I went back and forth between four and five stars. I'm not sure if I love this quite a five star amount, but this story is written with such care that it is hard not to reward it for quality and effort.

Burial Rites is somber, a bit slow moving, and written somewhat lyrically. If these are things you can't appreciate in a book, than this story probably won't be for you. I believe it is to the author's credit that we start the book knowing exactly how it will end, and yet, she builds plenty of suspense and momentum into the story. In fact, I would love to revisit this story in the future to better enjoy the writing. I sped through sections at points in an effort to finally hear Agnes' full story.

Hannah Kent, in a note at the end of the book, says she wanted to present Agnes' story in a more ambiguous manner. I think she erred on the side of making Agnes sympathetic. It was easy to feel for her and her hard lot in life. She was insightful and she bore her lot pretty damn well. In the end, though, I did find myself questioning Agnes' story and actions. She was not completely innocent.

More than anything, this is a story that will stay with me. I thought about it well into the night and found myself wanting to read more about Agnes and Natan. I love when I story makes me think and inspires me to further action.