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Original poster

Anyone read 'Raising Hare?'

93 replies

FizzingAda · 25/02/2025 12:37

I heard this serialised on R4 and bought the book. During lockdown a woman finds an abandoned leveret, and saves its life, and they have a sort of relationship, the hare actually has two litters in her house, though it can come and go as it pleases. It's unsentimental and full of interesting observations,and the writing is beautiful and uplifting. It will stay with me for a long time. The hardback has lovely drawings too.

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Waawo · 26/02/2026 11:42

FizzingAda · 26/02/2026 09:31

Sweet picture. Has she read the book?

lol no, she’s just a hare fan!

Original poster
FizzingAda · 26/02/2026 09:31

Sweet picture. Has she read the book?

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Waawo · 25/02/2026 22:27

For the hare fans, thought I'd share this - DD left her notebook downstairs earlier

Anyone read 'Raising Hare?'
Waawo · 15/02/2026 10:32

Collected this from the library yesterday and read it this morning after all the recs here. Certainly a tonic in these times, so very gentle and non-demanding. So glad I saw this thread! 😀

longtompot · 05/02/2026 23:20

@NatashaGurdin I've seen two running away from me and my dog. We were walking through one of our usual fields and there was this huge crashing sound through the hedge and these massive rabbits went running away from us. I was so shocked and it took me a while to realise there were hares. The legs were far longer than the rabbits that were usually about, and they ran in a zig zagging way. I've seen the odd one on fields, but this was just magical

NatashaGurdin · 04/02/2026 23:49

I loved the book. I've met two hares in real life both by accident, I think we were both surprised to see each other on both occasions!

TemperanceBooth · 04/02/2026 23:27

I loved this book.

Can anyone recommend any other nature/animal related uplifting stories like this one? I need more gentle/happy/inspiring books.

longtompot · 04/02/2026 23:25

After reading this thread I bought the book. It arrived today and I am planning on reading some tonight.
I too love hares, though only started to in the last 10 or so years. Prior to that it was elephants, which I do still love. My first tattoo will be of a moon gazing hare, when I get it done. Planned it for my 50th...4 years ago

aliceinawonderland · 04/02/2026 12:48

*hare

aliceinawonderland · 04/02/2026 12:46

@FrostyFloi think her mother looked after the hate… maybe it was used to her visiting and she says they had the same tone of voice

MakingDoNicely · 03/02/2026 11:06

Stunning read, I finished this in two days. I learnt so much, loved the descriptions of the hares and the respect she had for them as wild animals.

ExquisiteSocialSkills · 02/02/2026 23:02

I’ve just finished Raising Hare. What a great book. What beautiful animals.

Original poster
FizzingAda · 31/01/2026 13:32

So glad lots of people enjoying it - it was the best book I read last year, and will reread a lot.
I usually avoid animal books too FrostyFlo, for the same reason but it was so unsentimentally told. The last line makes me well up.

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FrostyFlo · 31/01/2026 09:24

Yes read it and enjoyed it . I was a bit unsure whether to read because books with animals in usually make me cry ( and it did )
Spoiler alert ......... I was surprised when she went away for extended times but I guess as it wasn't a pet that relied on her .
( Said by the woman who never had a holiday for 12 years whilst she was a pet owner )

MonkeyTennis34 · 31/01/2026 09:15

I listened to this book in January last year.
Absolutely loved it and I have fond memories of walking my dog over frozen fields whilst finding out about both the hare’s and the author’s development.
I miss it!

FolioQuarto · 30/01/2026 20:53

I read the book last year and loved it. I have given two copies as presents to people I knew would also love it.

We sometimes see hares when we are walking in the countryside, they are beautiful creatures. Sadly we also sometimes see signs from the rural police asking for reports of illegal hate coursing.

Waawo · 26/01/2026 21:57

This thread came back to life and one of the pictures previously posted reminded me of the gorgeous artwork by Jackie Morris in Lost Words (said words by Robert McFarlane) - the hare doesn't appear in its own right, but does photobomb a couple of pages so I thought I'd share one for the hare fans!

Anyone read 'Raising Hare?'
Original poster
FizzingAda · 26/01/2026 18:23

It's on BBC Sounds at the moment, 5x 15 minute readings. Lovely.

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MakingDoNicely · 26/01/2026 18:13

Im definitely putting this on my list to read now. We have a group of hares that play on the field opposite our house and I love watching them out of my bedroom window in a morning.

efeslight · 26/01/2026 17:41

Back to this thread to report i loved the book, an easy gentle read, bought it last week at the airport. Thanks for the recommendation

BlueEyedBogWitch · 08/08/2025 00:25

Another hare-obsessive here. I’ve started the book.

I see them a lot - just after my dad died, I looked out of my bedroom window, and there was one on my drive! I live on an estate in a small market town, so not where you’d usually expect one.

They’re a sort of talisman for me. They remind me of deer more than rabbits.

Mushroomlioness · 08/08/2025 00:21

I have signed the petition! I thought they were already protected! All the time.
I have been lucky enough to see the occasional hare. I live near open farmland and woodland, every time they take my breath away. Same as when I see deer.

stayathomegardener · 03/08/2025 20:04

Thanks @CatChant.

Can you share the petition here so I can sign it please.

CatChant · 03/08/2025 20:01

I bought the book yesterday and couldn’t put it down. I adored the story, the writing and the illustrations. So much so I’m already partway through a second read! It isn’t often I enjoy a book so much I immediately start it again after finishing it

I have signed the petition for a close season on shooting hares; I had no idea they had so little legal protection and it seems a shocking oversight when their numbers have plummeted so much.

I hope to see a hare in the wild someday, and I loved the photos and story from @stayathomegardener I’m sure it was hard work but what a magical experience.

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