Burial Rites

The BBC Between the Covers Book Club Pick

By: Hannah Kent

Narrated by: Morven Christie

Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

BBC Between the Covers Book Club pick!

Set against Iceland's stark landscape, Hannah Kent brings to vivid life the story of Agnes, who is charged with the brutal murder of her former master.

- The Women's Prize for Fiction Shortlist

- The Guardian First Book Award Shortlist

- The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Awards Shortlist

Iceland, 1829 – Agnes Magnúsdóttir is condemned to death for her part in the murder of her lover.

Agnes is sent to wait out her final months on the farm of district officer 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.

Based on actual events, Burial Rites is an astonishing and moving novel about the truths we claim to know and the ways in which we interpret what we’re told. In beautiful, cut-glass prose, Hannah Kent portrays Iceland’s formidable landscape, in which every day is a battle for survival, and asks, how can one woman hope to endure when her life depends upon the stories told by others?

Inspired by a true story, Burial Rites is perfect for fans of Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood and The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

©2013 Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd (P)2013 Hannah Kent

Critic reviews

"This dark 'love letter' to Iceland from a young Australian novelist tells of the final months of a convicted murderer, and is filled with a sublime, heart-racing imagery." (Sunday Telegraph)

“Beautifully written, this is a novel that will draw you in and touch your heart. Agnes will stay with you long after the last page has been turned.” (Daily Express)

”This is a tormented tale of love and betrayal and divided loyalties recounted with heartfelt honesty… An exceptional debut.” (Sunday Express)

Simply fantastic!

I cannot write a review that can do this book justice. This is what goes through my head:

* I am so happy I give few books five stars, because then when I run into a book this good my five star rating means something!

* You need a strong stomach for this book. I have warned you.

* Once you start you will not be able to read or do anything else.

* There is NO humor in this book. I always need humor, except NOT here. Don't ask me why! I just didn't need it. I was riveted from start to finish. I needed to understand the relationships that lie at the core of what happened. I was so focused on understanding the why, I didn't have any need for humor. Humor simply doesn't belong in this book. This is Nordic historical fiction of times long past - there is hunger and cold and darkness. That is the way it was. And people living in such difficult times did such twisted things.

* The book is NOT spooky, it is atmospheric.

* The writing! Similes, metaphors - they are all just perfect. Stunning writing.

* You will be moved. Jeez, at the end...... No, not just at the end, all the way through.

* And this is very important. Do not read this book. Please, if you possibly can, listen to it. The narration by Morven Christie is totally fantastic. The Icelandic is perfect. The tempo is slow and it must be slow, so you can think about what is being said, so you feel the doom and darkness of the events. This is an excellently written book AND excellently narrated. BOTH!

Phew, after this I don't want another Nordic drama for a long time. My emotions cannot take it. I have been through a wringer with this one.

I assume you have read the book description, so you know that this story is based on true events. There is a chapter at the end that explains all the research involved. The author closely follows what is known. There are different views of Agnes' behavior, but the author has totally convinced my of what her study of the facts have lead her to believe.

This is one of the best books I have read/listened to this year.

**************************************

After half:
I have listened to half now. I still absolutely love it. It has love too. One of the few authors that can feed me a love story and please me immensely. I am convinced Agnes did not kill the man she is accused of killing. But history says she is beheaded for this reason. Remember this is Nordic historical fiction! Now I will say no more. I don't know what will happen in the rest of the book, so I cannot possibly give a spoiler.

You read this book for the marvelous atmosphere and the lines. Gorgeous lines! A superb writer.

*****************************


After 6 chapters:
This book is beautifully written. Atmospheric. Nordic historical fiction at its best. The narration by Morven Christie is wonderful too. Don't read it, listen to it. I have only listened to 6 chapters, but there is no way this book can get anything but 5 stars.

Hannah Kent is Australian, mentored by Geraldine Brooks! This book is far better than any I have read by Geraldine Brooks, and I am not disparaging Brooks when I say that.

an ok story beautifully narrated

Would you consider the audio edition of Burial Rites to be better than the print version?

Undoubtedly. The story itself, though well written is a bit disappointing. There is a lot of build up but it doesn't end up leading anywhere. I might not have continued to the end if it weren't for the wonderful narration.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

The detail of life in 1800's Iceland was infinitely more interesting than the story itself.

What about Morven Christie’s performance did you like?

EVERYTHING. This is actually the second book I have bought from Audible with Morven Christie narrating, though I didn't notice at first as the other performance was very different and in a Scottish accent. Each character's voice is distinct and clear, when they story says they sound tired or anxious, they do. I will definitely be listening to any future offerings by this narrator.

Good portrayal of Icelandic history in early 1800s.

Narrator’s voice is very soft; had difficulty hearing/understanding her. Characters are well researched and believable. Enjoyed the historical perspective of how hard life was in the far North with inadequate heat in the houses and limited food supply for a very long winter. The capital punishment carried out by people of the community as ordered by the king in Copenhagen was sobering but realistic.

Dark and dreamy

Deep, dark, heartbreaking. Fantastic story telling of a working servant woman's life in 1800s Iceland.

Amazing!!!!

I loved every minute of this! I would listen on my 25 min drive to and from work...and I could not wait to get in the car to keep listening! Morven Christie is so talented...she was really able to create each character. So well written and researched...Bravo, Hannah Kent! Wow!!!

Outstanding!

While the story can make one heartsore, the writing is, at times, so beautiful. The performance was exquisitely done. It is a dark, dark tale, but if one is fond of stark northern settings, and exploration of inner lives, one would love this listen.

A wonderful production

I love Hannah Kent's writing and this is beautifully performed - the pronunciation of the Icelandic words brought them so much more to life than when I read it. Highly recommended

Slow, maudlin, w overly earnest, breathy narration

What would have made Burial Rites better?

More social history. More plot. Less trite characters.

Would you ever listen to anything by Hannah Kent again?

No

Would you be willing to try another one of Morven Christie’s performances?

No

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I had thought the novels depiction of atypical time and place would be interesting; It wasn't.

Any additional comments?

In fairness, I could only get through half the book. I almost always finish books hoping they'll get better but in this case I made an exception.

I really tried but can't listen anymore

I really wanted to like this book. It may be me ... I just can't tolerate the narration. The narration was described in one review as haunting but it's more like a half-asleep, depressed, numbing and out of body combination. I tried several times and the more I listened, the more depressed I felt. And yes I understand the subject matter is sad, the landscape is bleak ....it does fit the book. I did listen to the sample, but I failed to consider the number of hours I would spend wrapped in it's "mood". The narrator may be a great narrator for other books - she has a soothing, pretty voice, good diction. This combination just didn't work for me. I thought I would enjoy the book based on reviews. The story may be great - it sounded really interesting and I liked the premise of the story - I'd like to know what happens, but unless I find the time to read it in print, I'll never know.

Thoroughly Depressing

I really wanted to love this. . .but it turned out to be the most thoroughly depressing and slow story I've ever encountered. They could not have found a more perfect narrator for the story. If bleak is your thing, then I highly recommend this masterpiece of slow, agonizing, and endless gloom.