Hannah Kent's Memoir: Always Home, Always Homesick Review

When I got a house in the Ukrainian countryside, it was pure magic. The peace was so profound, a quiet that seeped into my bones. I wasn't there for the people, not at first. I was there for the profound quiet and the space to just be. I had a mate and his wife nearby, and my life in the city was just a 40-minute ride away, but in the dead of winter, everything changes. The world outside becomes a beautiful, silent snow globe, and I find myself living in a different kind of time.

I was stuck. And alone. Just me, endless cups of tea, and movie marathons. Adding wood to the fireplace. And it was in that solitude, in that beautiful calmness, that I discovered I loved the countryside and enjoyed the calmness that came with it, along with other things I didn’t know existed.

When I picked up Hannah Kent's memoir, Always Home, Always Homesick, I felt an instant, deep connection. I could see myself in her words, in her story.

The book starts with Hannah Kent's trip to Iceland when she was a teenager. A place that looks cold and lonely on the outside, but for her, it became a close, life-changing place. She takes you along on her 17-year-old self’s emotional and physical journey as she navigates a new culture, language, and the profound sense of otherness that comes with living far from home. She doesn't just describe a place; she makes you feel it. You can almost feel the wind on your face and see the desolate, beautiful terrain through her eyes. This isn’t a story of a quick vacation; it's a story of becoming a part of a place and letting it become a part of you.

From Stranger to Storyteller

From the start, Kent pulls you into her world. She paints a clear picture of her youthful self, full of fear and excitement. She arrives in Iceland, a location of raw, stunning beauty where the stories and sagas she adores seem alive. She is an outsider who has to learn new customs and deal with the difficulty of learning a new language, just like when I had to learn a new language in Ukraine. But as the days turn into weeks and months, the loneliness she felt initially turns into a deep sense of connection. The Icelandic people, the language, the stories, and the landscape itself begin to seep into her. The book's narrative is not a straightforward travelogue; it's an internal journey. It's about how a physical space can shape your inner world.

Her stories of the winter in Iceland hit home for me since they were so similar to what I went through in Ukraine. That feeling of being alone in the huge quiet, with the snow covering everything and making you think about yourself. She talks about the Icelandic people in a wonderful way, telling how she learned about their quiet strength and tenacity. This bond she makes with the land and the people is what gives her the inspiration for her debut book, Burial Rites. It's interesting to see how the writer's life experiences shaped her creativity in this biography.

A Deep, Relatable Experience

This isn't your average trip memoir. It's about finding a place to live in a different country and the peculiar feeling of belonging while still missing the home you left behind. Kent's writing is real and honest. She doesn't hide from the hard parts of her journey, including being alone, being frustrated, and missing home deeply. It reminds you that you have to be open to a place in order to really connect with it.

The book was like a mirror for me. It reminded me of how I felt alone and how I found beauty in the silence. It reminds us that the most important things we learn are often not about the world around us, but about ourselves. This book is for you if you've ever felt like you didn't belong or if you've ever been somewhere new and changed because of it.

• Experience: The main thing this book is about is Hannah Kent's own life. This book was very relatable and useful because I had a similar experience in Ukraine.

• Expertise: Kent demonstrates her proficiency as a writer and storyteller by crafting a narrative that is both intimate and universal.

• Authoritativeness: The book is a memoir by an author who has received a lot of praise for her work. It's a real, first-person account.

• Trustworthiness: Kent's writing feels real and honest. She talks about her experiences honestly, which makes the reader trust her.

Why You Should Read This Book

This book is a must-read for everyone who likes stories about finding oneself, the power of place, and the creative process. It will take you to Iceland's stunning landscapes and make you think about your own travels. The novel is quiet, but its message is strong: you can be homesick and at home at the same time, and that's fine.

Hardcopy, ebook, and Audio copy available for 16.99 and Publisher is Pan Macmillan.

What did you think of the book? Please leave a comment with your opinions.