What we are reading #3 - Hannah Martin

In preparation for our upcoming event with Hannah Kent, I began reading Burial Rites and WOW was I impressed.

For such a young author – being only seven years older than myself – and for it being her first novel, I was so impressed by the level of sophistication in her writing, and the incredible insight into the stories of historical Iceland.

Knowing nothing of the tale of Agnes Magnúsdóttir myself, I was immediately hooked on her tale of fear, love and hardship.

The story, which is set in Iceland, focuses on a poor servant who has been sentenced to death for murder. In a day without the art of forensic science that we have today, Hannah Kent shows the power of words, rumours and authority, and how that alone can be sufficient cause for a death sentence.

Hannah Kent heard about the story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir when she was on exchange in Iceland as a teenager, and has based her book on historical information that she has researched over a number of years, along with local stories from Icelanders.

This would have to be my favourite read so far in 2013, and I think it will be hard to beat it.

I am very excited to meet Hannah Kent, I am sure that she will have an incredible range of knowledge and experiences that will be thrilling to listen to.

For anyone that has shared my love for this book, or is interested in reading it, come in to Book and Paper to buy the book or a ticket to the Hannah Kent Event ($25.00, including a glass of champagne and beautiful Italian appetizers)
If you have any comments please feel free to post below, I would love to hear any other reactions to the book.

Hannah

The Stella Prize

The Stella Prize is a very exciting new literary award for Australian women's writing.
The aim of this award is to raise the profile of women's writing, to bring readers to the work of female writers, and to encourage the future of women writers.

The Stella Prize will be awarded for the first time in 2013, on the 16th of April.

The Stella Prize celebrates Australian women’s contribution to literature. Named after one of Australia’s most important female authors, Stella Maria ‘Miles’ Franklin (1879–1954), the prize rewards one writer with a significant monetary prize of $50,000.

To view the long list visit http://thestellaprize.com.au/2013/the-2013-longlist

Book of the Month

Each month, Book and Paper will have a 'book of the month' title, where customers will recieve a 10% discount on a fantastic new book recommended by the staff at B&P.

This month, it is the 'can't put down' thriller of Snow White Must Die, by Nele Neuhaus.

'On a September evening eleven years ago, two 17-year-old girls vanished without a trace from the tiny village of Altenhain, just outside Frankfurt. In a trial based on circumstantial evidence 20-year-old Tobias Sartorius was convicted and imprisoned for the murder of his childhood friend Laura and his beautiful girlfriend Stefanie - otherwise known as Snow White. After serving his sentence, Tobias returns home. Then history starts to repeat itself in a disastrous manner when another pretty girl goes missing. The police are thrown into a race against time. Will they be able to save her, or is she destined to die?'

Come in store to get 10% off this fantastic book, ends at the end of the month!