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.

Many thanks for my copy, received today!

Just finished this poignant yet simultaneously uplifting book. An absorbing and stirring read, I almost got lost in it.

The additional notes and personal reflections at the end of the book were also a joy to read.

A true delight.

I thought I would love this book and I didn't but can't quite put my finger on why. I didn't dislike it, I just found it a bit of an effort to read and didn't really get absorbed until quite near the end. I think I'd forgotten it was historical fiction until about half way through so was expecting more to happen.

I loved this book, found I was completely hooked from page 1. Definitely one of my best reads of 2014! Agnes' voice really stayed with me, and the descriptions of the landscape are hauntingly beautiful. The notes from the author at the end gave it extra interest too.

One of the things I really enjoyed about it was the fact that there was so much of the Icelandic language in it, which means that a non-Icelandic speaking reader has to work quite hard but really adds to the sense of place, I think. I'd like to ask Hannah Kent what it was like writing a novel set in a different place/culture etc, where the language is such an important element? Was she, or maybe her editor/publisher, ever concerned about putting off potential readers?

Like a few other readers I found this a bit dull. I can appreciate that it was well written but it left me thinking "is that it?"

I am about two thirds through my free copy and am really enjoying it. The writing is beautiful and brings to life the landscape and lives of Iceland in the early 19th century.

Absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend to any readers who enjoy fiction of a more 'literary' kind. I tend to only apply for books that I am sure that I'd like and the selection from MN is random enough to unearth some interesting surprises!

This the first novel by a young writer and is a bold choice of subject matter. The story may appear 'grim' (a convicted murderess incarcerated in a farm pending her execution); it's based on a true story which the writer has researched and added fictionalised details to. There is a contrast between the 'official' record with its bald facts (the case is famous in Iceland judging by the notes at the end which give some context to the book) and the realities of an indentured life characterised by hardship (poverty and making a life from the land). Parrallels are made between women in Icelandic sagas (which you don't need to know by the way); they are strong and they can mete justice with no consequences. In contrast, life for intelligent women of an independent mind is portrayed as being incredibly difficult.

The book has vivid characterisation and dramatically, reminded me of Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible' - not because of the subject matter necessarily but the impossibility of the central character's position.

My questions for Hannah are:
(1.) how was your book received in Iceland? Has it been translated to Icelandic and is the book as poetic in translation as it is in English?
(2.) What's are you working on next?

Thank you all for your comments and questions so far. Glad to see so many of you loved the book - it has a massive fan club.

Do keep putting your questions up here and we'll send them to Hannah in early December.

We're shaping up for a stellar line-up for 2015, will keep you posted on what's coming next...

I am reading this book now. I can't wait to get to bed to see how the main character is doing. I'm transported back in time in and in such detail I feel I could be there. How did Hannah Kent write this without having ever lived this life?

This was a book I really enjoyed, though rather harrowing. I hoped Agnes would be spared. She was such a great character she brought the book to life really. So sad it was based on a true story.

was a really good book and would definelty buy of the author again

I'm in the middle of reading and finding it fascinating

Thanks for sending me a copy of this book. I had read some of the earlier comments so I was not expecting too much from this book. Too my surprise I really enjoyed the story. I think it was well-written although I also hoped that Agnes could be spared. My question to the author is 'How did you feel about killing Agnes and did you have any thoughts about sparing her life?'

Thank you for sending me this book. I found it hard to get into at first but then I couldn't put it down. So atmospheric with the detailed description. Very eerie but I enjoyed this book.

I'm still reading this. I'm enjoying it, although it took me a while to get into the writing style. Iceland is beautifully described and I want to go back again after reading this book. Will look out for new books by Hannah Kent in future. Thank you for the opportunity to read this.

Still reading the book and enjoying it.
My question is how much research did it take/ was it hard to write about a place so different in landscape and climate from your own homeland?
What are your next project/s? Will they be of the same vein or something radically different?

Nearly finished this book. Really enjoying it and would read more books by this author again. Thanks for sending it to me.

