Reviews

The Year of the Hare by Arto Paasilinna

grillikissa's review against another edition

4.0

Pick up a hare, abandon everything you ever knew and start wandering around whilst accidentally committing capital offenses. Vatanen is chill like that.

I didn't think this could ever be as high as a 4 star read for me but damn. It seems I'm vulnerable when it comes to dry and depressing humor. Vatanen and the rabbit really got to me and overall I feel like this book is a great example of finnish people and their behaviour.

Vatanen as a character was something so relatable- he remained passive throughout the book, figuring his life out in the silence with his dear piece of nature.

--

(a few quotes I just want to write up for myself)


"Anyone could live this life, he reflected, provided they had the sense to give up the other way of life"

"He cried, didn't know why, but the cry came, he caressed the bear's fur, the rabbit that rested in the bag with its eyes closed"

squeak's review against another edition

4.0

The adventures of a man and his hare. A charming but dry book about a man that escapes from the inhumanity of society by caring for an animal and living on short term jobs in the woods or in the countryside. His encounters with people are more or less pleasant, often weird, and they offer the reader a chance to reflect on the rules of society and the often irrationally mean behaviors of humans. A light reading, humorous but rarely funny, it offers chances to reflect, but only if reader desires it. Otherwise the strange succession of events can be simply enjoyed and smiled upon.

georgia2301's review

adventurous funny fast-paced

4.5

jubaboop's review against another edition

2.0

the freedom

jeremybmueller's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

4.25

cybersuccubus's review against another edition

2.0

This wasn't really my kind of book. I found the story to be a bit dull and the characters I could not get attached to or relate to in any way. It's good that it was a quick read but I don't think I'll be recommending it.

sci_mom's review against another edition

3.0

Translated novels are not for everyone and not all translated novels are created equal. This one is more enjoyable if you know a little bit about Finnish literature before you start reading. I read this short description http://faculty.washington.edu/akn/1510902.pdf and it definitely helped me to appreciate this book more. I wanted to read it because it is in the UNESCO Collection of Representative Works for Finland and I am trying to read at least 26 books by foreign authors this year. I liked it for what it is.

cnhs's review against another edition

adventurous funny 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

3.5

spencergl's review against another edition

4.0

I thought this was a great story up until the last few chapters. Granted the last two were great chapters, but there is the part leading up to the very end, in essence one of the very last very climatic parts of the story that I thought was a bit out of character for the main character.

Aside from that, truly a great story! I love the adventure in it, the ties to nature, the hare, and the shenanigans that our heroes embark on.

magnetgrrl's review against another edition

4.0

I have so many questions.