice-like as it is possible to be. Melissa is overweight (Alice has an undiagnosed eating disorder). Melissa lives and works with animals in the countryside (Alice needs things to be pristine and germ free). Melissa is loud and fun and connects with everyone, whereas Alice is socially awkward and afraid of being out of her depth in conversation. The sisters have little in common Alice tells herself, while avoiding the obvious elephant in the room: their mother's death.
Gone Viking follows the sisters' trip to a Viking retreat in rural Denmark for a week of activities aimed at teaching them to "be more Viking." Together with two other British women, Tricia and Margot, they are put through their paces by self- styled Viking Magnus and his wife Inge and of course, learn a lot about themselves along the way.
This is a book about relationships and about finding and reconnecting with yourself and those you love. It is beautifully written in the first person and is exceptionally easy to read and digest. The thoughts of Alice are so like my own at times and I love the contrasts between what she thinks and what she says/does which are often laugh-out-loud funny. It's always the characterisation in a novel that makes or breaks it for me, and that is why I rate this so highly. The characters are real, well-rounded and for the duration of my time reading it I carried them with me like friends. A highly recommended read.
September 7, 2019
En este libro conocemos a Alice Ray, dentista, madre y esposa que se siente completamente abrumada por la necesidad del control absoluto en su vida. Esto le lleva a ser una persona resentida consigo misma y antisociable que empieza a odiar a su marido y a no soportar a sus propios hijos.
Tras un encuentro de odontología en el que deja se pasa con el alcohol para olvidar un poco sus problemas se encuentra con su hermana en su peor momento. Esta tras verla en su estado y su interacción en su casa decide que las dos deberían pasar algo de tiempo juntas y sacar a Alice de casa para que se relaje. Con la idea de ir a un spa para calmar sus nervios se ve embarcada en un retiro vikingo que su hermana prepara a traición.
Debido a su carácter inmediatamente empieza a analizar las virtudes de sus otras compañeras de grupo de forma envidiosa. Mientras se enfrenta a los elementos y las duras pruebas a superar en medio de la naturaleza la ira que ha estado guardando en su interior burbujea dirigiéndose a sus compañeras. Sin embargo tras un punto de quiebre en su aventura y nuevamente algo de alcohol los resentimientos salen de su boca contra toda aquella persona que se encuentra en la habitación.
Tras su explosión y siguiendo los consejos de su nuevo estilo de vida vikingo empieza reflexionar sobre su vida y su forma de tratar a las demás personas intentado mejorar la relación con su hermana. Mientras también intenta relacionarse mejor con sus compañeras de viaje, cada una con sus propios problemas y razones para encontrarse en aquella situación.
En este viaje con la necesidad de sobrevivir llegando al os límites de su resistencia y la sinceridad de las emociones Alice se replanteará su vida hasta ahora y la necesidad no solo de un cambio en su día a día si no también en la forma en que trata a los demás y la felicidad y tranquilidad que quiere para el futuro. Todo ello mientras el grupo de mujeres pasan por divertidas y a veces humillantes pruebas que se le imponen para vivir la vida como autenticas vikingas.
Tras un encuentro de odontología en el que deja se pasa con el alcohol para olvidar un poco sus problemas se encuentra con su hermana en su peor momento. Esta tras verla en su estado y su interacción en su casa decide que las dos deberían pasar algo de tiempo juntas y sacar a Alice de casa para que se relaje. Con la idea de ir a un spa para calmar sus nervios se ve embarcada en un retiro vikingo que su hermana prepara a traición.
Debido a su carácter inmediatamente empieza a analizar las virtudes de sus otras compañeras de grupo de forma envidiosa. Mientras se enfrenta a los elementos y las duras pruebas a superar en medio de la naturaleza la ira que ha estado guardando en su interior burbujea dirigiéndose a sus compañeras. Sin embargo tras un punto de quiebre en su aventura y nuevamente algo de alcohol los resentimientos salen de su boca contra toda aquella persona que se encuentra en la habitación.
Tras su explosión y siguiendo los consejos de su nuevo estilo de vida vikingo empieza reflexionar sobre su vida y su forma de tratar a las demás personas intentado mejorar la relación con su hermana. Mientras también intenta relacionarse mejor con sus compañeras de viaje, cada una con sus propios problemas y razones para encontrarse en aquella situación.
En este viaje con la necesidad de sobrevivir llegando al os límites de su resistencia y la sinceridad de las emociones Alice se replanteará su vida hasta ahora y la necesidad no solo de un cambio en su día a día si no también en la forma en que trata a los demás y la felicidad y tranquilidad que quiere para el futuro. Todo ello mientras el grupo de mujeres pasan por divertidas y a veces humillantes pruebas que se le imponen para vivir la vida como autenticas vikingas.
November 18, 2023
I'm smack in the middle of the demography group who would find resonance with this book. A middle-aged, married woman with children who finally realized that she wants to live her life according to her own wants and needs.
What is there not to love? And yet, it took a while for this book to start working its charm. The opening ‘berserker’ scene didn't really do it for me.
The main background of the book is set somewhere in Scandinavia (Skandy) where a British group of women attends ‘viking-camp’ to learn the ways of the Viking. The main characters are two estranged sisters but we also meet a has-been TVpresenter and an a-type posh girl who irritates everyone. And of course the locals who run the viking-camp.
Naturally the British women are fish out of water in the natural Skandy environment and there are lots of funny moments. And then you suddenly realize that you are no longer plodding through the pages but are suffering and becoming ‘vikings’ together with the four women.
However, the book really leveled up for me when the male instructor became sick and his wife became the real teacher of the Viking way of living.
Her grasp of the viking way is much more spiritual and in-depth than that of her husband and she becomes a true mentor to the four women. Even though they carried on with the physical aspects of the program, the women also learned to be mentally stronger.
For example, never say that you are sorry. And your young children should help with chores in the house…
The final graduation from viking school is a glorious high climax and I've bonded just as strongly as the characters as they did to each other.
Of course we hear what happens afterwards with our Viking graduates. Not everyone has a happy ending, that is not the Viking way, but our main characters are much stronger and more content with their lives.
‘Gone Viking’ is a lovely and satisfying book to read and makes you want to pack your bags for your own Viking camp in Skandy!
What is there not to love? And yet, it took a while for this book to start working its charm. The opening ‘berserker’ scene didn't really do it for me.
The main background of the book is set somewhere in Scandinavia (Skandy) where a British group of women attends ‘viking-camp’ to learn the ways of the Viking. The main characters are two estranged sisters but we also meet a has-been TVpresenter and an a-type posh girl who irritates everyone. And of course the locals who run the viking-camp.
Naturally the British women are fish out of water in the natural Skandy environment and there are lots of funny moments. And then you suddenly realize that you are no longer plodding through the pages but are suffering and becoming ‘vikings’ together with the four women.
However, the book really leveled up for me when the male instructor became sick and his wife became the real teacher of the Viking way of living.
Her grasp of the viking way is much more spiritual and in-depth than that of her husband and she becomes a true mentor to the four women. Even though they carried on with the physical aspects of the program, the women also learned to be mentally stronger.
For example, never say that you are sorry. And your young children should help with chores in the house…
The final graduation from viking school is a glorious high climax and I've bonded just as strongly as the characters as they did to each other.
Of course we hear what happens afterwards with our Viking graduates. Not everyone has a happy ending, that is not the Viking way, but our main characters are much stronger and more content with their lives.
‘Gone Viking’ is a lovely and satisfying book to read and makes you want to pack your bags for your own Viking camp in Skandy!
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