Anyone read 'Raising Hare?'

[FizzingAda]

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.

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

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!

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.

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!

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 )

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.

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

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.

@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

*hare

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

I loved this book.

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

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!

@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

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! 😀

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

Sweet picture. Has she read the book?

lol no, she’s just a hare fan!