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jemg99's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Having read tin man and still life, I do feel like when god was a rabbit lacks some of their focus, mainly in the first part of the book. It feels more like a string of emotional and beautiful events in the beginning, but the meaning of the book slowly creeps up on you. I think my judgment is slightly clouded by the greatness of Winman’s most recent books. Had I read her debut first I think I would have been entranced by the beautiful sentences with their deep observations of character. Winman comfortably sits herself in the quietly weird genre with max Porter, another author I adore. All in all, this is a magnificent feat of a book that encapsulates growing up. I admire Winman’s talent for bringing to life such eccentric and authentic characters.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Violence
gauriraut's review against another edition
4.0
This book is so goddamn hopeful.
I did not think I'd end up rating this as high as I did. It took a while for the story to take form in my head and enter my heart, but when it did, it engulfed me in a blanket of kindness and love leaving me with a renewed lust for living.
I did not think I'd end up rating this as high as I did. It took a while for the story to take form in my head and enter my heart, but when it did, it engulfed me in a blanket of kindness and love leaving me with a renewed lust for living.
emmakayokay's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
rubyolive's review
Not for me at the moment, wasn't expecting something that happens early on and couldn't get past it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
readingspells's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oh Sarah Winman... So far you and I are best of friends.
First Still Life and now this. The result is I have since bought the other two books she has written and I am looking forward to delving into both. If they are only slightly as good as this book they will have been good buys and if they are as good then I just bought myself two loves.
Can you tell that I absolutely adored this book? Well in case it is not clear. I ADORED THIS BOOK.
Sarah Winman totally captures the voice of a young girl. The slightly odd things they think, how they glum onto random weird things and pursue them beyond what we as adults would do. The first half of the book is told through Elly as a child and the second half is Elly at about 30 and coincides with the reappearance of her lost childhood friend Jenny Penny.
There are so many wonderful characters in this. Aunt Nancy, and her slightly risqué relationship with her brother's wife, Elly Mum, of which Dad seems to be fully aware. The larger than life Ginger, Oh how I cried, and Arthur who stumbles into their life one day and basically never leaves, Charlie, lost and found again, Jenny Penny and even Alan who drives the taxi. They are felt so rich and real.
There is some great LGBTQ+ rep throughout the book which just like Still Life felt natural and real, the joy of it and also the complexity.
This is a book about siblings but also about friendships, found family, those little moments that shape us but also bond us to people and of course love. It is an extraordinary debut and was one of those books that the closer I got to the end the more I was sad to sense that end coming. I wanted it to go on, to stay with these people, this 'family', Elly. I shall wonder about them for a long time I think. I hope they are all OK, or as OK as we can all ever be.
"It was strange, both vital and flawed, until I realised that maybe the need to be remembered is stronger than the need to remember.”
~ Sarah Winman
First Still Life and now this. The result is I have since bought the other two books she has written and I am looking forward to delving into both. If they are only slightly as good as this book they will have been good buys and if they are as good then I just bought myself two loves.
Can you tell that I absolutely adored this book? Well in case it is not clear. I ADORED THIS BOOK.
Sarah Winman totally captures the voice of a young girl. The slightly odd things they think, how they glum onto random weird things and pursue them beyond what we as adults would do. The first half of the book is told through Elly as a child and the second half is Elly at about 30 and coincides with the reappearance of her lost childhood friend Jenny Penny.
There are so many wonderful characters in this. Aunt Nancy, and her slightly risqué relationship with her brother's wife, Elly Mum, of which Dad seems to be fully aware. The larger than life Ginger, Oh how I cried, and Arthur who stumbles into their life one day and basically never leaves, Charlie, lost and found again, Jenny Penny and even Alan who drives the taxi. They are felt so rich and real.
There is some great LGBTQ+ rep throughout the book which just like Still Life felt natural and real, the joy of it and also the complexity.
This is a book about siblings but also about friendships, found family, those little moments that shape us but also bond us to people and of course love. It is an extraordinary debut and was one of those books that the closer I got to the end the more I was sad to sense that end coming. I wanted it to go on, to stay with these people, this 'family', Elly. I shall wonder about them for a long time I think. I hope they are all OK, or as OK as we can all ever be.
"It was strange, both vital and flawed, until I realised that maybe the need to be remembered is stronger than the need to remember.”
~ Sarah Winman
dunder_mifflin's review
3.0
I thought it was pretty decent, but I don't really have any strong feelings towards it either way.
serenereadssally's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Spanning four decades, from 1968 onwards, this is the story of a fabulous but flawed family and the slew of ordinary and extraordinary incidents that shape their everyday lives. It is a story about childhood and growing up, loss of innocence, eccentricity, familial ties and friendships, love and life. Stripped down to its bare bones, it’s about the unbreakable bond between a brother and sister.
***************************************
Another triumph by Sarah Winman.
As usual it’s bursting with quirky, eccentric often dysfunctional characters and centres around Elly and her family and her friendship with her best pal Jenny Penny.
After reading Still Life I wondered if I would enjoy this one as much. I absolutely did.
The story itself is rich and unusual and wonderful and semi magical but also real and heartbreaking throughout. I marvel at her characters, I want to hang out with these people they are so interesting and funny and the overriding theme throughout is how much they love each other and how much heart they have.
There’s twists and turns and life changing events and I struggled to put this book down.
I love when a book gives me all the feels and this one did. And some. A brilliant book that I would highly recommend and an easy 5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
samuelrdosantos's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book goes in so many different paths while telling the story of Elly. So many different things happen, from moving out, sexual abuse, 9/11, head injuries, prison sentences, to a talking rabbit. A very interesting and unique book.
tigerxwasp's review
2.0
Read to page 212, was going to try and push on and find out what actually happens in the end... Then I thought who cares life is too short and I have wasted enough time on this book.
Sadly it was not for me.
Sadly it was not for me.
annabellereads99's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5