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fpcat99's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual content, Animal death, Sexual harassment, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Animal cruelty
Minor: Abortion and Alcoholism
ameliasbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The writing is strong most of the time, but the story can't keep up with it. Too many side characters, whose stories don't get really elaborated and I could have really done without this totally uninteresting son of a celebrity mother.
I'm rating this a bit higher, because of the strong writing. The story gave me sadness and loneliness (which I'm totally here for), but apart from that, there wasn't enough meat to the bone for me.
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Misogyny
Moderate: Drug use and Alcoholism
maevebm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Blood, Stalking, Pregnancy, Cursing, Drug use, and Infidelity
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Abortion
indigo666's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Vomit, Gore, Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, Blood, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Violence
emmas_bookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcohol, Child abuse, Classism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Blood, Death of parent, and Drug use
deedireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Rabbit Hutch is a visceral, engaging novel with especially good prose. I definitely liked it and thought it was an impressive debut.
For you if: You like literary fiction with a dark tone.
FULL REVIEW:
The Rabbit Hutch is an impressive debut novel that was shortlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction. (It may win; as of the time of this writing, the award hasn’t been announced yet.) It was one of the few books on this year’s longlist that had previously been on my radar, so I was glad for a (good) reason to pick it up. It’s dark, visceral, and at times disturbing, but I thought quite good.
The main character in this book is a former foster child named Blandine who lives with three boys (also former foster children) and idolizes Hildegard of Bingen. However, we also meet (briefly) several of the other tenants who live in The Rabbit Hutch (a low-income housing complex), as well as the son of a recently deceased famous actress. The book opens mid-act of violence and flashes back to the few days leading up to the pivotal moment, plus Blandine’s time in high school.
Some reviewers disliked the use of periphery characters in this book, wanting either more from them or wishing they’d been removed, but I actually really liked it and thought it worked. In many ways they felt atmospheric to me, and I liked the way Gunty used them in the first and last sections to emphasize Blandine’s state at the time. I know some also thought the ending was too tidy, and although it didn’t surprise me, I actually also liked that and thought it was satisfying. Overall I was impressed with how deep we got into Blandine’s mind and character, with just enough touches of how the outside world is complicit in the systems and circumstances that led to not only the violence, but also the ways she responded and coped and changed.
Where Gunty stands out most is in her prose; the sentences are excellent and I found the book overall to be super engaging (I read the whole thing in just a couple of days). It does work quite well on audiobook, but FYI, there are some in-book illustrations you’ll miss if you only experience it in that format.
If you like literary fiction with a dark tone, this could be a good one for you.
Graphic: Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Drug use and Alcoholism
Minor: Rape
mrslsmith's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, and Drug use
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Cancer, Child abuse, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt