It was the title that caught me: WHEN GOD WAS A RABBIT. I had never heard of the author, Sarah Winman. I read on the cover that she is a British actor, and this is her first novel. I checked it out. As soon as began reading I experienced lively language, compelling characters, and sparkling humor.
The voice is that of a little girl, Elly. She and her brother are tight. Her dad is filled with guilt. Sexuality is a constant theme is this novel, but it's dealt with non-judgmentally, and simply as part of life.
This is a character driven book. And I found myself rooting for them. Surprises are around every corner. The story begins as Elly is around six years old and ends when she is a young adult. There are lost-and-found relationships; people deal with sadness and self-doubt. Winman's narrative celebrates life. Elly is so open to whatever happens. She and her family welcome all kinds of people into their circle. The feeling of the story is one of openness. Love wins out over judgment.
I think this book shares the emphasis of the Jesus tradition in that it refuses to traffic in moralisms, and instead emphasizes the fact that genuine relationships are what matter most.
Now, I haven't mentioned the rabbit. Well, there is a real rabbit in this story. It has a supporting role. I'll say no more.
(There is a lot of profanity in this book; and a lot of sex [homo and hetero]. If that's unacceptable to you, then don't read it. But if big, bad sinners like King David and Moses don't bother you, you might be blessed by Sarah Winman's first novel.)
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