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The White Hare
A beautifully written coming-of-age novel from an acclaimed literary voice.
A lost boy. A dead girl, and one who is left behind.
Robbie doesn't want anything more to do with death, but life in a village full of whispers and secrets can't make things the way they were.
When the white hare appears, magical and fleet in the silvery moonlight, she leads them all into a legend, a chase, a hunt. But who is the hunter and who the hunted?
In The White Hare, Michael Fishwick deftly mingles a coming-of-age story with mystery, myth and summer hauntings.
A lost boy. A dead girl, and one who is left behind.
Robbie doesn't want anything more to do with death, but life in a village full of whispers and secrets can't make things the way they were.
When the white hare appears, magical and fleet in the silvery moonlight, she leads them all into a legend, a chase, a hunt. But who is the hunter and who the hunted?
In The White Hare, Michael Fishwick deftly mingles a coming-of-age story with mystery, myth and summer hauntings.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published March 9, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
April 23, 2019
"Legends are strange things. They're not just stories, you know. Myths and legends can be truer than anything else. They tell us elemental things about ourselves, about the world we live in, about how we relate to each other. They are about the passions and fears that are inside us, that sometimes, very often, we cannot see or feel or understand ourselves."
3.5 ⭐️
Well, this was a strange story! Robbie has recently moved to the countryside, to the village of his father's childhood with his dad, stepmother and his two stepsisters. He makes friends with Mags, a local girl and she tells him all about the lore and legends that surround the village.
The main one being a white hare that runs around the fields - and only some residents can see her. They say she is a young girl, come back in the form of a hare to seek revenge on the boy who wronged her and broke her heart.
I loved this idea, that women who die with their hearts broken can return in the form of this mythical and beautiful creature.
The rest of the tale is a little bizarre though, we don't find out much about Mags, and her background - which I think I would have appreciated. I also didn't understand what the Strickland brothers' problem was - why they hated the hare so much, and why they hated Robbie. It was never fully explained. Though it is a very short book, so I guess they had to fit everything in.
I liked Robbie, and his relationship with his stepmother and stepsisters, how he dealt with the death of his mother and eventually became accepted in the village.
Overall, a mystical and interesting idea, maybe a little bit short - could have done with some more fleshing out, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
3.5 ⭐️
Well, this was a strange story! Robbie has recently moved to the countryside, to the village of his father's childhood with his dad, stepmother and his two stepsisters. He makes friends with Mags, a local girl and she tells him all about the lore and legends that surround the village.
The main one being a white hare that runs around the fields - and only some residents can see her. They say she is a young girl, come back in the form of a hare to seek revenge on the boy who wronged her and broke her heart.
I loved this idea, that women who die with their hearts broken can return in the form of this mythical and beautiful creature.
The rest of the tale is a little bizarre though, we don't find out much about Mags, and her background - which I think I would have appreciated. I also didn't understand what the Strickland brothers' problem was - why they hated the hare so much, and why they hated Robbie. It was never fully explained. Though it is a very short book, so I guess they had to fit everything in.
I liked Robbie, and his relationship with his stepmother and stepsisters, how he dealt with the death of his mother and eventually became accepted in the village.
Overall, a mystical and interesting idea, maybe a little bit short - could have done with some more fleshing out, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
February 23, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley, Head of Zeus and Michael Fishwick for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance reader copy of this book.
You can find my review on both Goodreads and Amazon. On goodreads.com/karenwhittard and on Amazon under k.e.whittard from publication date.
I feel like I am in a reading slump at the moment. Books that I have read over the last few days have fallen flat for me and I've been left feeling disappointed. This is another one of those I'm afraid.
Oh how I hate to give a bad review. But the purpose of reading a netgalley book is to give an honest review, and that is always what I give. A review of my honest opinion, I hope my review isnt the view of too many people and I hope that this book does well for the author.
I couldn't get to grips with the writing of this book. For me it felt confusing, jolted and a bit random. There were sections of the book that seemed to stop mid flow and I found that it interrupted the flow of the book.
I find myself coming out of this reading experience. Jaded and utterly confused. Which isn't a great feeling. I just felt like there wasn't really much storyline if any at all and nothing tied up neatly at the end. For a book steeped in magic and mythology and mystery you need that all important conclusion at the end a mutual understanding if you will between writer and reader. Which was sadly lost on me.
I felt that I didn't connect to any of the characters in the book. Which doesn't help either.
All in all. I was left wanting more from this book and left utterly bermused.
Let me know what you thought of the book in the comments.
Happy reading everyone
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance reader copy of this book.
You can find my review on both Goodreads and Amazon. On goodreads.com/karenwhittard and on Amazon under k.e.whittard from publication date.
I feel like I am in a reading slump at the moment. Books that I have read over the last few days have fallen flat for me and I've been left feeling disappointed. This is another one of those I'm afraid.
Oh how I hate to give a bad review. But the purpose of reading a netgalley book is to give an honest review, and that is always what I give. A review of my honest opinion, I hope my review isnt the view of too many people and I hope that this book does well for the author.
I couldn't get to grips with the writing of this book. For me it felt confusing, jolted and a bit random. There were sections of the book that seemed to stop mid flow and I found that it interrupted the flow of the book.
I find myself coming out of this reading experience. Jaded and utterly confused. Which isn't a great feeling. I just felt like there wasn't really much storyline if any at all and nothing tied up neatly at the end. For a book steeped in magic and mythology and mystery you need that all important conclusion at the end a mutual understanding if you will between writer and reader. Which was sadly lost on me.
I felt that I didn't connect to any of the characters in the book. Which doesn't help either.
All in all. I was left wanting more from this book and left utterly bermused.
Let me know what you thought of the book in the comments.
Happy reading everyone
May 12, 2017
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Michael Fishwick, and the publisher, Zephyr, for this opportunity.
When Robbie's new step family make the move to a quiet village it is less of the escape from their troubles they thought it would be. It seems history is repeating itself and their past mistakes have returned to haunt them. Robbie, in particular, has become the target for a malevolence in the village no one can seems willing to put a name to, and even new friend, Mags, seems unwilling to help him discover why the past won't leave him alone.
Despite this being aimed at a far younger audience than myself, I found portions of this book made for pretty terrifying reading! It was less the actual events that caused this terror, than the building of tension that had me white knuckled and breathless. This is also what made this a one-sitting read.
The strange uncertainty that permeates the text also caused much of my confusion. I was at a loss as to what was real, what was an object of Robbie's imagination, and what was a creation of my own. Sometimes this worked in the books favour, for me, but other times it was just purely confusing.
Despite the thrilling tension, looking back I find that little actually occurred for much of the book. I did enjoy my actual reading of this, but the story was buoyed along by suspense that often didn't lead anywhere and, without this, would have been half the book it was.
When Robbie's new step family make the move to a quiet village it is less of the escape from their troubles they thought it would be. It seems history is repeating itself and their past mistakes have returned to haunt them. Robbie, in particular, has become the target for a malevolence in the village no one can seems willing to put a name to, and even new friend, Mags, seems unwilling to help him discover why the past won't leave him alone.
