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ClareR (5721 KP) rated Devotion in Books

Jun 19, 2022  
Devotion
Devotion
Hannah Kent | 2022 | Fiction & Poetry, LGBTQ+
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It’s not often that I’ll finish a book and hug it. Genuinely, that’s what I did with Devotion by Hannah Kent.

Devotion is set in the early 19th century in Prussia. Hanne, her family and friends are Old Lutherans, and must worship in secret in the woods. For Hanne, a child of nature, this is the ideal place of worship. But it is dangerous for them all.

Hanne doesn’t make friends easily, and so when Thea arrives in the village with her family, she unexpectedly finds her soul mate.

All the families in the village are given the opportunity to emigrate to Australia, where they will be able to worship their religion without the threat of violence. But the journey doesn’t go as planned. Too many people are packed in to too small a space. Disease is rife. And with disease, comes death.

This is a truly beautiful book. The descriptions of the landscapes and nature of both Prussia and Australia are evocative. The characters are fully rounded and easy to empathise with. In all, it’s my favourite kind of book: slow, quiet, gorgeous prose and imagery on every page.

The real surprise was the magical realism. If I’d known it was in this book, I wouldn’t have been put off one bit, and it really does add something extra special. Oh my god, I cried buckets. It’s just perfection.

Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for my copy of this wonderful book through NetGalley.