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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Funny, sweet and sad. I loved Rabbit's family. They were loud, loving and endearing. I want to be a part of the Hayes family!!
What a wonderful, heart rending, joyful, incredibly sad and superb story! Who needs to go see the movie to be emotionally strung out, when the writing will bring out the tissues, and more than once.
A family in crisis, gathering in 40 year old Mia 'Rabbit' Hayes' home town in Ireland to say good bye to their daughter, sister, mother, aunt and firiend. Rabbit has only days left having done her utmost over the previous few years to fight the cancer that has taken over her body. But not yet her heart or her soul. Told simultaneously through the eyes of Rabbit, her mother, father, 12 year old daughter, best friend, sister and brother the story of Rabbit's life unfolds over the remaining nine days of her life. If there is such a thing as a good death, then Rabbit is certainly on the way to it. The love, the unbreakable bonds of family, literally ooze out of the pages, as does the richness and complexity of all these people. At the very core of Rabbit's story is the charismatic Johnny Faye, the one true love of her life.
The back cover blurb says it all really . "Here is a truth that won't be forgotten: this is a story about laughing through life's surprises and finding joy in every moment". Wonderful stuff. PS don't forget to have the tissue handy.
A family in crisis, gathering in 40 year old Mia 'Rabbit' Hayes' home town in Ireland to say good bye to their daughter, sister, mother, aunt and firiend. Rabbit has only days left having done her utmost over the previous few years to fight the cancer that has taken over her body. But not yet her heart or her soul. Told simultaneously through the eyes of Rabbit, her mother, father, 12 year old daughter, best friend, sister and brother the story of Rabbit's life unfolds over the remaining nine days of her life. If there is such a thing as a good death, then Rabbit is certainly on the way to it. The love, the unbreakable bonds of family, literally ooze out of the pages, as does the richness and complexity of all these people. At the very core of Rabbit's story is the charismatic Johnny Faye, the one true love of her life.
The back cover blurb says it all really . "Here is a truth that won't be forgotten: this is a story about laughing through life's surprises and finding joy in every moment". Wonderful stuff. PS don't forget to have the tissue handy.
Like "The me before you", this is good for what it is and what it wants to be. But ultimately, like "The me before you" it felt very superficial, and manipulative (the same also goes for "The fault in our stars" - I'm noticing a trend here.) In a way, this book is everything I always suspect Frederik Backman's books are but then aren't (at least not to me). And of course, all writing is manipulative. But while the characters in this novel were likeable, I always felt like an observer rather than being involved.
Ultimately, this was pretty much exactly what I expected it to be, nothing more, nothing less. Somewhere between two and three stars, but since it made me laugh a couple of times and humor is the way to my heart, it's three.
Ultimately, this was pretty much exactly what I expected it to be, nothing more, nothing less. Somewhere between two and three stars, but since it made me laugh a couple of times and humor is the way to my heart, it's three.
I read this book in a weekend to minimize how many people needed to see me red-faced and puffy from crying. It’s a book club pick or I would not have read it. Beautifully written and all the more heart-breaking for it.
I wasn't a fan of the alternating pov but overall, liked the story. However, I could have done without the blog posts entirely.
I loved how this story was written, the characters are wonderful which makes the inevitable even harder to take, not an easy book to read, I cried and cried but ultimately smiled at the message about friends and family that this book brings, hold them close and enjoy every moment.
My only complaint with this novel is that there wasn't enough time to get to know all of the characters. Each person in this story has their own unique background, and they're all so interesting and funny.
3 1/2 stars
For the longest time I walked circles around this book. After all it deals with the last days of a cancer patient. I was worried that it would remind me too much of my own parents struggle with thisfucked up disease.
I was right….. but I was also wrong.
Yes, there were moments that hit very close to home. Those brought tears to my eyes. But there was also a lot of humor and the celebration of a life lived well, which made me keep on reading.
All the stages of grief are shown in such a touching way through Rabbit’s family & friends while the reader learns about Rabbit’s life through flash backs.
Losing someone you love is heartbreaking. Watching them deteriorate and feeling helpless to do anything is the worst feeling in the world. Had it not been for the humor this could so easily have been a much harder read.
All the characters were well rounded and beautifully flawed - I wanted to give all of them a great big hug.
So get your tissues out, take the phone off the hook and laugh & cry till you see the snot fly ☺
For the longest time I walked circles around this book. After all it deals with the last days of a cancer patient. I was worried that it would remind me too much of my own parents struggle with this
I was right….. but I was also wrong.
Yes, there were moments that hit very close to home. Those brought tears to my eyes. But there was also a lot of humor and the celebration of a life lived well, which made me keep on reading.
All the stages of grief are shown in such a touching way through Rabbit’s family & friends while the reader learns about Rabbit’s life through flash backs.
Losing someone you love is heartbreaking. Watching them deteriorate and feeling helpless to do anything is the worst feeling in the world. Had it not been for the humor this could so easily have been a much harder read.
All the characters were well rounded and beautifully flawed - I wanted to give all of them a great big hug.
So get your tissues out, take the phone off the hook and laugh & cry till you see the snot fly ☺
There are many different things you can get out of this follow up to [b:The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes|18742824|The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes|Anna McPartlin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405594461l/18742824._SY75_.jpg|26622695] but for me this was about the way that grief is experienced in different ways.
I could relate to this – 2 years ago when my father passed away a good friend did what most people do when facing with a friend’s grief. She brought me (unwanted) food and wanted me to cry on her shoulder. And she was adamant that I HAD to cry! That’s her way of dealing with grief.
I felt uncomfortable with this pressure to “perform” but after the 5th time she said “You are so brave for not crying” I forced/faked a few tears out just go get her off my back. I directed my anger of the situation onto her even though her intentions were 100% pure. Grief is a personal and tricky thing and I really appreciated that the book focused on the myriad of ways that grief can manifest.
After Rabbit succumbs to her cancer each family member deals with her loss in their own unique dysfunctional way.
The matriarch of the family stops believing in God and goes on a spree of charity and protesting the new water meters in her neighbourhood. The daughter, who tested positive for the same gene that gave her sister cancer, decides to cut out her perfectly healthy female parts as a preventative measure.
Rabbit’s daughter, Juliet, goes to live with her uncle Davey and he has absolutely no idea how to take care of a child, and a blossoming teenager to boot. And Rabbit’s best friend feels like she did not only loose her best friend but also a family.
And Rabbit’s father? He tries to honour his daughter’s last wishes but that will lead to the fight of all fights and potentially break up his marriage forever.
There was also a lot of laughter with the depiction of an Irish family and their wild antics, which in a book like this, was very needed.
I laughed, I cried (unforced) and I thought about the people in my life that matter most to me.
An easy recommendation
Netgalley ARC
I could relate to this – 2 years ago when my father passed away a good friend did what most people do when facing with a friend’s grief. She brought me (unwanted) food and wanted me to cry on her shoulder. And she was adamant that I HAD to cry! That’s her way of dealing with grief.
I felt uncomfortable with this pressure to “perform” but after the 5th time she said “You are so brave for not crying” I forced/faked a few tears out just go get her off my back. I directed my anger of the situation onto her even though her intentions were 100% pure. Grief is a personal and tricky thing and I really appreciated that the book focused on the myriad of ways that grief can manifest.
After Rabbit succumbs to her cancer each family member deals with her loss in their own unique dysfunctional way.
The matriarch of the family stops believing in God and goes on a spree of charity and protesting the new water meters in her neighbourhood. The daughter, who tested positive for the same gene that gave her sister cancer, decides to cut out her perfectly healthy female parts as a preventative measure.
Rabbit’s daughter, Juliet, goes to live with her uncle Davey and he has absolutely no idea how to take care of a child, and a blossoming teenager to boot. And Rabbit’s best friend feels like she did not only loose her best friend but also a family.
And Rabbit’s father? He tries to honour his daughter’s last wishes but that will lead to the fight of all fights and potentially break up his marriage forever.
There was also a lot of laughter with the depiction of an Irish family and their wild antics, which in a book like this, was very needed.
I laughed, I cried (unforced) and I thought about the people in my life that matter most to me.
An easy recommendation
Netgalley ARC