Loved the bleakness of the landscape and the visceral descriptions of the smelly, filthy interiors, vile food and even the sex felt somehow genuine - although I've never been to Iceland (and even at it's worst, my kitchen does not harbour moss).

Good call, babelange on the Crucible comparison! We obvs have similar taste - what else do you recommend?

Question for Hannah Kent: did you feel constrained by historical reality? Did you feel a tension between needing to stick to known facts versus wanting to fictionalise the facts in order to make Agnes human and to tell a rattling good story? You did the latter superbly, by the way.

Thanks for a great read and thanks to Mumsnet for the free copy! This was one of the best books I've read in ages. I've been recommending it to loads of people.

We've now received author Hannah Kent's answers to your questions and will upload them to the thread. Many thanks Hannah for taking the time to do this. Do continue to post your thoughts on this thread if you read the book over the Christmas holiday period.

Keep eyes peeled for news on all the great books we have coming up in 2015 and finally make sure you're registered to receive the bookclub newsletter to receive our roundup of all bookclub discussions throughout 2014. It's been a great year!

We asked Hannah our two standard bookclub questions:

What childhood book most inspired you?

What would be the first piece of advice you would give to anyone attempting to write fiction???

@RachelMumsnet

We asked Hannah our two standard bookclub questions:

What childhood book most inspired you?

What would be the first piece of advice you would give to anyone attempting to write fiction???

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott without question. It was revelatory, in that it was the first book I read where the characters became as dear to me as any of my real friends. I read it compulsively as a child and teenager, simply because I both loved and needed the companionship of the March family. My particular admiration of Jo led me to create my own newspaper and doubtlessly kindled my wish to become a writer. It’s a book I still return to.

and in answer to the second question:

Read. To be a good writer, you must be a good reader. Read as much as possible, as often as possible, and if you read something you like, or something that makes you laugh, or something that moves you in a strange, ineffable way, ask why. Re-read it. Read it aloud.

@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!).

Answer on way...

@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!).

Thanks you so much for your kind comments, trainersandaches. I first heard the story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir 11 years ago, but only began seriously researching and writing Burial Rites in 2009, 6 years afterwards. It took me approximately three years to complete. In answer to your question, yes, the characters do stay with me. I have no intention, nor feel any need to write more of them, but I carry them with me in the same way that we carry anyone we have ever grieved for, or loved.

@frogletsmum

I loved this book, found I was completely hooked from page 1. Definitely one of my best reads of 2014! Agnes' voice really stayed with me, and the descriptions of the landscape are hauntingly beautiful. The notes from the author at the end gave it extra interest too.

One of the things I really enjoyed about it was the fact that there was so much of the Icelandic language in it, which means that a non-Icelandic speaking reader has to work quite hard but really adds to the sense of place, I think. I'd like to ask Hannah Kent what it was like writing a novel set in a different place/culture etc, where the language is such an important element? Was she, or maybe her editor/publisher, ever concerned about putting off potential readers?

Thank you frogletsmum! I’m so pleased to hear you enjoyed it. It was very important for me to do everything possible to make this novel distinctly Icelandic, and not simply, vaguely nordic. The historical story Burial Rites is based on is very well known in Iceland and I felt that I needed to respect its cultural and historical context. Having lived in Iceland, I also wanted to honour that which I found particularly unique and striking – the landscape and the language. I learnt Icelandic when I was there as an exchange student, and 90 per cent of the historical sources I used were in Icelandic. It seemed natural to include as many Icelandic words as possible, especially those that do not translate easily (such as badstofa).

There were some early discussions with my agent about whether the Icelandic words ought to be anglicised so readers wouldn’t feel alienated, but we eventually agreed that the inclusion of Icelandic was necessary and that readers would take it in their stride. To counter any possible difficulty, my publisher suggested including a pronunciation guide, and we removed the most unfamiliar Icelandic letters. Ð or ð became ‘d’, Þ or þ became ‘th’.