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Latest news I've seen - Feb 2018 https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/5...
Another UPDATE Iceland is revisiting the circumstances of the trial. Fascinating stuff! Have a look.
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news...
UPDATE On 16 August 2017, the author added a video about the book to her website: http://hannahkentauthor.com/
The video itself is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpyAo...
5★+
“Rósa’s poetry kindled the shavings of my soul, and lit me up from within.”
Hannah Kent writes about a dark, ...more
Another UPDATE Iceland is revisiting the circumstances of the trial. Fascinating stuff! Have a look.
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news...
UPDATE On 16 August 2017, the author added a video about the book to her website: http://hannahkentauthor.com/
The video itself is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpyAo...
5★+
“Rósa’s poetry kindled the shavings of my soul, and lit me up from within.”
Hannah Kent writes about a dark, ...more
It's impossible to read this book outside of the context of its publication - a massive advance, film rights tied up and huge sales for a debut novel by a young Australian author set in historical Iceland. I was expecting to be swept up by it, but I spent most of the time reading it thinking, "oh, it's fine I guess." It's probably unfair to blame the book for its own hype - it's a neatly fictionalised telling of the events surrounding the last execution in Iceland and has moments of pathos and b
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This book earned its five stars from the sheer beauty of the writing, although don't read this book if you are looking for something uplifting because it is a tragically sad story of a woman condemned in nineteenth century Iceland. I listened to the audio, and the narrator and her pronunciation were exceptional. She made the place names and the names of the characters sound like music. The way the book unfolded and the story was revealed was magnificent yet subtle - this book certainly deserves
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A woman is condemned to death for murder in Iceland. What follows is a fictional account of her life and how she came to be in this situation.
Hannah Kent has written a remarkable first novel, she writes with fluency and poise that captures a mesmerizing look into a very isolated world.
I was taken back with the themes and motivations that cross through the characters lives. There is a wonderful maze of emotions and complex interactions.
It is a fascinating book that stays with you days after you ...more
Hannah Kent has written a remarkable first novel, she writes with fluency and poise that captures a mesmerizing look into a very isolated world.
I was taken back with the themes and motivations that cross through the characters lives. There is a wonderful maze of emotions and complex interactions.
It is a fascinating book that stays with you days after you ...more
Jul 01, 2013
Alan Baxter
rated it
it was amazing
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review of another edition
Shelves:
literary,
historical
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent is a simply outstanding novel. And that it's her first novel is mind-blowing! Her portrayal of the people and place at the time of the novel's setting is flawless and utterly convincing. An incredibly powerful book, beautifully written.
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Burial Rites is a book I have been keen to read for many months and now I have finally gotten around to it, it has not disappointed me.
This is a stark story, yet Kent tells it with great pathos and through simple, elegant prose with beautiful imagery. I found it hard to put the book down, constantly wanted to turn the page and see what would happen next.
Kent's characters are believable and well-rounded, especially Agnes and Toti, and the novel moves at a good pace towards its inevitable conclusi ...more
This is a stark story, yet Kent tells it with great pathos and through simple, elegant prose with beautiful imagery. I found it hard to put the book down, constantly wanted to turn the page and see what would happen next.
Kent's characters are believable and well-rounded, especially Agnes and Toti, and the novel moves at a good pace towards its inevitable conclusi ...more
What an extremely atmospheric novel! I could feel the cold and the gloom. I also added visiting Iceland to my bucket list, so there's that too. This was a new kind of 'nordic noir' for me - gloomy historical fiction/speculative biography. The audiobook was very well narrated and it was certainly helpful to hear the Icelandic spoken rather than try to puzzle out prononciations of the written text myself.
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Dec 18, 2016
Jyv
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
historical-fiction
This book took me ages to get through as I would put it down and not feel motivated to pick it up again. It just didn't interest me enough. It was extremely slow-moving and I didn't care at all for any of the characters. I persevered only because I'd bought it, but was hugely relieved to finish it. What a slog.
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This much hyped debut novel from young Aussie writer Hannah Kent deserves all the praise. It's beautifully written, and the eerie Icelandic setting is the perfect backdrop for a tale of mystery and despair. A must read.
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Jul 16, 2013
Vicki Harris
added it
