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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
An interesting read to say the least, a book I would recommend, but, it wasn't really the type of book I enjoy, entertaining none the less.
My husband got me this book for my birthday, having read about it recently in the Wall Street Journal. We liked the premise - a man has a life-changing moment when he and a friend clip a hare while driving down the road arguing. He gets out to help the hare and he leaves his old life for a new one.
This book was written in 1975 in Finland. It's written as sort of a fable, hopping from experience to new experience. At times I did not know where the story was going, but it ended nicely, wrapping up questions I had along the way.
The Year of the Hare has become somewhat of a classic from what I've seen - many writers have this book on their "favorites of all time" lists.
This book was written in 1975 in Finland. It's written as sort of a fable, hopping from experience to new experience. At times I did not know where the story was going, but it ended nicely, wrapping up questions I had along the way.
The Year of the Hare has become somewhat of a classic from what I've seen - many writers have this book on their "favorites of all time" lists.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
The Year of the Hare is a book I'm a bit conflicted about, and the translation work done upon it certainly doesn't help, let me explain:
The story spans 1 year and follows Vatanen, a middle aged man who leaves his ordinary life in Helsinki after hitting a hare with his car and goes into the wilderness where he lives all kinds of adventures. Now, the story I have to say is what I've enjoyed the most, it is merely escapism re-told, yet doesn't push that idea, nor does it idolize it. I think its purpose was to just illustrate what could happen if we just stopped holding to our (sometimes damaging) attachments, not so much what we should do. The book focuses on the concept of freedom, and as such, does not try to push anything onto the reader, which makes it really enjoyable unlike some other escapism works which feel like some sort of propaganda, even.
However, although I've thoroughly enjoyed it, I can totally understand how some people may dislike it. There's several things which are not everyone's cup of tea, though I wouldn't say they're necessarily downright bad elements. For starters, and regardless of what this website says, the book is extremely fast-paced. It feels chaotic sometimes, and often even reads like a collection of short stories instead of a bigger overarching story, making it feel aimless (though one could argue that's the entire point). Then, there's the characters and setting, they are remarkably Scandinavian/Nordic. From the character's behavior, to the humor within the book, to the wilderness that serves as a backdrop for the entire story. All of them feel significantly Finnish, and all of them can be lost between cultures(i.e. seeming like the characters behave erratically because no one would act that way in our society).
Lastly I have to mention the awful work done on the translations of this book into English. Obviously, I can't be sure how the book is written in its original language, since I don't speak Finnish, but nonetheless, the word-choice for the translations always feels odd. You have colloquial and pretty low register vocabulary for the vast majority of the book (maybe even 90% or so). Yet for some reason, it sometimes jumps into the stratosphere in terms of register and uses extremely formal and obscure vocabulary in some parts, only to drop back again into low register the next sentence. It wasn't the case for me that the translation completely broke my experience reading the book, but it certainly made it more difficult and less enjoyable.
In conclusion, for me it was a totally enjoyable and overall wholesome experience, it made me feel warm inside, like some sort of nostalgia but without any of it, I also really enjoy stories you can't predict and this is definitely one of them. But again, I can totally understand how this does not hit the mark for so many people, making me hesitant as to whether I recommend it or not. I supposed I'd recommend this book only to those that really enjoy nature and escapism, and wouldn't be surprised by the Nordic society and customs. That's as much of an answer I can really give.
The story spans 1 year and follows Vatanen, a middle aged man who leaves his ordinary life in Helsinki after hitting a hare with his car and goes into the wilderness where he lives all kinds of adventures. Now, the story I have to say is what I've enjoyed the most, it is merely escapism re-told, yet doesn't push that idea, nor does it idolize it. I think its purpose was to just illustrate what could happen if we just stopped holding to our (sometimes damaging) attachments, not so much what we should do. The book focuses on the concept of freedom, and as such, does not try to push anything onto the reader, which makes it really enjoyable unlike some other escapism works which feel like some sort of propaganda, even.
