Title: When God Was a Rabbit
Author: Sarah Winman
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publication Date: May 10, 2011
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN: 978-1608195343
Genre: Fiction
This is a book about a brother and a sister. It’s a book about secrets and starting over, friendship and family, triumph and tragedy, and everything in between. More than anything, it’s a book about love in all its forms.
In a remarkably honest and confident voice, Sarah Winman has written the story of a memorable young heroine, Elly, and her loss of innocence-a magical portrait of growing up and the pull and power of family ties. From Essex and Cornwall to the streets of New York, from 1968 to the events of 9/11, When God Was a Rabbit follows the evolving bond of love and secrets between Elly and her brother Joe, and her increasing concern for an unusual best friend, Jenny Penny, who has secrets of her own. With its wit and humor, engaging characters whose eccentricities are adroitly and sometimes darkly drawn, and its themes of memory and identity, When God Was a Rabbit is a love letter to true friendship and fraternal love.
Funny, utterly compelling, fully of sparkle, and poignant, too, When God Was a Rabbit heralds the start of a remarkable new literary career.
My Review:
When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman, the author’s debut novel, is a captivating story of Elly and her life as both a child and during her transition into adulthood. Winman masterfully crafts an intimate story about relationships, particularly her relationships with her brother, Joe and with her childhood friend, Jenny. Through Elly’s memories, readers re-experience childhood through her eyes, seeing in many respects, what we do not often think about as mature adults. These eyes are the eyes of the child, and Winman brings to life these moments in Elly’s life, but they could be moments from any person’s life, and I think that is what makes this book so captivating. In this impressive coming of age story, Winman earns high marks for bringing to life childhood memories that most can relate to in one way or another. I would recommend When God Was a Rabbit to readers and book discussion groups.
Sarah Winman is an actress who attended the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and has gone on to act in theater, film, and on television. When God Was a Rabbit is her debut novel. She lives in London.
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I received a copy of When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman from TLC Book Tours to be a part of this tour and offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.
I’m glad to see you enjoyed this since I won a copy from Library Thing.
Please lett me know your thoughts about the book.
This book sounds really good, I enjoy a coming of age book. Perhaps it’s because I have teens, or perhaps I’m trying to re-do my youth, a good genre to read non the less.
I have late teens-college age and while I do not want to repeat that time period for myself, I am quite content being in my 40s, I enjoyed the book.
It sounds like this was a book just about anyone could relate to – glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for being a part of the tour.
I agree that is is a very relatable book.
I just started reading this book. It is getting such great reviews.
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.