51社区黑料

Burial Rites

Hannah Kent

Pan Macmillan (2013)

Our group had mixed initial reactions to Burial Rites, though many ended up appreciating it. The pacing felt slow, but Kent鈥檚 writing and her vivid portrayal of Iceland stood out. We liked the relationship between Margaret and Agnes, though we wished some other relationships had been developed further. The book raised interesting tensions between history and fiction, and at times the landscape and weather seemed to overtake the story. Still, the novel鈥檚 humanizing elements were strong: Agnes鈥檚 connections to others and growing belonging on the farm, her shift from stoicism to a renewed desire to live, and the honest portrayal of fear. Some felt that plot points felt a bit far-fetched, but the themes felt culturally relevant: marginalization, poverty, witchcraft accusations, bias in legal systems, the importance of women鈥檚 voices, and critical analyses of history. Overall, though not for everyone, we found Burial Rites a thoughtful exploration of connection, survival, and reclaiming one鈥檚 story.

Rating: 3.5