When God was a Rabbit Book Review

Title: When God Was a Rabbit
Author: Sarah Winman
Type: Fiction
Published: 2011
Pages: 324
TW: Death, abuse, murder, homophobia, trauma, kidnapping

“I divide my life into two parts. Not really a Before and After, more as if they are bookends, holding together flaccid years of empty musings, years of late adolescent or the twentysomething whose coat of adulthood simply does not fit.”

For fans of: Tin Man, A Little Life, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Last Act of Love

When God was a Rabbit follows the story of Elly and Joe: siblings from a quiet family in Essex. Throughout their childhood until they grow into adults, their family ties them together along the plethora of eccentric characters they encounter along the way. This novel follows them through the lives, the ups and the downs, and embraces the triumphs as well as the pain. It’s about the strength of family bonds and the power of love.

This is a story about love, yes, but I think even more than that, it’s a story about people – and one you couldn’t possible put down without having liked. Not only is there an eclectic mix of personalities but through Winman’s writing, you feel as if you are experiencing their journeys and their lives too. For me, there wasn’t a character I didn’t like, or rather, there wasn’t a character I wasn’t invested in – their journeys were all intruiging in their own ways.

When I read Tin Man, I fell in love with Winman’s writing and I love it even more in this book. There was such a poetry to her words that she makes even the mundane seem beautiful and as a result, it was hard not to be compelled to Elly and Joe and their stories. Her words made me feel almost giddy in the way they affected me, and I happily devoured every single letter.

Elly’s brother anchored her to life, and their relationship, and the strength of that felt like the glue holding all the pages together as I was reading the book. Their relationship was special and I felt the need to savour their moments together. I think that’s what is most compelling and relatable in this book, and an element everyone will be able to connect with – everyone has someone (be it blood related or not) that they would love no matter what.

The blurb finishes in a way I couldn’t phrase better myself, so I won’t attempt to: “More than anything, it’s a book about love in all its forms.” And if that doesn’t convince you to read it, nothing will!