Despite this being aimed at a far younger audience than myself, I found portions of this book made for pretty terrifying reading! It was less the actual events that caused this terror, than the building of tension that had me white knuckled and breathless. This is also what made this a one-sitting read.
The strange uncertainty that permeates the text also caused much of my confusion. I was at a loss as to what was real, what was an object of Robbie's imagination, and what was a creation of my own. Sometimes this worked in the books favour, for me, but other times it was just purely confusing.
Despite the thrilling tension, looking back I find that little actually occurred for much of the book. I did enjoy my actual reading of this, but the story was buoyed along by suspense that often didn't lead anywhere and, without this, would have been half the book it was.
May 3, 2017
This is a book that can be easily read in one sitting. It deals with different kinds of love and hurt/trauma spiced up with magic and old lore: the son who cries for her dead mother; the girl who killed herself for love and returns as a white hare to exact revenge on the lover who left her; people with second sight...
It is a curious story, sometimes weird, sometimes erie, sometimes plain strange. We get to follow Robbie after his mom dies and he is left to deal with a lot of rage as he and his father move to his dad's old town. There he befriends Maggs, a weird girl who knows a lot about old tales and folklore. Both of them find themselves in this warped story of love and loss, of repentance and vengeance.
I liked this book. I think when netgalley offered it it was also listed as a "children's book". I guess it would depend on the children, but I honestly find this book kind of adult-y...
It is a curious story, sometimes weird, sometimes erie, sometimes plain strange. We get to follow Robbie after his mom dies and he is left to deal with a lot of rage as he and his father move to his dad's old town. There he befriends Maggs, a weird girl who knows a lot about old tales and folklore. Both of them find themselves in this warped story of love and loss, of repentance and vengeance.
I liked this book. I think when netgalley offered it it was also listed as a "children's book". I guess it would depend on the children, but I honestly find this book kind of adult-y...
March 5, 2017
I received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis:
After his mother dies, Robbie and his father move in with Sheila and her girls in a small village. His friend Mags obviously has some secrets and Robbie is about to be drawn into them whether he likes it or not.
I'm just going to say up front that I had very little idea what was going on in this book for 95% of the time I was reading it. It was a little too mysterious for my tastes.
Robbie's friend Mags tells him stories of the white hare. Robbie begins to see the white hare - in dreams at first - and then he starts seeing apparitions of a girl in the woods, who is obviously dead. Mags seems to know about the girl and how she died, but isn't exactly forthcoming with the information.
As the story moves on, it becomes obvious that Mags and the ghost girl were friends at one time, and the Strickland brothers, who have it in for Robert, also had a connection with her.
Robbie has a friend from school, Alice, who really should have come into the story far more, because things were far less weird in the scenes involving her.
The book ends with violence and confusion but the white hare business - whatever it is - is sorted out and Robbie's home life comes back to an even keel.
To be honest I felt like I was wading through mud for the majority of this story and I couldn't quite connect the dots between the characters and where the backstory came from.
Ten Second Synopsis:
After his mother dies, Robbie and his father move in with Sheila and her girls in a small village. His friend Mags obviously has some secrets and Robbie is about to be drawn into them whether he likes it or not.
I'm just going to say up front that I had very little idea what was going on in this book for 95% of the time I was reading it. It was a little too mysterious for my tastes.
Robbie's friend Mags tells him stories of the white hare. Robbie begins to see the white hare - in dreams at first - and then he starts seeing apparitions of a girl in the woods, who is obviously dead. Mags seems to know about the girl and how she died, but isn't exactly forthcoming with the information.
As the story moves on, it becomes obvious that Mags and the ghost girl were friends at one time, and the Strickland brothers, who have it in for Robert, also had a connection with her.
Robbie has a friend from school, Alice, who really should have come into the story far more, because things were far less weird in the scenes involving her.
The book ends with violence and confusion but the white hare business - whatever it is - is sorted out and Robbie's home life comes back to an even keel.
To be honest I felt like I was wading through mud for the majority of this story and I couldn't quite connect the dots between the characters and where the backstory came from.
March 9, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus in exchange for an honest review.
Robbie is 14 years old and just moved to his dad's old hometown with his dad and his new stepmother. Still dealing with his mom's death and his dad's quick remarriage,, Robbie tends to act out in anger but soon meets Mags who takes him on countryside adventures. When they spot a white hare, Robbie soon realises there is a mystery in the town connected to sightings of white hares and it might have something to do with a girl who died before he arrived. As Robbie delves deeper into the mystery, his life might be in danger.
This book was quite beautifully written and I really loved all the wonderful descriptions of Robbie's surroundings and the countryside. Everything was very vivid and real in my mind because of it. Despite being quite rebellious and misunderstood, I really liked Robbie and i really felt for what he was going through, trying to deal with new family. I also liked the fact that Robbie had a number of close female friends but nothing turned romantic as the story wasn't about it and Michael Fishwick made sure that a romance didn't take away from the story abut the hare.
There was a big element of magical realism in this story, connected to the old tales of the people who had lived in the village for generations. I loved the fact that everything was stemmed down from these old folk tales but people still believed in them, even Robbie's dad who hadn't lived there for years.
The end was interesting as once i felt there had been a conclusion, there was another chapter and another but this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. The eventually conclusion was very satisfactory and heartwarming. Overall, I really enjoyed this book for a sweet but quite action-packed short read.
Robbie is 14 years old and just moved to his dad's old hometown with his dad and his new stepmother. Still dealing with his mom's death and his dad's quick remarriage,, Robbie tends to act out in anger but soon meets Mags who takes him on countryside adventures. When they spot a white hare, Robbie soon realises there is a mystery in the town connected to sightings of white hares and it might have something to do with a girl who died before he arrived. As Robbie delves deeper into the mystery, his life might be in danger.
This book was quite beautifully written and I really loved all the wonderful descriptions of Robbie's surroundings and the countryside. Everything was very vivid and real in my mind because of it. Despite being quite rebellious and misunderstood, I really liked Robbie and i really felt for what he was going through, trying to deal with new family. I also liked the fact that Robbie had a number of close female friends but nothing turned romantic as the story wasn't about it and Michael Fishwick made sure that a romance didn't take away from the story abut the hare.
There was a big element of magical realism in this story, connected to the old tales of the people who had lived in the village for generations. I loved the fact that everything was stemmed down from these old folk tales but people still believed in them, even Robbie's dad who hadn't lived there for years.
The end was interesting as once i felt there had been a conclusion, there was another chapter and another but this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. The eventually conclusion was very satisfactory and heartwarming. Overall, I really enjoyed this book for a sweet but quite action-packed short read.
November 28, 2017
Review originally posted on The Bibliophile Chronicles
This book is a quick and interesting read that touches on that difficult topic of grief. The book follows Robbie, a young boy who’s dealing with the death of his mother and the remarriage of his father. The book is a short one – under two hundred pages and most likely you’ll get caught in this fascinating story and read it in one sitting.
