Book Review: Those who know me understand that my artistic voice is shaped by a lifelong love of reading and a constant sense of wonder for the natural world (animals, insects, plants, planets, and even velvet worms – a touch of influence from my brother).

I recently happened across a book written by Chloe Dalton entitled “Raising Hare” that marries these two interests together. I savor my visits to Barnes and Noble. I rarely have time to saunter through the store, taking my time ingesting all there is to experience. But one afternoon I stopped in front of the new releases aisle, and one particular book caught my attention. Perhaps it was because it was a memoir and I was curious (because I have just written one), but I believe it was because of its cover – a sensitive but powerful pencil drawing of a hare. I was intrigued and opened the book. Scattered throughout its pages were more sketches. I bought the book – and couldn’t put it down. I was invested in the author’s passion from the first page.

It is about one woman’s seemingly random encounter and bonding with a leveret (baby hare) in the English countryside during the covid lockdown. I would call it a love story, although I doubt the author would agree. It is a positive, but realistic story. Most likely it will never be a blockbuster movie, but for anyone who is looking for a quiet meditation on how one small creature can affect a person, an entire ecosystem, and the reader – this is for you. This has been a long way of saying, I highly recommend the book.

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