November Book of the month: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. Read author Q&A

[RachelMumsnet]

To draw Mumsnet Book Club to a close in 2014 we decided to throw our final selection over to you. We scoured the discussion boards looking for something that has sparked a lot of discussion this year and the book that caught our eye was Hannah Kent's debut novel, Burial Rites. Also shortlisted for the 2014 Baileys' Prize and currently longlisted for the 2014 Guardian First Book Award, this has certainly been one of the debuts of the year.

Burial Rites is based on the last case of capital punishment in Iceland in 1829. It follows the final days of Agnes Magnúsdóttir who was charged with the brutal murder of her former master and sent to an isolated farm to await execution. Described as ‘haunting’ and ‘bleakly beautiful’ this is a moving and gripping tale of love and betrayal, set against Iceland's stark landscape.

You can find out more on our book of the month page, where you can also apply for one of 50 free copies.

If you’re not lucky enough to bag one of the free books, you can always get your paperback or Kindle version here.

Hannah Kent will be answering your questions about the book in early December. So once you've had chance to read, do post your questions for Hannah on this thread before end of 9 December and we'll post up her answers the following week.

[ThursdayOfTheLivingDead]

Done

[AlaskaNebraska]

Sorry. Dullo here. I read and read hoping for something to bloody happen. It didn't. (Well apart from the obvious ).

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

I read it a few months ago and loved it.

[scrivette]

I borrows it from the library recently and thought it was very good.

[LadyWithLapdog]

I've got this for my local book club in November! I liked it.

[PrettyPictures92]

Would love to read this!

[GetHappy]

book looks fab and reviews make it look even better .... !! fingers crossed eeek!! xx

[Costacoffeeplease]

I persevered to the end, but found it quite dull and dry, and had to force myself to finish it

[colette]

amazing book - atmospheric, detailed , magical . The character of Agnes has stayed with me. So good I envy people who haven't read it !

[TsukuruTazaki]

I loved this book!

So well written and I loved the setting and the character of Agnes. It is one that stayed with me after I read it. Was so interested to see it was based on a true story too, which I didn't know until I read the notes at the end.

[cazzybabs]

I loved this too..

[Sthlonmum]

It's a truly wonderful read, beautifully written and the story will stay with you for a long time after. Would really recommend it.

[hackmum]

I thought it was very good too - beautifully written. Can't think of any questions though!

[DuchessofMalfi]

I bought a copy a little while ago, but not sure if I'll get round to reading it in time for this thread - quite a few books on the tbr pile ahead of it :)

[museumum]

I loved this. Probably the best thing I've read all year. I usually dislike historical fiction but this was only timeless. Loved it. (Did I alreafy say that )

[IntheMummyCaseisAmeliaPeasbody]

Marking place.

[trainersandaches]

I loved this book - it was so beautiful - haunting and real.

I read it took Hannah 10 years to research and write and I'd love to know whether the characters still stay with her having spent so much time with them. And whether like Donna Tartt she'll only be doing one book every 10 years (hope not!).

[AlexTurnersmicropone]

I couldn't put this book down, the atmosphere and being set in Iceland, somewhere I know nothing about, the bleakness, Agnes. Loved it.

[almostfullyfunctional]

I got hung up on the whole eating-moss-from-the-roof thing. In fact all the food sounded vile. It added a lot to the general creepiness of the piece imo

[LadyWithLapdog]

AFF - me too. I had to keep reminding myself this was the 1800s not the 1600s. They were all so backward.

[CollieEye]

I loved this book. Read the kindle version on recommendation of a friend who has similar taste in fiction as me, without reading anything about it. No blurb, no reviews, nothing. It was great just reading a book with no expectations about it at all - made me feel like I worked for a publisher getting a new manuscript!!

I loved the atmosphere of the book: the bleakness and danger of the landscape, how truly awful life could be if you didn't have the benefits of parents to care for you... Agnes is a character I still think about, months after finishing the book. A definite good read!

[FawnDrench]

Just received my free copy of this book. Thank you so much. Can't believe I have actually got TWO free books from you in less than a week! Both unexpected but very welcome. Thanks again.

[AnnField]

I got a copy too. Thanks!