The White Hare is a bit of a strange book, it is at times eerie, and I wasn’t always 100% sure what was going on, or where the plot was heading. I enjoyed the mixture of folklore, magic and realism, but I did feel like the ending left me with quite a few questions. That being said, it is a lovely read, watching the characters grow as they deal with the grief of losing their loved ones – Robbie’s friend Mags is dealing with a death also.
I really liked the characters in The White Hare – Robbie who acts out because he misses his mum, best friend Mags who knows more than anyone else about the white hare myth, and Robbie’s dad who’s just trying to do his best. They are very realistic characters, each trying to deal with their grief in the best way they know how.
I loved the idea of the white hare legend – which I won’t say too much about so as not to spoil the story – but I would have loved to know more about this myth and where it all started. I thought The White Hare had a really nice satisfactory ending, and overall the book is a good read. If you’re stuck in doors on a wintery Sunday this month, The White Hare is that perfect magical and heartwarming read to get caught up in.
This book is a quick and interesting read that touches on that difficult topic of grief. The book follows Robbie, a young boy who’s dealing with the death of his mother and the remarriage of his father. The book is a short one – under two hundred pages and most likely you’ll get caught in this fascinating story and read it in one sitting.
The White Hare is a bit of a strange book, it is at times eerie, and I wasn’t always 100% sure what was going on, or where the plot was heading. I enjoyed the mixture of folklore, magic and realism, but I did feel like the ending left me with quite a few questions. That being said, it is a lovely read, watching the characters grow as they deal with the grief of losing their loved ones – Robbie’s friend Mags is dealing with a death also.
I really liked the characters in The White Hare – Robbie who acts out because he misses his mum, best friend Mags who knows more than anyone else about the white hare myth, and Robbie’s dad who’s just trying to do his best. They are very realistic characters, each trying to deal with their grief in the best way they know how.
I loved the idea of the white hare legend – which I won’t say too much about so as not to spoil the story – but I would have loved to know more about this myth and where it all started. I thought The White Hare had a really nice satisfactory ending, and overall the book is a good read. If you’re stuck in doors on a wintery Sunday this month, The White Hare is that perfect magical and heartwarming read to get caught up in.
February 21, 2017
I'm honestly not sure how to feel about this book.
On the surface it has all the things I look for in a good story; myths, ledgends, folklore, interesting characters, a splash of ghosts, all wrapped up in mystery.
However, something about it just fell flat for me unfortunately.
I felt like I was left with way more questions than answers, and nothing seemed to be explained well at all.
I loved all the folklore and legend sourrounding the white hare, but where does the legend come from?
How did it start?
Does everyone from this place know about the legend?
Do they all believe it?
How does Mags know everything that shes does?
Where did Mags learn the song/rhyme about the White Hare?
What do all the different names actually relate to?
Was she taught or did she some how just know about it all?
ARGH!
I just felt like parts of the book were missing with all these unanswered questions, and (for me) it was just annoying rather than mysterious.
The cover is a thing of beauty though
(I recieved this book as the winner of a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to the publisher)
On the surface it has all the things I look for in a good story; myths, ledgends, folklore, interesting characters, a splash of ghosts, all wrapped up in mystery.
However, something about it just fell flat for me unfortunately.
I felt like I was left with way more questions than answers, and nothing seemed to be explained well at all.
I loved all the folklore and legend sourrounding the white hare, but where does the legend come from?
How did it start?
Does everyone from this place know about the legend?
Do they all believe it?
How does Mags know everything that shes does?
Where did Mags learn the song/rhyme about the White Hare?
What do all the different names actually relate to?
Was she taught or did she some how just know about it all?
ARGH!
I just felt like parts of the book were missing with all these unanswered questions, and (for me) it was just annoying rather than mysterious.
The cover is a thing of beauty though
(I recieved this book as the winner of a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to the publisher)
March 18, 2017
Lovely little book. Robbie, a young boy, who has recently lost his mum, moves from London to the country with his Dad, his new step mum, and new siblings. He's not a happy boy and the move is the result of him going a little haywire whilst in London. Robbie is friendless until he meets Mags, an older girl full of mystery. Mags having lost her best friend is suffering a loss of her own.
The book is steeped in local folklore, the legend of the white hare playing centre stage. This is a coming of age book that deals with some difficult subjects well. Suicide and bullying are covered, alongside young love, and the dealing with the loss of a loved one. I can see this appealing to young adults: i'm sure they will love the moody atmosphere and have empathy with Robbie and his frustrations. In essence the author has created a modern day fairytale with a mix of darkness and magic.
The book is steeped in local folklore, the legend of the white hare playing centre stage. This is a coming of age book that deals with some difficult subjects well. Suicide and bullying are covered, alongside young love, and the dealing with the loss of a loved one. I can see this appealing to young adults: i'm sure they will love the moody atmosphere and have empathy with Robbie and his frustrations. In essence the author has created a modern day fairytale with a mix of darkness and magic.
April 16, 2018
I didn't quite understand this story. I thought it was interesting, but still left too many questions unanswered. It's not a very long read, but reads quick enough to hold the interest of a middle schooler and YA.
April 29, 2018
"People don't move very far, Robbie, societies don't change, and their stories, and their legends, never die, and because we can't see things doesn't mean they aren't there"
* * *
3 / 5
I felt the same way reading The White Hare as I did when reading Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane: like I was reading something in a weird hazy dream, knowing that the book was good but not quite grasping it. It was like experiencing childhood again, that weird blur of reality and belief that the world is more magical than it really is. I have absolutely no doubt that anyone who enjoyed The Ocean at the End of the Lane or A Monster Calls will absolutely love this; Fishwick has nailed that interweaving of narrative threads about family, love, fear, loss, growing up, and wondering who you are and how you fit into the world.
He and his dad had this in common, at least. The land was claiming him. There was a life to be had here
Fourteen year old Robbie, suffering from the loss of his mother and annoyance at his father bringing a new woman, Sheila, and her children into his life, commits arson. His father decides the best move is to take the new family to the countryside, to the village where he grew up, hoping that this will rejuvenate Robbie but also seeking peace and closure for himself. Robbie befriends Mags, an older and parent-unapproved girl with a secret and a past that she can't leave behind. I really loved Robbie. I felt that Fishwick really pinned down the character of this hurting young man; Robbie is hurting, yes, but (despite the arson) is not aggressive or unlikeable, and he gets a lovely healing arc.
"The brutality of love. The desperation, the tide of misery that sweeps through you when you cannot have the one you want, the pain that's left behind that you can't endure, the callousness of the heart and its tenderness and frailty"
A well as being about Robbie and his loss, The White Hare is about a legend. When a woman takes her own life because of a lover, she might come back as a white hare, beautiful and elusive and hunted. Robbie wanders into Mag's story, one of love and loss and a white hare that she can't put out of her mind. The reader, like Robbie, is confused by what is happening, there's always this sense permeating the narrative that everything is not quite as it seems, that the truth is just out of your grasp.
