The review copy of this first novel by the British TV actress Sarah Winman arrived adorned with faux-handwritten paeans from staff at Hodder Headline, its publisher. Headline is clearly convinced it is backing a winner, and demographic arguments alone suggest it might be right. Hardly anyone reads novels once out of their twenties, and those who do are disproportionately female. With its friendly, confiding narrator whose story tails off as she hits her late twenties, When God Was A Rabbit feels tailored to the market. And yet, even though it is almost impossible to describe this book without visualising the glossy sales campaign in which it already somehow feels embedded, it is charming, readable, and energetically written. Winman channels the childhood and adolescent awkwardness she describes into chatty, self-possessed prose that suits the milieu perfectly.
It is almost impossible to dislike a novel that wants you to like it so much. Revolving around a family who are the definition of that well-worn pairing "chaotic but loving", it reaches beyond the home to filter supernatural and geopolitical elements through a story of late-20th-century youth. "I was delivered by an off-duty nurse in my parents' bedroom on an eiderdown that had been won in a raffle," our narrator Elly declares, by way of introduction. "I slipped out effortlessly into that fabled year. The year Paris took to the streets. The year of the Tet Offensive. The year Martin Luther King lost his life for a dream."
This is nice, self-aware writing, but horribly easy to parody, with its implication that radical events are like astrological bodies, leaving indelible marks on the character. Perish the thought that the year of my own birth - the year of Reagan's inauguration, the death of the IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands and the ill-fated wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana - might have set the tone for my life.
Still, the big events that this book is most interested in are largely those played out in the home. Child abuse, of course, because it's the modern equivalent of the failed love affair in the 19th-century bildungsroman, but also domestic violence and a talking rabbit: all are tackled with a determined quirkiness in just the first few pages. Later we get suicide, cancer, murder, and, yes, there it is, September 11. Underneath this teetering weight of issues is an appealing novel trying to get out, yet the laundry list of earnest subplots verges on overwhelming.
This may be why When God Was A Rabbit feels at times like a melange of various quasi-literary hits from the past two decades: hints of Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife in the quasi-magic-realist details, a funny/sad kind of Anne Tyler thing going on in the family dramas, a touch of Alice Sebold. But the elements don't fit together. For example, although Elly's childhood best friend Jenny Penny has messianic skills, drawing coins out of her flesh and walking on water, the book seems to lose interest in them as it goes on, and they are simply presented as evidence of Jenny's specialness as a one-of-a-kind best friend. Of course, as book clubs will inevitably conclude, everyone is special. That's the point of this kind of mildly enjoyable homiletic narrative, in which the everyday uniqueness of people is presented through their winning eccentricities, all's well that ends well and you don't have to be mad to work here but it helps.
Despite her admirable willingness to get stuck into difficult issues, Winman too often retracts or reframes her ethical questions almost as soon as she's asked them. Her invention of a holocaust survivor who sexually abuses children initially feels like a genuine provocation, taking two opposing liberal preoccupations and smashing them together. Yet her desire to appeal to everyone overcomes her riskier instincts: no sooner has the character been exposed as a paedophile than it turns out he wasn't really in the camps after all. Complexity is put on and then wiped off again, like someone trying on a very red lipstick.
The evidence that Winman might be more invested in complexity than first appears lies mainly in her well-drawn narrator, Elly. Winman allows Elly to meander along in thrall to various bigger personalities, never emerging into the implausible self-realisation that gives the lie to other characters. She is a believable and likeable presence, and Winman handles her friendship with Jenny with respectful attention.
In fact, this is the book's real love story, making the showier affairs later on look hollow. Its strength is that so little actually happens between the two, despite a heavy-handed introduction which implies that this will be the story of how Jenny changed Elly's life. The novel is littered with epiphanies, as its genre demands, but the friendship at its heart is the opposite of epiphanic, structured rather around fear of change. Stasis can be more poignant than dramatic shifts, and harder to co-opt into Hollywood's swelling-strings, not-a-dry-eye narrative mechanisms.
How well you get on with novels like this depends partly on how enamoured you are of the brand of shared narcissism that makes families and other small groups proclaim themselves the most loving, the most zany, the most dangerous, the most whatever. If this kind of self-mythologising grates, you might not enjoy Winman's cast of kooky friends and relations. More generously, these self-declared misfits reach out to us in our own ill-fitting social roles, offering a kind of consolation. Yet no one here seems to accord with real life, from the brother whose untimely end isn't all it seems to the adopted uncle who foresees his own exotic death. Besides Elly and Jenny, everyone falls a little flat, as if Winman had wanted to write a smaller, more elegiac book about one childhood friendship but lost her nerve and threw in a bunch of sideshow extras.
When God Was A Rabbit is an easy, enjoyable, at times even moving read, and Headline will do its utmost to ensure that it does just fine. It presents life as anecdote: sometimes happy, sometimes sad, but always worth retelling. The novels that matter, on the other hand, are those that want more from their readers than affection.
Hannah Forbes Black is a writer and artist who lives in London. Her work has appeared in The Guardian and Intelligence Squared.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6
Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm
Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km
Price: Dh375,000
On sale: now
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
RESULTS
1.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winners: Hyde Park, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
2.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
2.45pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.15pm: Shadwell Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 (TB) Dh575,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Blown by Wind, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
3.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh72,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh64,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner: Obeyaan, Adrie de Vries, Mujeeb Rehman
4.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
MATCH INFO
Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 12’) Liverpool 1 (Minamino 73’)
Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties
Man of the Match: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal)
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier, in Bangkok
UAE fixtures Mon Nov 20, v China; Tue Nov 21, v Thailand; Thu Nov 23, v Nepal; Fri Nov 24, v Hong Kong; Sun Nov 26, v Malaysia; Mon Nov 27, Final
(The winners will progress to the Global Qualifier)
List of officials:
Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.
Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the most popular virtual currency in the world. It was created in 2009 as a new way of paying for things that would not be subject to central banks that are capable of devaluing currency. A Bitcoin itself is essentially a line of computer code. It's signed digitally when it goes from one owner to another. There are sustainability concerns around the cryptocurrency, which stem from the process of "mining" that is central to its existence.
The "miners" use computers to make complex calculations that verify transactions in Bitcoin. This uses a tremendous amount of energy via computers and server farms all over the world, which has given rise to concerns about the amount of fossil fuel-dependent electricity used to power the computers.
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
JERSEY INFO
Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after January 1, 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25).
Black Jersey
Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained the most Intermediate Sprint Points.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
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