You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
A mix of "Alice in Wonderland" escapism with "Hatchet" level nature descriptions and Hemingway's philosophical thoughts on how one should live life. It's worth reading as a Finnish classic; it is even more valuable if being discussed with others.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I got this book because it was on a sale and it was short and supposedly funny. Also, it was Finnish and included a hare. It was amusing at times and even funny couple of times. I found that it lacked depth. The book starts with the main character walking off into the forest and the rest of it is things that happen to him. He is wandering around, but none of the characters leave a big impression. The female characters are especially flat and surprisingly willing to either sleep with him or become engaged with him. Why? I have no idea. This book is like a "guy lit" (as opposed to chick lit). I think guys would enjoy this book much more than I did. It could easily be made into one of those boring guy flicks the movie theaters are so full of.
It reminds me of The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of a Window and Disappeared, but not nearly as good. It would need to be 2 or 3 times longer to develop the characters properly and it would have to be a whole lot funnier. I'm glad it was so short as I was not enjoying it that much towards the end. There were too many exasperated why!'s.
I read some reviews and found that the book originally came out 40 years ago - so perhaps it just didn't age very well. Someone suggested that a lot is lost in translation, and that could also be the case although I doubt that the original would have deeper characters.
I enjoy character driven stories much more than I do event driven stories, and this book is entirely event driven. There really isn't even a moral to the story, although I'm sure that a big part of the allure is the idea of just leaving everything and everyone and be your own boss. Again, I think it is more of a guy thing.
I could never figure out what the hare represented. I'm sure he's an allegory, but what he is supposed to represent I don't know. Vatanen's sanity?
It reminds me of The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of a Window and Disappeared, but not nearly as good. It would need to be 2 or 3 times longer to develop the characters properly and it would have to be a whole lot funnier. I'm glad it was so short as I was not enjoying it that much towards the end. There were too many exasperated why!'s.
I read some reviews and found that the book originally came out 40 years ago - so perhaps it just didn't age very well. Someone suggested that a lot is lost in translation, and that could also be the case although I doubt that the original would have deeper characters.
I enjoy character driven stories much more than I do event driven stories, and this book is entirely event driven. There really isn't even a moral to the story, although I'm sure that a big part of the allure is the idea of just leaving everything and everyone and be your own boss. Again, I think it is more of a guy thing.
I could never figure out what the hare represented. I'm sure he's an allegory, but what he is supposed to represent I don't know. Vatanen's sanity?
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
No
What a cute lil book. The Year of the Hare is a pleasant, quick read, perfect for springtime. The minimalistic writing style is refreshing, presenting a story that feels grounded in reality but playfully flirts with the imaginative throughout. It leaves you with warm, happy thoughts while subtly passing on some serious messages.
The book touches on themes such as nature, politics, life-changing decisions, materialism, and the absurdity of bureaucracy. The male protagonist abandons his conventional life in favor of a freer existence, accompanied by a hare. The connection between humans and animals is beautifully depicted, adding an extra layer of charm to the story.
You can dive into this book without big expectations, but rest assured, it won’t disappoint. It’s a delightful read that balances humor with thought-provoking insights.
The book touches on themes such as nature, politics, life-changing decisions, materialism, and the absurdity of bureaucracy. The male protagonist abandons his conventional life in favor of a freer existence, accompanied by a hare. The connection between humans and animals is beautifully depicted, adding an extra layer of charm to the story.
You can dive into this book without big expectations, but rest assured, it won’t disappoint. It’s a delightful read that balances humor with thought-provoking insights.
Olin varma, että en jaksaisi tätä lukea, mut ihan hyvin jaksoin loppuun