He couldn't see the stars so much because of the moonlight, you'd think they'd all fallen to earth, a little galaxy of orange streetlights sprinkled over the plain
So why wasn't this book a higher rating for me, you ask? Frankly I was about 80% of the way into The White Hare before I started to get the point of the book. This was absolutely my fault, and it was the same problem I had with Gaiman's book: I was too busy trying to figure out what was 'real' and what wasn't to just go with the flow and appreciate the book. I also thought some of the secondary characters, like Sheila, her daughters, and the Strickland brothers weren't fully developed: Shelia was the standard stepmum to whom Robbie felt very negatively, understandably, but who never really did anything that deserved it, and I never really understood the motives of the Stricklands.
I definitely recommend The White Hare for anyone looking for a book about growing up mixed with delightful legends and a hint of magic hanging in the air. Fishwick writes in lovely prose and Robbie is a lovable main character.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
* * *
3 / 5
I felt the same way reading The White Hare as I did when reading Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane: like I was reading something in a weird hazy dream, knowing that the book was good but not quite grasping it. It was like experiencing childhood again, that weird blur of reality and belief that the world is more magical than it really is. I have absolutely no doubt that anyone who enjoyed The Ocean at the End of the Lane or A Monster Calls will absolutely love this; Fishwick has nailed that interweaving of narrative threads about family, love, fear, loss, growing up, and wondering who you are and how you fit into the world.
He and his dad had this in common, at least. The land was claiming him. There was a life to be had here
Fourteen year old Robbie, suffering from the loss of his mother and annoyance at his father bringing a new woman, Sheila, and her children into his life, commits arson. His father decides the best move is to take the new family to the countryside, to the village where he grew up, hoping that this will rejuvenate Robbie but also seeking peace and closure for himself. Robbie befriends Mags, an older and parent-unapproved girl with a secret and a past that she can't leave behind. I really loved Robbie. I felt that Fishwick really pinned down the character of this hurting young man; Robbie is hurting, yes, but (despite the arson) is not aggressive or unlikeable, and he gets a lovely healing arc.
"The brutality of love. The desperation, the tide of misery that sweeps through you when you cannot have the one you want, the pain that's left behind that you can't endure, the callousness of the heart and its tenderness and frailty"
A well as being about Robbie and his loss, The White Hare is about a legend. When a woman takes her own life because of a lover, she might come back as a white hare, beautiful and elusive and hunted. Robbie wanders into Mag's story, one of love and loss and a white hare that she can't put out of her mind. The reader, like Robbie, is confused by what is happening, there's always this sense permeating the narrative that everything is not quite as it seems, that the truth is just out of your grasp.
He couldn't see the stars so much because of the moonlight, you'd think they'd all fallen to earth, a little galaxy of orange streetlights sprinkled over the plain
So why wasn't this book a higher rating for me, you ask? Frankly I was about 80% of the way into The White Hare before I started to get the point of the book. This was absolutely my fault, and it was the same problem I had with Gaiman's book: I was too busy trying to figure out what was 'real' and what wasn't to just go with the flow and appreciate the book. I also thought some of the secondary characters, like Sheila, her daughters, and the Strickland brothers weren't fully developed: Shelia was the standard stepmum to whom Robbie felt very negatively, understandably, but who never really did anything that deserved it, and I never really understood the motives of the Stricklands.
I definitely recommend The White Hare for anyone looking for a book about growing up mixed with delightful legends and a hint of magic hanging in the air. Fishwick writes in lovely prose and Robbie is a lovable main character.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
February 13, 2017
This book is an absolute gem. The reader is taken on a fantastical, magical journey for the white hare and the meaning behind it whilst living the life of two young people who have lived through the loss of people they loved.
The bonds of friendship are woven when the two central characters first meet and they strengthen as the story progresses but we see how they grow apart when one accidentally betrays the other. Bonds are reforged when the betrayed is rescued and we see the characters grow from strength to strength within themselves and each other during these trials.
The story takes us above and beyond the trials of growing up in a rural environment and brings us a wonderful story that involves country living, myth, superstition and a healthy dose of life as a teenager surviving poor home lives and the loss of loved ones.
This is a definite must read book for anyone who likes to give their imagination free reign.
This is a Goodreads First Read
The bonds of friendship are woven when the two central characters first meet and they strengthen as the story progresses but we see how they grow apart when one accidentally betrays the other. Bonds are reforged when the betrayed is rescued and we see the characters grow from strength to strength within themselves and each other during these trials.
The story takes us above and beyond the trials of growing up in a rural environment and brings us a wonderful story that involves country living, myth, superstition and a healthy dose of life as a teenager surviving poor home lives and the loss of loved ones.
This is a definite must read book for anyone who likes to give their imagination free reign.
This is a Goodreads First Read
February 22, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
" The one who doesn't go straight home, the traitor,
The friendless one, the cat of the wood...'
A lost boy. A dead girl, and one who is left behind.
Robbie doesn't want anything more to do with death, but life in a village full of whispers and secrets can't make things the way they were.
When the white hare appears, magical and fleet in the silvery moonlight, she leads them all into a legend, a chase, a hunt. But who is the hunter and who the hunted?
In The White Hare, Michael Fishwick deftly mingles a coming-of-age story with mystery, myth and summer hauntings."
While this book is beautifully written, something just fell flat for me. I've come out of reading this more confused than when I went into it. The plot wasn't overly complex actually, I found there was little plot at all, but things didn't tie up neatly at the end. And with a book that is based around mystery and myths, you need that extra detail of why things happened and you just didn't get that with this book.
I didn't feel connected to any of the characters which is unusual for me, especially with the troubled main character. There was just something missing.
3/5* purely because it was written well. I was left with too many unanswered questions which was annoying rather than mysterious.
" The one who doesn't go straight home, the traitor,
The friendless one, the cat of the wood...'
A lost boy. A dead girl, and one who is left behind.
Robbie doesn't want anything more to do with death, but life in a village full of whispers and secrets can't make things the way they were.
When the white hare appears, magical and fleet in the silvery moonlight, she leads them all into a legend, a chase, a hunt. But who is the hunter and who the hunted?
In The White Hare, Michael Fishwick deftly mingles a coming-of-age story with mystery, myth and summer hauntings."
While this book is beautifully written, something just fell flat for me. I've come out of reading this more confused than when I went into it. The plot wasn't overly complex actually, I found there was little plot at all, but things didn't tie up neatly at the end. And with a book that is based around mystery and myths, you need that extra detail of why things happened and you just didn't get that with this book.
I didn't feel connected to any of the characters which is unusual for me, especially with the troubled main character. There was just something missing.
3/5* purely because it was written well. I was left with too many unanswered questions which was annoying rather than mysterious.
April 21, 2017
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway but I didn't have the time to finish it until now.
