It's not a book action packed and adrenaline fuelled. It's the story of a woman whose husband is dying, her life and the passing of time marked by the religious feasts.
It’s the eve of the Anglican reform and things are going to change. There’s a world that will face something totally new.
The historical part is fascinating and appreciated how the author was able to turn the way of living in XVI century into a sort of template that govern people’s life.
I loved it, loved these people and their voices from the past
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This historical fiction was a very solemn read. Set in a time when rules were rules, the only escape was to flit into the countryside. I’m not sure this was a book I would want to read again, but I did enjoy the journey it took me on.

It has taken me an age to finish this book owing to its gentle nature and the slow progression of the chapel works taking place during the mid 1500s in England. I didn't want to rush things at all as I so enjoyed Alice's observations of nature, the chapel construction, the small family moments alongside societal shifts accompanying the tumultuous times during the reign of Henry VIII and beyond.

A sparklingly beautiful novel though one of two opposing halves. The first half feels like quiet contemplation whilst the later is more volatile, slightly wrong-footed me with the change in tempo. I was gripped by the transformation and stayed up late into the night to see how it would end. A worthy novel that ticks all the right boxes, for me, and left me questioning one particular point. What an intriguing little mystery.

I am very undecided on this book. It's absolutely beautifully written. I loved the stream of consciousness type of narration. But the pace is not pleasing and it's almost void of plot for 3/4 of the book. You would very much need to be in the mood for a slow meandering, lyrical book so I think if I had read this at a different time I might have enjoyed it more.

Married to a much older husband, Alice wants to have children but her husband is dying. His will stipulates that all will go to his daughter Agnes, flush with her first love, unless Alice bears a son. As her husband ails, he commissions a fine chantry chapel in the local church, his tomb is carved and a priest arrives to sing. However the locals on the estate are not happy about this and change is afoot, the old king is dead and the new one wants a different form of religious practice.
It was quite hard to get into this book, there are few names used in early chapters and the date is really given until later. Luckily I have a fair bit of knowledge and could use the hints about wider events to place this story. I'm glad I persevered as this is a wonderfully understated bit of writing. There are tumultuous events taken place as the Protestant reformation takes place and this book reflects on how it must have felt in the heart of the countryside.

Set in the 1500s, the Book of Days, finds a young woman feeling trapped in her home whilst her dying husband can only think of building a chapel. What is real and imagined begins to merge…

My thanks to the publisher for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

This is a book that starts off slowly and builds slowly as you read. Set in Anno Domini 1546 the story revolves around a woman and her dying husband and in my eyes is a bit like reading a history book. It is interesting but I found I lost interest at times so would put the book down and come back days later to read more. So it took me a while to read.

Overall an okay read but not one of my favourites as I felt it didn't really go anywhere. But the subject matter was quite interesting.

Thank you NetGalley and Swift Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A book that left me deeply perplexed. I'm not sure with what audacity one can think of presenting to the general public a book where absolutely nothing happens for the first 200 pages, and even the remaining 80 don't exactly provide a thrill. I personally enjoyed it, a lot, but I don't represent the general public: I'm a historian of the Catholic Church specializing in folklore related to the liturgical calendar - precisely the kind of person who might appreciate a novel of this sort. Let's just say I'll be very surprised - pleasantly so - if the book manages to break through.

The plot (?) unfolds in a small English village in the mid-16th century. The book is somewhat of a diary of a still young woman, whose rich husband is slowly dying of a painful disease. The passage of time is measured less by the changing seasons (as the blurb suggests, potentially setting up some readers for disappointment) than by the major feasts of the Catholic liturgical calendar. As a historian of the Church, I couldn't help but notice the absolute precision with which the author has managed to convey the popular piety of the time and the Catholic spirituality of that era, so deeply rooted in devotion and folklore at the same time. When the 'end of times' come, through the Anglican Reformation that radically disrupts everything daily life had always been built upon, everything changes. But by then, the protagonist's diary is drawing to a close.

Did I like it? Immensely. I believe it's the first time I've come across, in a historical novel, two women using the rites of St. Agnes' night to subtly offend each other (to cite just one example among many), and it was these details of absolute historical veracity that warmed my heart. I don't think I've ever read such an accurate novel in that regard.

However, once again, I wonder: will the general audience be able to appreciate these nuances as much as they deserve? Let's hope so; I genuinely wish the best for the author and the publisher.

It took me a long time to get into this book. It's very beautifully written, but there was nothing driving me forward to turn the pages at first. But as the story gained momentum, I was fully engaged and couldn't put it down. This offers great insights into a very turbulent time in history and gives us much to think about in today's volatile world.

An authentic look at sixteenth century life with all its illness, death and loss. A cautionary tale, which tells us to make the most of our days, they are limited. An atmospheric and compelling book.

‘The Book of Days’ is a hugely atmospheric, complex work of Historical Fiction, set towards the end of Henry VIII’s reign, around the building of a village church. Structured as a series of what I took to be diary entries, the reader is invited to share in the protagonist Alice’s innermost thoughts, anxieties and hopes, during a period of extreme political and religious turbulence. This time of unease is mirrored in Alice’s household as her husband becomes increasingly unwell, power dynamics shift within the family, and she is left feeling increasingly isolated. This novel is spectacular if you allow it the full time to develop. Admittedly, I didn’t find it particularly engaging at first. It is very much a slow burn. However, as the pages turned and circumstances unfolded for the characters, I found myself unable to put this one down. The frenzied ending reminded me of an Aronofsky film, where the tension which had been building for the previous 200 pages, suddenly boiled over into something jarring, sinister and ultimately, very powerful. I loved the juxtaposition throughout the book of the building of the church, with cold stone and alabaster, against Alice’s love for all things natural; her trips to the river, the flowers which grow in the churchyard and the ever-changing seasons. It was hugely effective, allowing the reader to understand Alice’s opinion of the natural order of things, in a time where order and natural progression was sparse. I also found the family dynamic very engaging, particularly amongst the female characters. In a time where women had very little power, it was interesting to watch how Alice, Agnes, and Joan asserted their authority amongst each other, sometimes through duplicitous or underhanded methods. I really grew to love this book and will likely revisit it for a re-read in the future. Thank you very much to Swift Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this one.

meh. i expected to love it but ended up feeling somewhat torn about it, as i did like the setup and the characters but the execution fell somewhat flat.

This is a slow burn of a book. The sense of foreboding builds up as Alice's husband is dying. He wants to create a tomb for himself and his family. Not only that, there is religious division due to Henry V111. The winds of change are coming to this sleepy village. Then there is Agnes, the daughter from the first marriage and her relationships. William, the very attractive priest is added to the mix. One needs to read this closely, as there are clues hidden in this. I was a little surprised at the ending at first. This is an interesting portrayal of life in the 1500's, with class, gender and religious issues all being explored. This will appeal to the reader who likes to savour the written word.