Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
They said I must die. They said that I stole the breaths from men, and now they must steal mine. I imagine, then, that we are all candle flames, greasy-bright, fluttering in the darkness and the howl of the wind, and in the stillness of the room I hear footsteps, awful coming footsteps, coming to blow me out and send my life up away from me in a grey wreath of smoke.
In northern Iceland, 1829, Agnes Magnúsdóttir is condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of her lover.
Agnes is sent to wait out her final months on the farm of district office Jón Jónsson, his wife and their two daughters. Horrified to have a convicted murderer in their midst, the family avoid contact with Agnes. Only Tóti, the young assistant priest appointed Agnes’s spiritual guardian, is compelled to try to understand her. As the year progresses and the hardships of rural life force the household to work side by side, Agnes’s story begins to emerge and with it the family’s terrible realization that all is not as they had assumed.
My thoughts;
In July of 1828 in the cold barren landscape of Iceland Agnes Magnúsdóttir is sentenced to death along with two others for the murder of her lover and his friend. While waiting for her sentence she is placed with the family of District Officer Jón Jónsson and the responsibility of preparing her for her death and meeting her spiritual Lord is given to the young and inexperienced Assistant Reverend Thorvardur Jónsson, also known as Tóti.
It was an absolutely wonderful and evocative read. Kent’s writing is descriptively beautiful. You were absolutely transported to the frozen and poor conditions of the era, but it wasn’t just the setting that drew you in, the characters were real and with a gradual peeling back of the layers you understood the people, their motivations, fears and needs, and by the end I had tears streaking down my face as I had invested myself so deeply with each of them that was there in the last scenes.
It’s a must read. It’s not a quick paced thriller. It’s a novel that will, without you noticing, gently reach in and touch your heart.
You can find me on Goodreads Here.
carol says
I had the same reaction to this…
Rebecca Bradley says
Stunning wasn’t it. And thanks Carol 🙂
realthog says
I must look out for this.
I wonder if it’s the first time an Australian novel has been set in Iceland?
Rebecca Bradley says
It’s a great read. I hope you enjoy it. I don’t think there are any geographical boundaries on where authors are writing about anymore and it’s based on true events in Iceland.
Margot Kinberg says
This one was already on my list, Rebecca, and you’ve whetted my appetite even more 🙂 Thanks
Rebecca Bradley says
It’s amazing Margot. I wasn’t sure what I’d think at first but it’s up there in one of the best books I’ve read this year.
Murees Dupé says
Sounds intriguing. I must try it. Thank you for the great review.
Rebecca Bradley says
I hope you do try it Murees. I wasn’t sure what I would think at first but it really is fabulous.
Jacqui Murray says
This sounds wonderful. I like the way the story unfolds–through circumstances. I’m going to have to read it.
Rebecca Bradley says
It’s a great read. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Annalisa Crawford says
I like the sound of this one!
Martin J Frankson says
Sounds wonderful and atmospheric