The story was way better than expected, magical and lyrical and a bit insane, if I can say this. There were parts that felt a bit rushed but nothing too annoying. I liked the characters and I was a big fan of the hare myth/story. I wish there were more books like this because we need - indeed- little doors to fantastic places.
The story was way better than expected, magical and lyrical and a bit insane, if I can say this. There were parts that felt a bit rushed but nothing too annoying. I liked the characters and I was a big fan of the hare myth/story. I wish there were more books like this because we need - indeed- little doors to fantastic places.
April 15, 2017
A boy moves to the country after the death of his mother.
I couldn’t engage with this book – I found the writing / narrative a bit confusing.
Overall rating 2.5
I couldn’t engage with this book – I found the writing / narrative a bit confusing.
Overall rating 2.5
October 7, 2018
This meshed very nicely with my recent re-read of The Owl Service — it has the same kind of eerie, mythic quality.
January 24, 2022
i REALLY wanted to like this book. i love myth and old folk tales. but this one just…. i didn’t like the authors style of writing. i don’t have much to say about this book. most of the characters are pretty one dimensional.
July 6, 2024
I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I actually stayed up past my bedtime to finish it! An easy read, but a fun and impactful one.
March 13, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.
This is a lovely book. The writing style is beautiful, almost poetic in places. The story is told in quite a hazy, dreamlike way. It is like remembering a summer from childhood, with the real and imagined mixed up together. It will really appeal to those who like books like The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.
I really liked the characters, especially Robbie. I also really liked the way that the old country myths about the hare were made part of the story. As someone who grew up in a fairly rural area, that felt very familiar.
I'd definitely recommend this book, especially if you like magical realism. The only negative things I'd say are that the 'villains' of the story could have been fleshed out a little more and there are some very realistic description of the main character's loss of his mother to cancer. That hit a little close to home for me and might be something to be aware of for some readers, particularly if you are recommending this book to young adults.
Overall, this is a beautifully written and very enjoyable book.
This is a lovely book. The writing style is beautiful, almost poetic in places. The story is told in quite a hazy, dreamlike way. It is like remembering a summer from childhood, with the real and imagined mixed up together. It will really appeal to those who like books like The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.
I really liked the characters, especially Robbie. I also really liked the way that the old country myths about the hare were made part of the story. As someone who grew up in a fairly rural area, that felt very familiar.
I'd definitely recommend this book, especially if you like magical realism. The only negative things I'd say are that the 'villains' of the story could have been fleshed out a little more and there are some very realistic description of the main character's loss of his mother to cancer. That hit a little close to home for me and might be something to be aware of for some readers, particularly if you are recommending this book to young adults.
Overall, this is a beautifully written and very enjoyable book.
March 10, 2017
Thank you to Netgally, the author and the publisher for providing me with this.
CONTENT
We get to know the stories of Mags and Robbie, who, both, have problems with their familiy/life. Mags is obsessed with hares, she knows more about them than most people. There is also a mysterious white hare, that keeps appearing.
STYLE OF WRITING
The writing was somehow.....strange? I did not know what the author intended. There were parts where I had trouble getting the meanings, and quite often, I could not imagine the things he wrote. Like, usually when I read a book, it's like a film in my head... this time I had recepton problems.
CHARACTERS
Robbie and Mags. Robbie has a criminal record, because he likes to set things on fire. Although you have to know, that he' s not a bad person, it's more like he lost his mother and does not know how to cope. He was okay. Mags however is strange, I did not like her, nor the way she acts, or how she treated Robbie. It did not feel like a friendship to me.
OPINION
I feel like I can't say anything about this book, that matters. It was just so.... nondescript. I did not learn from this book, I could not connect with the characters or the writing. I felt confused and kept wondering why I was reading this. I'm sorry because I love hares, and I wanted to like it. The blurb sounded awesome, but the more I read the less I wanted to continue.
CONTENT
We get to know the stories of Mags and Robbie, who, both, have problems with their familiy/life. Mags is obsessed with hares, she knows more about them than most people. There is also a mysterious white hare, that keeps appearing.
STYLE OF WRITING
The writing was somehow.....strange? I did not know what the author intended. There were parts where I had trouble getting the meanings, and quite often, I could not imagine the things he wrote. Like, usually when I read a book, it's like a film in my head... this time I had recepton problems.
CHARACTERS
Robbie and Mags. Robbie has a criminal record, because he likes to set things on fire. Although you have to know, that he' s not a bad person, it's more like he lost his mother and does not know how to cope. He was okay. Mags however is strange, I did not like her, nor the way she acts, or how she treated Robbie. It did not feel like a friendship to me.
OPINION
I feel like I can't say anything about this book, that matters. It was just so.... nondescript. I did not learn from this book, I could not connect with the characters or the writing. I felt confused and kept wondering why I was reading this. I'm sorry because I love hares, and I wanted to like it. The blurb sounded awesome, but the more I read the less I wanted to continue.
March 26, 2017
Michael Fishwick’s first teen novel is an interesting and dark story of folklore, the supernatural, and friendship. I found myself almost immediately invested in the main characters, Mags and Robbie, both of whom were identifiable while also being fresh and original.
The plot of the book, although a brilliant premise, lagged in places for me, and there were several occasions where I lost the thread of what was going on. Some scenes ended so suddenly, and the writing style was such that I sometimes found I didn’t know what was happening, or I would miss the significance of something.
Although the book is absorbing, the pacing of the story is quite slow and drawn out. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as the tension builds wonderfully in certain scenes… but, as I said, it can drag, and some of the dialogue became increasingly unrealistic and stilted.
After completing the book, I found myself wishing there had been more focus and exploration of the folklore and the supernatural aspect of the story. The focus is very much on Robbie and his home life… which worked well, but towards the end of the book his emotions overshadowed everything else. Even Mags disappeared during a sizeable chunk of the book, partially replaced by seemingly pointless Alice, and I found Mags’ character became less interesting than it was initially.
I also felt the story seemed a little anti-climactic, and I wasn’t fully satisfied with where it ended. It almost felt like it turned into a different story half way through.
Saying that, it certainly had some well-written and absorbing scenes, and the writing created some great tension… but I would have liked more of it. I would have also liked more about the folklore behind the White Hare, and more of the ghost… And the supporting characters are all in need of fleshing out.
Apart from these personal gripes, I did enjoy the book, especially the set-up and the ghostly scenes.
I think this book is definitely worth a read, and will certainly appeal to young readers. I don’t think the pace would suit reluctant readers, though. If you enjoy old-fashioned ghost stories, little-known folklore, or tales of young friendship, this may just be the book for you.
My thanks to The Reading Agency and Head of Zeus for supplying me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The plot of the book, although a brilliant premise, lagged in places for me, and there were several occasions where I lost the thread of what was going on. Some scenes ended so suddenly, and the writing style was such that I sometimes found I didn’t know what was happening, or I would miss the significance of something.
Although the book is absorbing, the pacing of the story is quite slow and drawn out. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as the tension builds wonderfully in certain scenes… but, as I said, it can drag, and some of the dialogue became increasingly unrealistic and stilted.