However, although I've thoroughly enjoyed it, I can totally understand how some people may dislike it. There's several things which are not everyone's cup of tea, though I wouldn't say they're necessarily downright bad elements. For starters, and regardless of what this website says, the book is extremely fast-paced. It feels chaotic sometimes, and often even reads like a collection of short stories instead of a bigger overarching story, making it feel aimless (though one could argue that's the entire point). Then, there's the characters and setting, they are remarkably Scandinavian/Nordic. From the character's behavior, to the humor within the book, to the wilderness that serves as a backdrop for the entire story. All of them feel significantly Finnish, and all of them can be lost between cultures(i.e. seeming like the characters behave erratically because no one would act that way in our society).
Lastly I have to mention the awful work done on the translations of this book into English. Obviously, I can't be sure how the book is written in its original language, since I don't speak Finnish, but nonetheless, the word-choice for the translations always feels odd. You have colloquial and pretty low register vocabulary for the vast majority of the book (maybe even 90% or so). Yet for some reason, it sometimes jumps into the stratosphere in terms of register and uses extremely formal and obscure vocabulary in some parts, only to drop back again into low register the next sentence. It wasn't the case for me that the translation completely broke my experience reading the book, but it certainly made it more difficult and less enjoyable.
In conclusion, for me it was a totally enjoyable and overall wholesome experience, it made me feel warm inside, like some sort of nostalgia but without any of it, I also really enjoy stories you can't predict and this is definitely one of them. But again, I can totally understand how this does not hit the mark for so many people, making me hesitant as to whether I recommend it or not. I supposed I'd recommend this book only to those that really enjoy nature and escapism, and wouldn't be surprised by the Nordic society and customs. That's as much of an answer I can really give.
this was cute and mildly interesting for about 50 pages and then it just lost its charm. I don't think Finnish Fiction Pr this author will be pulling me in
I really wanted to like this book a lot more. How could you go wrong with a story with a bunny? I think part of it was that I don't think the humor translated very well...at least not for me. Some of what I think was intended as humor just seemed sad to me. It might have been better if I knew more about Finland. I did enjoy the hare and could picture it fairly well. I had a harder time with Vatanen. I liked how he was protective of the hare and the premise that he wanted to get away from it all. It was just an off book for me. :-(
Not sure what to think
I gave this two stars because the book was readable. To me it seemed like a shaggy dog story and not the best one I've ever read. As some other people have noted in their reviews, perhaps the story is not the same after translation or maybe it's too "Finnish" for a non-Finn to understand. I also think it has not aged well.
I gave this two stars because the book was readable. To me it seemed like a shaggy dog story and not the best one I've ever read. As some other people have noted in their reviews, perhaps the story is not the same after translation or maybe it's too "Finnish" for a non-Finn to understand. I also think it has not aged well.
A fabulous bunny book!
If you are a bunny lover or just a lover of a good adventure story I highly recommend this completely engrossing tale!
If you are a bunny lover or just a lover of a good adventure story I highly recommend this completely engrossing tale!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I finally picked this book up again. This book was the book that introduced me to Paasilinna. For that reason I may be a bit biased but…
I loved this book. No matter how many times I read it I still love it. It's a lovely rather short book about a man that finds a wild hare and decides to change his life and go on an adventure all over the country. The end part where he enters Russia is a tad bit boring and weird but overall the story is great, the characters are interesting and the ending where he disappears along with the hare and is never seen again is mysterious and makes you want to read more.
I loved this book. No matter how many times I read it I still love it. It's a lovely rather short book about a man that finds a wild hare and decides to change his life and go on an adventure all over the country. The end part where he enters Russia is a tad bit boring and weird but overall the story is great, the characters are interesting and the ending where he disappears along with the hare and is never seen again is mysterious and makes you want to read more.
That was one of the strangest stories I have ever read. Delightful and fantastical.