Take a photo of a barcode or cover
lanikins17 's review for:
Devotion
by Hannah Kent
Hanne, her dear friend Thea, their families and wider community must flee their home in Prussia and move to Adelaide, Australia, to start new lives and escape religious persecution. Along the way, during a 6-month voyage in unspeakably horrendous conditions, Hanne starts to understand her feelings for Thea are stronger than she first realised. But what does this truly mean for the two girls, when tragedy strikes?
This was a captivating tale that gave me Anne of Green Gables vibes (outcast, nature-loving, wild-child meets bosom friend/lover, anyone?) but which also did a deep dive into some more serious topics like grief and religious persecution.
I adored how Hanne’s perspective is so deeply rooted in her love of nature. This is a girl who hears the song of the trees and the river, who feels life thrumming in the earth. Hannah Kent writes in such a beautiful, lyrical style that it was impossible not to be totally absorbed by this story. Even though some of the topics were quite heavy going, this book somehow gave me a real sense of peace while I was listening. The person who read the audiobook had such a calming voice, it was truly a lovely experience.
Some people have commented saying that the magical realism element (which started about midway through the book) threw them out of the story, but personally I enjoyed it. It was a unique and refreshing way to tell a story of such literary foundations. Although the constant lamentations about Hanne’s love for Thea did get a tad repetitive by the end of the book, they certainly emphasised the theme of ‘Devotion’.
I’d recommend this book if you are in the mood for a slow moving and eloquently written tale about two young women whose love for each other knows no bounds.
This was a captivating tale that gave me Anne of Green Gables vibes (outcast, nature-loving, wild-child meets bosom friend/lover, anyone?) but which also did a deep dive into some more serious topics like grief and religious persecution.
I adored how Hanne’s perspective is so deeply rooted in her love of nature. This is a girl who hears the song of the trees and the river, who feels life thrumming in the earth. Hannah Kent writes in such a beautiful, lyrical style that it was impossible not to be totally absorbed by this story. Even though some of the topics were quite heavy going, this book somehow gave me a real sense of peace while I was listening. The person who read the audiobook had such a calming voice, it was truly a lovely experience.
Some people have commented saying that the magical realism element (which started about midway through the book) threw them out of the story, but personally I enjoyed it. It was a unique and refreshing way to tell a story of such literary foundations. Although the constant lamentations about Hanne’s love for Thea did get a tad repetitive by the end of the book, they certainly emphasised the theme of ‘Devotion’.
I’d recommend this book if you are in the mood for a slow moving and eloquently written tale about two young women whose love for each other knows no bounds.