After completing the book, I found myself wishing there had been more focus and exploration of the folklore and the supernatural aspect of the story. The focus is very much on Robbie and his home life… which worked well, but towards the end of the book his emotions overshadowed everything else. Even Mags disappeared during a sizeable chunk of the book, partially replaced by seemingly pointless Alice, and I found Mags’ character became less interesting than it was initially.
I also felt the story seemed a little anti-climactic, and I wasn’t fully satisfied with where it ended. It almost felt like it turned into a different story half way through.
Saying that, it certainly had some well-written and absorbing scenes, and the writing created some great tension… but I would have liked more of it. I would have also liked more about the folklore behind the White Hare, and more of the ghost… And the supporting characters are all in need of fleshing out.
Apart from these personal gripes, I did enjoy the book, especially the set-up and the ghostly scenes.
I think this book is definitely worth a read, and will certainly appeal to young readers. I don’t think the pace would suit reluctant readers, though. If you enjoy old-fashioned ghost stories, little-known folklore, or tales of young friendship, this may just be the book for you.
My thanks to The Reading Agency and Head of Zeus for supplying me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2018
Some books are more memorable for the mood they evoke than for the plot; the feeling of these books stays with me longer than the specific characters or situations that comprise them. The White Hare is such a novel. And I’ll never look at a rabbit (the traitor, the friendless one, the cat of the wood) the same way again.
On a dustjacket blurb, Fiona Noble describes this book as “deeply atmospheric,” and this is an apt description, for the overall sense that it generates—of wonder, despair, magic, loss, love—is as much a part of the tale as any single character.
The book is a Bildungsroman, or coming of age story, about young Robbie. Without giving too much away, Robbie is reeling from the death of his mother and has moved from London to the countryside to live with his father, stepmother, and stepsisters. He struggles to adapt to life in town and to find a way to move forward and heal his relationship with his father. His closest friend, an older girl named Mags, is dealing with her own personal demons, stemming from the loss of a girl who was her best friend. A white hare has been spotted in town, a symbol steeped in legend and superstition, sparking a chain of events that will reveal mysteries and create conflict that could change Robbie’s and Mags’s lives.
Much of the story is told in the vein of magical realism, where the reader is left to wonder whether the “rational” explanation of events is the correct one, or whether something inexplicable is actually taking place. The writing is frequently beautiful, and there was enough unraveling mystery to keep pulling me through it.
At other times, the writing seemed somewhat disjointed—the pacing felt inconsistent, the structure of the story not quite smooth, and the tone a bit uneven. Certain parts felt unconnected (or not as important) to the main story, and there were places where my interest flagged.
Throughout, though, I was invested enough to want to continue, and I was glad that I did. I feel I’ve gained another lens for looking at parts of my own life—loss, death, friendship, and certainly white hares.
Give it a try; you should be able to tell in the first few chapters whether this one’s for you.
On a dustjacket blurb, Fiona Noble describes this book as “deeply atmospheric,” and this is an apt description, for the overall sense that it generates—of wonder, despair, magic, loss, love—is as much a part of the tale as any single character.
The book is a Bildungsroman, or coming of age story, about young Robbie. Without giving too much away, Robbie is reeling from the death of his mother and has moved from London to the countryside to live with his father, stepmother, and stepsisters. He struggles to adapt to life in town and to find a way to move forward and heal his relationship with his father. His closest friend, an older girl named Mags, is dealing with her own personal demons, stemming from the loss of a girl who was her best friend. A white hare has been spotted in town, a symbol steeped in legend and superstition, sparking a chain of events that will reveal mysteries and create conflict that could change Robbie’s and Mags’s lives.
Much of the story is told in the vein of magical realism, where the reader is left to wonder whether the “rational” explanation of events is the correct one, or whether something inexplicable is actually taking place. The writing is frequently beautiful, and there was enough unraveling mystery to keep pulling me through it.
At other times, the writing seemed somewhat disjointed—the pacing felt inconsistent, the structure of the story not quite smooth, and the tone a bit uneven. Certain parts felt unconnected (or not as important) to the main story, and there were places where my interest flagged.
Throughout, though, I was invested enough to want to continue, and I was glad that I did. I feel I’ve gained another lens for looking at parts of my own life—loss, death, friendship, and certainly white hares.
Give it a try; you should be able to tell in the first few chapters whether this one’s for you.
March 24, 2017
I don't read a great deal of childrens/Young Adult fiction, but every now and again a book comes along that really takes my fancy. I'm happy to host the Blog Tour for this quite beautiful and wonderfully imagined book.
Delightfully presented as a small hardback with a gorgeous front cover, The White Hare is a coming-of-age story with a touch of magic. Lead character Robbie is a troubled lad, he's fourteen, which is difficult enough, but he's also grieving. His mother died after a long illness, his father has remarried, his step-mother has two daughters. They've moved house and now live in the small town in which his Dad grew up.
Robbie has been in trouble. He gets a buzz from setting fires, and it's landed him in trouble in the past. Big trouble. However, he's done his time and he's out now and trying his best to get on with life. Making friends isn't easy and he's found himself drawn to two girls: Mags and Alice; both a little different in their own ways, both outcasts. They suit each other.
Mags loves hares and teaches Robbie the old poems and old tales about these magical and mysterious creatures. However, for Robbie, these stories spark something else inside him, He soon becomes aware of a strange, almost supernatural presence, and see glimpses of a young girl in a white dress. He also dreams of his Mum, and the dreams and visions and fables are all woven together.
Alongside the magic and the fables, there are some difficult and bang up-to-date modern themes running through this book, and the author has combined the two very well. His attention to detail, his description of the countryside and his well-rounded and realistic characters work so well together to create an enjoyable and quite different story for children and young adults.
A story of growing up and dealing with loss and change, alongside tales of magic and superstition. Michael Fishwick has a rich imagination and is a skilled writer. The White Hare is thought-provoking and a pleasure to read.
Delightfully presented as a small hardback with a gorgeous front cover, The White Hare is a coming-of-age story with a touch of magic. Lead character Robbie is a troubled lad, he's fourteen, which is difficult enough, but he's also grieving. His mother died after a long illness, his father has remarried, his step-mother has two daughters. They've moved house and now live in the small town in which his Dad grew up.
Robbie has been in trouble. He gets a buzz from setting fires, and it's landed him in trouble in the past. Big trouble. However, he's done his time and he's out now and trying his best to get on with life. Making friends isn't easy and he's found himself drawn to two girls: Mags and Alice; both a little different in their own ways, both outcasts. They suit each other.
Mags loves hares and teaches Robbie the old poems and old tales about these magical and mysterious creatures. However, for Robbie, these stories spark something else inside him, He soon becomes aware of a strange, almost supernatural presence, and see glimpses of a young girl in a white dress. He also dreams of his Mum, and the dreams and visions and fables are all woven together.
Alongside the magic and the fables, there are some difficult and bang up-to-date modern themes running through this book, and the author has combined the two very well. His attention to detail, his description of the countryside and his well-rounded and realistic characters work so well together to create an enjoyable and quite different story for children and young adults.
A story of growing up and dealing with loss and change, alongside tales of magic and superstition. Michael Fishwick has a rich imagination and is a skilled writer. The White Hare is thought-provoking and a pleasure to read.
March 20, 2017
Robbie’s mum died of cancer. He wasn’t there when she died. He was hanging around with a bad crowd setting fire to bins at the time. So he blames himself, burdens himself with the guilt of her death…and is angry. Angry with himself. Angry with his father. Angry at the injustice of it all. Anger driven by guilt and grief.
Then his father, and new stepmother, decide the best thing for everyone is to leave London, start afresh and set up home in the village his father grew up in. A relatively small village with families who have farmed the land for generations, where everybody knows everybody’s business. A new start…
So now Robbie is angry, grieving and isolated. He’s not really interested in making new friends at school, in fact he’s not really interested in his new life, he wants to be back in London. But despite this he does have 2 friends. He has Alice, also new to the school; both of them outsiders, sticking together. Alice is very grounded and is the only character with a stable home life. And he has Mags, an older girl, no longer at school, grieving the loss of her best friend and schooling Robbie in the laws of nature, the changes of the season, the rhythm of the land. It’s Mags who shows Robbie the white hare.
The significance of the white hare? Not everyone can see it. It features in local folklore and legend, it is a woman scorned, it is an omen…it is, in short, trouble. But while it is acknowledged folklore, few villagers are ready to speak openly of it and Robbie is left to piece together the meaning of what he sees. Restless and infinitely sad the white hare points Robbie to a recent tragedy ensuring his involvement in the scenes to follow. At times Robbie is infused with the spirit of the white hare; we feel it in his visions, in his running, in his confusion. Drawing to a dramatic conclusion the white hare leaves in its wake the sense of healing and peace between Robbie and his father.
This is a well written tale of grief and forgiveness with a teenager in turmoil. It has the feeling of a fairytale, tinged with sadness, with the white hare running through the tale. All in all an enjoyable, engaging read.
Then his father, and new stepmother, decide the best thing for everyone is to leave London, start afresh and set up home in the village his father grew up in. A relatively small village with families who have farmed the land for generations, where everybody knows everybody’s business. A new start…
So now Robbie is angry, grieving and isolated. He’s not really interested in making new friends at school, in fact he’s not really interested in his new life, he wants to be back in London. But despite this he does have 2 friends. He has Alice, also new to the school; both of them outsiders, sticking together. Alice is very grounded and is the only character with a stable home life. And he has Mags, an older girl, no longer at school, grieving the loss of her best friend and schooling Robbie in the laws of nature, the changes of the season, the rhythm of the land. It’s Mags who shows Robbie the white hare.
The significance of the white hare? Not everyone can see it. It features in local folklore and legend, it is a woman scorned, it is an omen…it is, in short, trouble. But while it is acknowledged folklore, few villagers are ready to speak openly of it and Robbie is left to piece together the meaning of what he sees. Restless and infinitely sad the white hare points Robbie to a recent tragedy ensuring his involvement in the scenes to follow. At times Robbie is infused with the spirit of the white hare; we feel it in his visions, in his running, in his confusion. Drawing to a dramatic conclusion the white hare leaves in its wake the sense of healing and peace between Robbie and his father.
This is a well written tale of grief and forgiveness with a teenager in turmoil. It has the feeling of a fairytale, tinged with sadness, with the white hare running through the tale. All in all an enjoyable, engaging read.
July 25, 2017
I don't know. I kind of just want to say that and be done with it. I don't know.
The White Hare is like walking into a movie part-way through. You know you missed something, and you spend more time deciding if it's worth it than in actually following along to what little you have left. It isn't as if I necessarily dislike books that start with a sink-or-swim attitude (see The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet for example); I just floundered through this one.
Oooh -- I figured it out. It isn't like a half-way done movie. It's like those magic eye posters. I never ever ever saw anything in those, but other people said they did, and the most I ever saw was a wiggle, maybe, before giving myself a massive headache. I feel something must be there, so I keep looking. But how much work should a book be? Maybe if I was more tied to the land in the novel (somewhere in England, I'm not sure where), to the mythos of the white hare, to why these people believe in it, I would see what Fishwick portrays. But all I see are squiggles of arson, parental death, blended families, suicide, stalking, magical bunny rabbits (yes, I know bunny rabbits are not hares, but I like typing bunny rabbits more than I like typing hares), corrupt local raffle draws. Simultaneously overcrowded, yet at the same time, sparse.
I can't say it was worth the effort on my part. But I'm still staring at that rotten magic eye, making myself sick.
The White Hare by Michael Fishwick went on sale March 9, 2017.
I received a copy free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The White Hare is like walking into a movie part-way through. You know you missed something, and you spend more time deciding if it's worth it than in actually following along to what little you have left. It isn't as if I necessarily dislike books that start with a sink-or-swim attitude (see The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet for example); I just floundered through this one.
Oooh -- I figured it out. It isn't like a half-way done movie. It's like those magic eye posters. I never ever ever saw anything in those, but other people said they did, and the most I ever saw was a wiggle, maybe, before giving myself a massive headache. I feel something must be there, so I keep looking. But how much work should a book be? Maybe if I was more tied to the land in the novel (somewhere in England, I'm not sure where), to the mythos of the white hare, to why these people believe in it, I would see what Fishwick portrays. But all I see are squiggles of arson, parental death, blended families, suicide, stalking, magical bunny rabbits (yes, I know bunny rabbits are not hares, but I like typing bunny rabbits more than I like typing hares), corrupt local raffle draws. Simultaneously overcrowded, yet at the same time, sparse.
I can't say it was worth the effort on my part. But I'm still staring at that rotten magic eye, making myself sick.
The White Hare by Michael Fishwick went on sale March 9, 2017.
I received a copy free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2023
This is a difficult book to review. On one hand, it is beautifully written, with some lovely imagery relating to the natural world. On the other hand, I'm not really sure I understood what was going on a lot of the time.
I enjoyed spending time with Robbie, the main character, as well as his dad. The way his life was depicted was really touching and I liked him a lot. Then there was his mysterious friend Mags, who, while being interesting, I had no idea who she was or why she and Robbie became friends and I therefore became suspicious of her. Then there was the Strickland family, whose reason for the way they were, or why they disliked Robbie so much, was never explained. Then there was the hare: the magical side of the story, who was fascinating, but I didn't really pick up on the hare's motives either. It's definitely a book full of mysteries. I also didn't really feel that the hare story connected well enough to the stories of any of the characters, they happened around each other more than with each other.
I actually liked the parts of the story I did pick up on, and I think if the book had been longer, then some of the themes and connections could have been explored more and it would be clearer what was going on. But for me, there were too many things that weren't really explained or properly resolved.
