Burial Rites in Aussie Readers

Aug 02, 2014 Kate Forsyth rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, biography, australian, aww2014

I finally had a chance to read this brilliant historical novel by debut author Hannah Kent. Burial Rites been a critical and a commercial success, and deservedly so. The writing is so precise and vivid, and the story so compelling. I found myself stopping to read certain sentences again, just for the pleasure of the words: ‘it is as though the winter has set up home in my marrow.’ Burial Rites is set in Iceland in 1830, the last year in the life of a woman condemned to be executed for murder. Th ...more

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Jan 26, 2014 Kathryn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, 4-stars, australian-authors, audiobooks, reading-list-2014, author-younger-than-me

I think a good audiobook narration can add something to the reading of a good book. I listened to this book, narrated by Morven Christie, and felt that it added an extra edge to my experience. Her voice for Agnes’ voice and thoughts sounded devoid of all joy; her voice for Reverend Toti, Agnes’ spiritual adviser, sounded young and eager – just as he’s portrayed.

Based on a true story, albeit one I’d never heard of before I heard of this book, I supposed that the ending of the story would not be u I think a good audiobook narration can add something to the reading of a good book. I listened to this book, narrated by Morven Christie, and felt that it added an extra edge to my experience. Her voice for Agnes’ voice and thoughts sounded devoid of all joy; her voice for Reverend Toti, Agnes’ spiritual adviser, sounded young and eager – just as he’s portrayed.

Based on a true story, albeit one I’d never heard of before I heard of this book, I supposed that the ending of the story would not be unexpected (unless Hannah Kent had exercised some poetic licence in refashioning the ending), but I was still interested in the relationship developing between Agnes and Toti, and Agnes and the family, how she acted while living on the farm and how events had led Agnes to this point. Toward the end, the story became very powerful, and I’m still thinking about parts of it.

This is not a light or fun read – Agnes was convicted as a murderess and sent to live with a family on a farm while awaiting the carrying out of her sentence of execution – but it was what life was like then. We are given glimpses into life in Iceland in the early 1800s – illegitimate children, fostered out to people who didn’t really want them or care much for them, working as a servant at this farm and that, struggling against the land and inclement weather even if you own your own farm to produce crops or livestock to make a livelihood, chamber pots filled to overflowing needing emptying, animals rendered down to make food and other products, men taking advantage (whether a servant or the master) of women too scared or naïve to refuse them. It was not an easy life, except perhaps if you were substantially well off – we see only a snippet of the District Commissioner’s life, but it sounds like a luxurious life in comparison to most of the other lives described. Hannah Kent has done a thorough job of her research, and it is effortlessly woven into the story.

I was not sure initially about this book (especially listening to it for 11.5 hours), but as I went further, I wanted to keep going and find out more. However, I can also see that it wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste. ...more

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Aug 22, 2015 Josie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Now firstly, this is not my typical genre. The book was sent to me by a friend with a "you'll enjoy this" note.
And I did. How could I not?!
The author has done a brilliant job of telling Agnes' story. The writing enables you to feel the Icelandic chill and there is so much raw emotion from numerous characters that you become totally bewitched in the tale.
I can appreciate why this book has so many Award stickers on the cover.
On a side note, my Great Great Great Grandmother - Mary Holden was the la ...more

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May 21, 2018 Kim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

This is such a well told story. Lovely writing and great pace! Prose that really flowed. It was like the pages turned themselves, I've had some slower reads recently and I couldn't believe I was going through it so quickly. It might be worth a re-read to linger over a bit longer in the future.
A very impressive debut novel. ...more

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Jun 27, 2023 Dee-Ann rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: scandinavian, friendship, strong-women, five-star, historical-fiction, religion, domestic-violence, mental-health, gritty, crime

Not sure why I could love a book in which most of it is ugly, cruel and harrowing. Such harsh conditions in a harsh times. I had never heard of Agnes, but I don’t think I will forget her now.

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Feb 02, 2015 Katherine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Loved the book - the sense of place, the heavy heartedness, the vivid historical detail - but had a problem with the construction. Agnes' first person interjections seemed at odds with the rest of the third person narrative, and the transitions were also sometimes confusing. However, this did not overwhelm the novel's depiction of a sensitive young woman's last year before her execution. It was hard to leave the characters of the farmer Jon and his wife, Margret, and the young Reverend Toti. The ...more

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Nov 23, 2014 Belinda rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie, books-i-cant-make-up-my-mind-about, 2014

There is so much hype surrounding this book. So many amazing reviews and it has won a slew of awards. It was written on a million dollar advance. Holy hell, that is a lot of money.

The premise is fantastic and totally not the standard at the moment. It's nice to take a break from what the publishing world has been giving us for a while. I also felt kind of obligated to give this a shot since Hannah Kent is Australian and seems like a really great woman... she's an formidable talent on the Austral ...more

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