Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

18 reviews

elizabeth_christina's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

A well researched historical fiction based on true events in Iceland during the 1800s. The accuracy made me feel transported back in time. The characters experienced growth throughout the novel, but the conclusion came too abruptly. 

I rated it highly because I listened on audiobook, but wonder if I would have struggled more with the Icelandic names and terms had I read a physical copy. 

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confused_cat's review against another edition

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reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The writing in this book is nothing less than phenomenal. I'd like to watch the movie version of this, but I'm afraid it will never be as good.

It felt like I was there in person. In the gritty, cold, hard Iceland in 19th century. I thought I could smell the icy wind, the dried fish, the pungent, smelly and hot suffocating air of a closed room. 

 It really makes me appreciate my rather easy life, warm house and all its modern comfort. 

This book also made me think of life, death, and what is just. Fate has been cruel and unfair to Agnes since the beginning. Yet, Agnes strived to live.. till the end.



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mackli's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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pich's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

i definitely agree with a previous review that this book is heavy with exposition, though that is my only complaint. the atmosphere is hauntingly entrancing, and as a whole well written. 

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veliana's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


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e11en's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

3.25


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amy_park's review against another edition

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dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

Although this book is set over about 6 months, starting in the summer it really is a wintery read!  Set in Iceland in the early 1800s, the weather and atmosphere of the country was one of the highlights for me. The setting is like a character in itself as it's so incredibly bleak, which runs parallel to the storyline, being relentlessly sad.  I felt the book held tension throughout but the story didn't grab me as much I hoped.
 I enjoyed the multuple narratives but I felt it would have been better if it was split up in the past and present storyline instead, Agnes recounting her life leading to the murders was good but for me I would have preferred thr structural split.
I don't think I will remember much detail as I read more books and the connection was lacking hence the lower rating.
Although this is bad to say I did feel this book had similar vibes to "The Mercies", which may have made me compare it a little, but this book wasn't as good in my opinion.

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lianne_rooney's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


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laura_cat's review against another edition

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dark informative reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0


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madamelacy's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The story follows Agnes after she’s sentenced to death and is awaiting the sentence being carried out. She recounts her life story, and her involvement in a murder, to a young priest and to the woman she’s billeted with.

As well as being very invested in Agnes’s story, I enjoyed learning about how people lived in 19th Century Iceland. The descriptions of their homesteads and culture were fascinating. 

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