A highly contagious book virus, a literary society, and a Snow Queen-like disappearing author…
Laura White, a renowned children’s author, handpicks only the most unique individuals to join “The Society,” an elite group of writers in the small town of Rabbit Back. The newest member is Ella, a literature teacher with strikingly beautiful lips.
However, Ella soon realizes that The Society is not what it seems. She stumbles upon a mysterious ritual called “The Game” and witnesses Laura’s strange disappearance during a winter party amidst a flurry of snow. Ella also notices that the words in the books are inexplicably rearranging themselves. She begins to wonder if there was another tenth member before her.
As Ella digs deeper, she uncovers unsettling secrets that have long been hidden. This chilling and darkly humorous novel masterfully blends the uncanny with the everyday in unexpected ways.
Review: The Rabbit Back Literature Society
As winter sets in, many of us enjoy stories set in cold, snowy places. “The Rabbit Back Literature Society,” a story from Finland—the official home of Father Christmas— is a perfect choice.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s easy to read but filled with hidden depth and symbolism that will likely require several re-reads to fully appreciate. Set in the small Finnish town of Rabbit Back, the culture is deeply influenced by Creatureville—a children’s book series by a local author—and the prestigious literary society she founded with nine talented children, now all successful authors.
Ella, a language and literature teacher, returns to Rabbit Back to live with her mother and her father who has Alzheimer’s disease. While overseeing a school exam, she finds a copy of “Crime and Punishment” where the story has been altered. This discovery leads Ella on a quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding the literature society and Laura White, the elusive author.
This book shares similarities with Neil Gaiman’s “The Ocean at the End of the Lane.” If you enjoyed that, you will likely enjoy this too. The story leans more towards magic realism than pure fantasy, as many of the strange events remain unexplained, potentially frustrating regular fantasy readers. The book explores themes like the reliability of memory, especially childhood memories, and how perception affects our sense of reality. The ending is particularly thought-provoking, prompting a re-evaluation of the entire story.
The concept of the Creatureville books is fascinating. As the narrative unfolds, we learn more about this world and its inhabitants. Being a Finnish story, the creatures may remind readers of the Moomins, beloved Finnish children’s characters. Everything in Rabbit Back is named after mythological creatures with gardens filled with their statues. Some people even practice “mythological mapping,” identifying which mythological creatures live in your garden based on their dreams. There’s also the intriguing idea that the characters in Creatureville might be based on real people, further blurring the lines between myth and reality, exemplified by Laura White seemingly being Mother Snow.
I highly recommend giving this book a try. It’s a story that lingers long after you’ve finished reading. If you’re curious about Finland, my friend Tarja Moles has written an excellent “Xenophobe’s Guide to the Finns,” which is short, easy to read, and very humorous.
Adaptation Recommendation
For an authentic experience, consider watching a Finnish TV series with English subtitles. It might already be in the works!
Overall Rating
“The stuff that dreams are made of.”
