When God Was a Rabbit

Not My Tastes

I am really disappointed with this book. I was excited to read this for the tour after reading about it. It sounded really good. Sadly, it didn't live up to what the book sounds like from the blurbs. I can't really pin point one exact thing that I didn't like about it. It all just sort of ran together for me and the characters were bland. I would have loved to have seen a lot more complexity to the plot line and more personality to the characters. Personally, I don't think that I can go back and try to read this 3 star novel again. That being said, however, I do encourage others to read this book. My tastes vary and are often different from other people, so while I disliked this novel, there are those out there who will love it. Please, give this novel a try. I will, in the future, try another book by Sarah Winman as she does show an obvious talent for writing, this book just didn't flow with my personal tastes.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

One of the best this year

If I hadn't won an advanced copy of this book I am sure I wouldn't have picked it up off the shelf by looking at either the title or the cover. It just doesn't catch your eye even though I love coming-of-age books and this certainly looks like one from the cover. It had one graphic part about a quarter of the way through that I almost dismissed the book and put it down but I am so glad now I didn't. The characters are so real and they will stay with you even after you finish the book. This book is probably the best book I have read so far this year....and that's saying a lot.

A perceptive and lingering love within a brother and sister bond unwavering even amongst their deepest secrets.

From the start I was hooked on When God Was a Rabbit. Although the main character in the book Elly only has one sibling, her brother Joe, it is a very close relationship which the book revolves around. Elly's parents are very loving and are always available and even though every character in this book is a little quirky, one thing they share is are close loving relationship and bonding friendships. A paradox Elly seems to share and hang onto when it comes ot her only neighborhood friend, Penny. Later when Elly moves away you feel like her and Penny will never see each other again. As an adult Elly is haunted by her friends short sporadic visits and feels that she will never understand Penny, yet she hangs on to hope. Something that can be very difficult when one has a dysfunctional friendship. Yet Elly disregards her friends insecurities and does not judge her for who she is, a lesson for many of us in real life. I found the relationship between Elly and her brother to be quite familiar to my relationship with my one brother, as I have a brother who is about the same difference in age. This story brought back memories of that love hate relationship we shared as children and how different he was. I found When God Was a Rabbit entertaining, amusing and I would have felt quite comfortable in this family. The views she weaved of London and the new house the family moved into are breathtaking and absolutely beautiful. Winman did a wonderful job of capturing those moments during and after 9/11 while still keeping the emphasis on the story. To enjoy this book one must have an open mind and feel that connection to the author Winman and what she is trying to portray. I story of love, friendship and that connection between brother and sister that lingers on even when we know each others secrets.

Excellent!

I enjoyed this book immensely. The author has a magical way of combining serious issues with humor. There were many lines in the book that made me just laugh out loud.

I felt quite sad for Elly, whose character was fleshed out and real, as it seems she never has had a chance to really live for herself. She is what I would consider a "giver". I equally enjoyed the bond she shared with her older brother and the love they have for each other. I have hope that if the story were to continue, that Elly might breakaway from all the needs of her family and friends and sketch out a life for herself.

I have mixed emotions on the ending of the book. I know we usually like to read books with tidy nice little endings with no strings left hanging, but this is one book that could have pulled off a tragedy which is the only reason I give it 4 instead of 5 stars. Regardless of the ending, I found this to be a wonderful read and don't hesitate to recommend it.

I will be looking forward to additional titles by this gifted new author.

Original debut novel

When God Was A Rabbit marks the debut of author Sarah Winman.

From the publisher Bloomsbury:

"This is a book about a brother and a sister. It's a book about secrets and starting over, friendship and family, triumph and tragedy, and everything in between. More than anything, it's a book about love in all its forms."

Elly is the sister and Joe the brother. And in between are their parents, Elly's friend Jenny Penny, assorted lodgers and god the rabbit.

Young Elly's early loss of innocence in the first few chapters and her brother's promise to protect her always sets the tone for the sibling's relationship. We follow the siblings from 1968 England through to New York 9/11 in the second half of the book. Winman has crafted a novel that kept me off kilter but quickly turning pages from start to finish. The characters are off beat, but the bonds to those they love are undeniably strong. Every character seems to be a step out of time with the rest of the world.

"'That's a good thing, isn't it? To stand apart and be different?' he said. 'I'm not sure' I said, quite aware of my own muted need to fit in to somehow simply hide. 'I don't want people to know I'm different'. And I looked up and and saw my brother standing in the doorway."

And they are different - but in a good way. I found the story of young Elly and Joe to be especially poignant. However, they didn't evoke the same reaction in me when they were older in the second half. That's not to say that the story unfolded in the latter part of the book is no less emotional. It is, but I think it was the loss of innocence on so many levels by the younger characters that was the most heartbreaking. There are many sad moments in this story, but there are just as many funny ones. The secondary cast, particularly the parents and lodgers were favourites of mine. Their acceptance of any and all and their inclusion of those on the periphery into their family endeared them to me. I found the use of god the rabbit throughout Elly's life to be an unique allegorical device.

Winman explores relationships of all sorts with a deft and original hand. But her description of the love between a brother and sister is especially well drawn. An unusual and totally original debut. It will be interesting to see where Winman goes next with her writing.

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