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When God Was a Rabbit

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When God Was a Rabbit

By: Sarah Winman
Narrated by: Sarah Winman
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Young Elly's world is shaped by those who inhabit it: her loving but maddeningly distractible parents; a best friend who smells of chips and knows exotic words like 'slag'; an ageing fop who tap-dances his way into her home; a Shirley Bassey impersonator who trails close behind; lastly, of course, a rabbit called God. In a childhood peppered with moments both ordinary and extraordinary, Elly's one constant is her brother Joe.

Twenty years on, Elly and Joe are fully grown and as close as they ever were. Until, that is, one bright morning when a single, earth-shattering event threatens to destroy their bond for ever.

Spanning four decades and moving between suburban Essex, the wild coast of Cornwall and the streets of New York, this is a story about childhood, eccentricity, the darker side of love and sex, and the pull and power of family ties, loss and life. More than anything, it's a story about love in all its forms.

©2011 Sarah Winman (P)2011 Headline Publishing Group Ltd Family Life Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Funny Heartfelt Witty Thought-Provoking
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Critic Reviews

"Author/narrator Winman pulls listeners in with her beautiful prose and vivid descriptions.... Thoughtful, unexpectedly funny, and ultimately compelling." (AudioFile)

'Thronging with incident and wonder.' (The Guardian)

'Beguiling... You can't get the voice out of your head.' (Daily Mail)
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I came to this having read and loved Still Life. You can clearly see the more sophisticated novelist Winman will be in time and I enjoyed this book but it is a little confused. The ending doesn’t seem to connect to the rest of the story but does give the book a dramatic culmination. The growth of Elly from childhood to adulthood is cleverly shown in writing style but it does mean the first have of the book is disjointed. I believe it’s to show a child’s mind.

I don’t think authors should read their own books. Actors are always much better. Winman does an ok job but I did slow it down a bit to have time to process and enjoy the words. Something I’ve never done before.

To conclude, if you’re a fan of Winman definitely read it! It’s a good listen/read but her work gets stronger in her later novels.

Amazing debut, clever but confused.

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Her audiobooks are incredible I love that she reads them herself and she does such a good job at it!
One of the better reads of mine this year 🌺❤️👍🏼
Story so beautiful and unique and just as special as her other book Still Life

Amazing!

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I loved this book, my second by Sarah Winman and her narration is perfect! thankyou!

Absolutely Wonderful

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I found it very unpredictable and therefore intriguing and addictive! Loved all the small details, they really added to the richness of the story. By the end, you feel like you personally know the characters, apart from Jo of course.

A great listen!

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Very atmospheric and contemplative. Deeply exploratory of how childhood shapes us as adults. Lost a bit of pace midway, but regained the story in the 2nd half. Beautifully written.

Brilliant reading by the author

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