I enjoyed spending time with Robbie, the main character, as well as his dad. The way his life was depicted was really touching and I liked him a lot. Then there was his mysterious friend Mags, who, while being interesting, I had no idea who she was or why she and Robbie became friends and I therefore became suspicious of her. Then there was the Strickland family, whose reason for the way they were, or why they disliked Robbie so much, was never explained. Then there was the hare: the magical side of the story, who was fascinating, but I didn't really pick up on the hare's motives either. It's definitely a book full of mysteries. I also didn't really feel that the hare story connected well enough to the stories of any of the characters, they happened around each other more than with each other.
I actually liked the parts of the story I did pick up on, and I think if the book had been longer, then some of the themes and connections could have been explored more and it would be clearer what was going on. But for me, there were too many things that weren't really explained or properly resolved.
July 30, 2020
There were parts of this book that I loved, the descriptive landscape and how grief was dealt with, the atmosphere that the author manages to create time and again as the story evolves.
For me the part I was most looking forward was my biggest disappointment here... the folklore re-enacted, how that was written was very confusing and frustrating at times, as was the character of Mags. Although this was in keeping with the overall basic style of the novel, it was as though there was something missing here ... she lacked a certain depth; characterisation that i feel was needed, given her pivotal role... I even thought she was a ghost initially. Much of the dialogue in the book/a lot conversational exchanges (particularly between her and Robbie) did not make much sense without further details such as body language observations/ gestures and this may be why she can across the way she did.
However, the whole concept of the novel and how two/three stories intertwine is a great one, it just left me feeling that it could have all been pulled together a bit more eloquently as it would have made it much more enjoyable and would have taken me less to time read as the detail in the setting and landscape etc was faultless. I felt I was there.
For me the part I was most looking forward was my biggest disappointment here... the folklore re-enacted, how that was written was very confusing and frustrating at times, as was the character of Mags. Although this was in keeping with the overall basic style of the novel, it was as though there was something missing here ... she lacked a certain depth; characterisation that i feel was needed, given her pivotal role... I even thought she was a ghost initially. Much of the dialogue in the book/a lot conversational exchanges (particularly between her and Robbie) did not make much sense without further details such as body language observations/ gestures and this may be why she can across the way she did.
However, the whole concept of the novel and how two/three stories intertwine is a great one, it just left me feeling that it could have all been pulled together a bit more eloquently as it would have made it much more enjoyable and would have taken me less to time read as the detail in the setting and landscape etc was faultless. I felt I was there.
February 20, 2024
What can I say about this story? It's beautifully written, psychologically astute, quite gripping--and so deeply, quietly creepy that I could not really like it. I also struggled to like the characters.
The single book it reminded me of, especially in the denouement, was Catherine Fisher's Cal. But, unlike that book, this did not move me to tears. I understood Robbie's pain on an intellectual level, but didn't really empathize with him as I read. And I found Mags creepy, and the Strickland brothers and their relatives even more so.
But the ideas are strong, and the language often beautiful--those descriptions of the hare!--and I found the book well worth reading. It's not for every reader, but I can see some teens--and adults--really loving it. Fans of Katherine Catmull and Catherine Fisher should give it a try.
(Another comparable title that I liked a bit better than this was Dowd/Ness's A Monster Calls. Some of the same themes of loss and grief and coping via deep mythology ring through all three titles. All three are very good in their separate ways. I just didn't like The White Hare quite as much as the other two, but always remember that your mileage may vary!)
The single book it reminded me of, especially in the denouement, was Catherine Fisher's Cal. But, unlike that book, this did not move me to tears. I understood Robbie's pain on an intellectual level, but didn't really empathize with him as I read. And I found Mags creepy, and the Strickland brothers and their relatives even more so.
But the ideas are strong, and the language often beautiful--those descriptions of the hare!--and I found the book well worth reading. It's not for every reader, but I can see some teens--and adults--really loving it. Fans of Katherine Catmull and Catherine Fisher should give it a try.
(Another comparable title that I liked a bit better than this was Dowd/Ness's A Monster Calls. Some of the same themes of loss and grief and coping via deep mythology ring through all three titles. All three are very good in their separate ways. I just didn't like The White Hare quite as much as the other two, but always remember that your mileage may vary!)
June 17, 2022
I'm not really sure how to categorize this book. There's the coming of age element with Robbie, a city kid in the country trying to outrun his past. He is a likeable character, although it was hard to get a sense of his age. At times he seemed quite young but at other times he was an older teen. He seems to have "sight" but I have to admit, I was hoping for a bit more. If I'm honest I was hoping he was chatting g to dead people, that whole bit with the bully kid looking at him weird. But it was just sight. His mate Mags was strange. I never really felt much for her.
And that's really why it's a 3 star. It was hard to get a real feel on anything. I don't know if it was the attempt to create mystery, but it was a little jumpy and lacked explanation. So there is an old folk story about a hate, but would two big blokes really buy into it. And what had they actually done to Fran? The memory stick wasn't exactly bad.
I guess it just didn't quite pull together for me. There wasn't a pull and fir a short book, it took a while to read.
Not a bad book, but equally nothing to write hone about besides the lovely cover.
And that's really why it's a 3 star. It was hard to get a real feel on anything. I don't know if it was the attempt to create mystery, but it was a little jumpy and lacked explanation. So there is an old folk story about a hate, but would two big blokes really buy into it. And what had they actually done to Fran? The memory stick wasn't exactly bad.
I guess it just didn't quite pull together for me. There wasn't a pull and fir a short book, it took a while to read.
Not a bad book, but equally nothing to write hone about besides the lovely cover.
November 17, 2020
So I don't really know how to express my feelings on this book or describe what the book entails... All I know is that I enjoyed the story, the characters and the graphic nature of Magical Realism.
I don't think I've read many (or any) books that are genred as Magical Realism - not for any particular reason other than unknowingly or ignorance. So as an introduction to the genre, the book definitely explores a fine line between fantasy and reality.
Robbie's character is very paradoxical for me, in the sense of not knowing whether his experiences are real or genuine fantasy. And I think that's the beauty. The idea of the White Hare, the ghost and waking-dreams that are witnessed by Robbie and Mags (on occasion), was so entertaining. The development of characters and the twists in the storyline made the book thoroughly enjoyable.
The book is short. The chapters short. The characters have depth and emotion. You really do believe in the happenings, but are left questioning whether it's real? Is that Magical Realism in a nut-shell?
I don't think I've read many (or any) books that are genred as Magical Realism - not for any particular reason other than unknowingly or ignorance. So as an introduction to the genre, the book definitely explores a fine line between fantasy and reality.
Robbie's character is very paradoxical for me, in the sense of not knowing whether his experiences are real or genuine fantasy. And I think that's the beauty. The idea of the White Hare, the ghost and waking-dreams that are witnessed by Robbie and Mags (on occasion), was so entertaining. The development of characters and the twists in the storyline made the book thoroughly enjoyable.
The book is short. The chapters short. The characters have depth and emotion. You really do believe in the happenings, but are left questioning whether it's real? Is that Magical Realism in a nut-shell?
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