The Snow Hare

My book group received copies of this book in exchange for an honest review. I devoured this book in a few days. Incredibly moving - you may need a box of tissues to hand. I think it is the sort of book that you may read at different ages/ stages in your life and see something new in it or a character's perspective. I also learnt a great deal from this book in a historical sense and of course the history that inspired this still has impacts today. I would thoroughly recommend this book.

I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it. The experiences described are challenging and disturbing, but are moments of romance and a sense of hope throughout the novel. I thought the language used to describe people and place was perfect: I felt immersed in Lena's worlds. I found the chapters set in England particularly affecting: you spend time with Lena in her final moments, reflecting on lives she was forced to leave behind. I have awarded 4 stars instead of 5 because I felt Lena's vocabulary and insights were very mature, beyond what seems realistic from even an exceptional teenager. I also though the balance of time spent on each section of her life was a little off: we spend a lot of time with married Lena, meaning the climax of the story felt a little rushed. However, these are minor points. I was not aware of the historical events on which the novel is based and enjoyed learning about them (even though it is a very sad chapter in Europe's history). I read this novel as part of a reading group; it isn't a novel I would have been drawn to, but I am glad I had the opportunity to read it. The cover is also beautiful: bravo to the illustrator.