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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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Summary

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 Heartfelt Tear-jerking 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'm not sure how I came to read Ms Winman's books out of order? It makes no difference they are all so well written, to me they are genius! My favourite by a country mile is Still Life. This one is, in itself, a fantastic series of vignettes of the lives and steadfast, lifelong friendships between several people. Best friends, lovers, siblings all share the same strengths. Never give up on anyone!

Fanbloodytastic!

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Beautifully read by the author, who has captured the voices of unique characters.
I enjoyed following the emotional journey of the protagonist, as well as the stories of those connected with her. I loved her relationship with her brother and with Jenny Penny.
Really lovely.

Interesting characters in a heartfelt story

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Omg! So relatable yet this I'd never experienced, I HAD to listen to it... I cried, I laughed, I hid, you NEED this book..

Life, love, loss, growth

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Sarah Winman writes such rich stories, full of life, wonderful characters and unexpected twists and turns. This is the second of her books I’ve listened to, and I’ll be listening to more of her work next.

Beautiful, life-affirming story

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Really enjoy this author and love her narration too. Want to listen to all her books now.

Loved it

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