Burial Rites - Hannah Kent

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

First Paragraph(s):

They said I must die.  They said that I stole the breath from men, and now they must steal mine.  I imagine, then, that we are all candle flames, greasy-bright, fluttering in the darkness and the howl of the wind, and in the stillness of the room I hear footsteps, awful coming footsteps, coming to blow me out and send my life up away from me in a gray wreath of smoke.  I will vanish into the air and the night.  They will blow us all out, one by one, until it is only their own light by which they see themselves.  Where will I be then?
     Sometimes I think I see it again, the farm, burning in the dark.  Sometimes I can feel the ache of winter in my lungs, and I think I see the flames mirrored in the ocean, the water so strange, so flickered with light.  There was a moment during that night when I look back.  I looked back to watch the fire, and if I lick my skin I can still taste the salt.  The smoke.
     It wasn't always so cold.
     I hear footsteps.

My Thoughts:

Burial Rites was the book selected for our mystery group read in October.  Those are usually 'Gothic'-type reads, but though this book would fit in that category, it's a bit different.  And I'm actually writing my thoughts before the discussion so I'm not sure how it will go over with the group.  I know that I was highly impressed with it, Hannah Kent's debut novel.  The language and imagery are really beautiful and lyrical.  Haunting, even.  It is certainly not a typical historical mystery, but it fits well enough.  Set in the early 1800's in rural Iceland, this story tells of the last person to be executed in that country, Agnes Magnúsdóttir.  Hannah Kent did a lot of research on the time, the people, all of it. 

Agnes is placed with a farming family to await her death, and the family is given no choice about taking a convicted murderess into their home.  Naturally, they are reluctant, afraid, horrified.  A young priest is sent also to help Agnes come to grips with her fate.  As he and Agnes talk, the rest of the individuals gradually hear her story.  Sigh.  Did she kill her master?  If so, why?  If not, why was she convicted?  Time passes as all await the order for execution to arrive.  The reader gets to experience descriptions of life at this time and in this place.  It's brutal, for the most part.  Not always though.  There are good things as well.  I was very caught up in the story.  It doesn't move very fast, but as I said earlier, the language is gorgeous.  So, regardless of whether this fits for a mystery book group discussion, I'm so glad that I read it.  And it is definitely recommended.  Hannah Kent has a second book out, The Good People.  I want to try it and I'd love to know if others have enjoyed this book - please tell!

Blurb:

Set against Iceland's stark landscape, Hannah Kent 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 Tóti, 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.