The White Hare

By: Jane Johnson

Narrated by: Danielle Cohen

Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

For fans of Alice Hoffman and Kate Morton, The White Hare is a spellbinding novel about mothers and daughters finding a new home for themselves, the secrets they try to bury, and the local legends that may change their lives.

In the far west of Cornwall lies the White Valley, which cuts deeply through bluebell woods down to the sea at White Cove. The valley has a long and bloody history, laced with folklore, and in it sits a house above the beach that has lain neglected since the war. It comes with a reputation and a strange atmosphere, which is why mother and daughter Magdalena and Mila manage to acquire it so cheaply in the fateful summer of 1954.

Magda has grand plans to restore the house to its former glory as a venue for glittering parties, where the rich and celebrated gathered for cocktails and for bracing walks along the coast. Her grown daughter, Mila, just wants to escape the scandal in her past and make a safe and happy home for her little girl, Janey, a solitary, precocious child blessed with a vivid imagination, much of which she pours into stories about her magical plush toy, Rabbit.

But Janey’s rabbit isn’t the only magical being around. Legend has it that an enchanted white hare may be seen running through the woods. Is it an ill omen or a blessing? As Mila, her mother, and her young daughter adjust to life in this mysterious place, they will have to reckon with their own pasts and with the secrets that have been haunting the White Valley for decades.

©2022 Jane Johnson. First published in the UK in 2022 by Head of Zeus Ltd, part of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

The richness of the mood created by the story.

Loved the story, the period of time and the characters. Very good narration as well.

An Enchantment!

I love magical realism and this book did not disappoint. It dragged a bit in a few places but the characters made up for it. The author stressed the importance of reverence for natural history and truth about human history. I loved the precocious five year old daughter who reminded us to enjoy the enchantment we witness each day in nature’s wonders. This book was also about being given chances and what we do with them can change our lives in miraculous ways.

A charming book!

I absolutely loved this book. Jane Johnson might be my favorite author at the moment.

Enchanting

I loved this enchanting story. It's beautifully written by Jane Johnson with reverence for nature, history, and the uncanny. Narrator Danielle Cohen is terrific; she vocally embodies the fears and desires of the main character while relating a fascinating story full of interesting characters. I especially loved her portrayals of the main character's stylish, Polish mother and her little girl, who is full of wonder and light. A perfect combination of author and narrator!

Boring, annoying main character

So many times had to rewind a whole chapter bc I zoned out. Felt like the entire book was the MC arguing with her alcoholic mother & asking random towns people what happened in her house and no one answering. The MC is dedicated to her child, but yet ignores the troubling comments/behaviors that any sane person would question- she is hard to like. The ending is so random and drags on forever and ever with unnecessary details, overall didn’t enjoy but made myself finish

Beautiful

I was sorry to see this book end. It was enchanting and I just wanted it to go on forever. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a little beauty and magic in their lives.

Imaginative Story!

A very descriptive story with interesting characters and a unique story to tell. Excellent narrator!

A lot of plot. Little story.

The point of view of this story, in my opinion, is off. I had a real problem with the first person in this book. The main character just is not likable, and I really had trouble liking the other characters, especially the child. I just couldn’t relate to them and they couldn’t make me care. I also did not care for the narrator voice in some of the characters, especially the child. The story finally picked up towards the end, but for me it was a little too late. Also, the ending did not make sense in the context of the whole story. It seemed a little too much too late. A stronger outline would’ve helped.