Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

Set against Iceland's stark landscape, this story evokes a dramatic existence in a distant tme and place. Here the author brings to vivid life the story of Agnes, who, charged with the brutal murder of her former master, is sent to an isolated farm to await execution. Horrified at the prospect of housing a convicted murderer, the family at first avoids Agnes. Only To ti, a priest Agnes has mysteriously chosen to be her spiritual guardian, seeks to understand her. But as Agnes's death looms, the farmer's wife and their daughters learn there is another side to the sensational story they've heard. But will their new knowledge be enough to save Agnes? -- Provided by publisher.

Beautifully written, harrowing, and full of a sad awareness of the fragility of life, this left me with a real sense of what it would be like to live in 19th century Iceland — and extremely glad that I don't have to.

Very little things are truly hauntingly beautiful, and this one of them.

I took longer than I would have liked with this book because of “life” events (moving houses, misplacing my eReader, finding said eReader broken, getting it fixed), and the book had a slow start, but sucked me in very quickly. I think I would have finished it in four days if not for my own delays.

Believable characters that develop and grow, and by the time you get attached to them, it's time to say goodbye. Please have a strong stomach when reading this, you'll need it for all the gruesome events that the author has rightfully given sufficient detail to.

For those who worry about the Icelandic names, they are semi-important but you'll be able to piece everything that you've left out easily by the end of the novel. If this is on your to-read list, give it a shot. I would encourage you to read this sooner rather than later, it's a really wonderful read.

In Iceland, Agnes is to be executed with Sigga and Fridrik for the murders of Natan and Petur in 1829.
She is to be moved to a farm owned by the District comissionner Jon, his wife Magret and their daughters Steina and Lauga. They are not happy with this decision since the murders were brutal and are afraid for thier lives.

The Reverend Toti is asked to be her spiritual guidance until her execution. Little bit little she tells her story growing up abandonned by her mother and never really having a real home or a family and her meeting with Natan, her employer and the love if her life.

Did she really murder him? Was she the leader who planned the murder? There is always two sides to a story. Rumors and half-truths flow around people's mouths, who is telling the thruh?

Steina is sure of her innoncence and the reverend is not sure of her being this cruel. The rest of the family especiall Lauga believes she is guilty but her telling her story might change some people's mind.

Such a beautiful book. The atmosphere of this book is dark but written in such a way that you just want to continue to read. As I was reading this book, I wanted to root for Agnes and that her execution wouls be overturned. There is no happy ending in this book.

The research that was done for this book, the clothing, the climate, the way of living was superb. You can see in a time when rumours start and they don't stop it damages one's life and sometimes there is no redemption

This first time histprical novel from Hannah Kent is in my opinion a 5 well deserved stars.