A review by savvylit
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I really enjoyed the immersive atmosphere of this story. Hannah Kent made me feel as though I were peeking through an open portal into the daily life of an Icelander in 1829. And what a weather-dependent and bleak life it could be! The ever-crumbling sod houses, the dung fires, the relentless wind, the deep Christian faith intertwined with pagan superstitions - all the details felt so incredibly real.

Agnes as a character reminded me a lot of Madeline Miller's Circe in several key ways. Strong, independent, witchy, misunderstood by many. But Agnes' story is much more dismal than Circe's tale. And yet there is beauty in Agnes' strength despite her tragic fate.
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