BOOK BITES | Jane Johnson, Anne Booth, Naomi Ragen

The White Hare ★★★★
Jane Johnson
Head of Zeus

Set in 1954 in the far west of Cornwall, The White Hare follows three generations of women — Polish-born Magda, recently divorced Mila and her English-born daughter Janey — who seek out a new start in a place riddled with folklore and superstition. The property they acquire has the potential to become a glittering guest house on the edge of the sea and woods, but it comes with a mysterious history. Why do people bristle when Mila mentions the stark white hare they encountered on the road when they moved in and why is her daughter increasingly drawing and saying strange things? It’s a slow burn with enough questions to keep you hooked to a swift, albeit perhaps rushed, conclusion. — Sanet Oberholzer

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Small Miracles ★★★
Anne Booth
Harvill Secker

The 1990s have seen the order of the Sisters of Saint Philomena dwindle to three nuns. In addition, sisters Margaret, Cecilia, and Bridget’s home is falling apart. The parish church cannot assist because it is in dire need of a roof. But a lottery ticket changes their fortunes. The money isn’t enough to solve their problems. Instead, it is the nudge needed to get them and their village to make changes. The story is charming, full of laughs and wit. It is a delightful, feel-good read that explores relationships and the challenges we all face. — Tiah Beautement 

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An Observant Wife ★★★★★
Naomi Ragen
Pan Macmillan

Leah and Yaakov come from vastly different backgrounds, but they’re in love and Leah decides to leave her life in California to marry ultra-Orthodox widower Yaakov. But reality is different to dreams and soon Leah faces the restrictions such a life brings. As much as she welcomes it, she is ostracised by her community for making what its members consider big mistakes, such as encouraging her stepchildren to dance in their house. She questions religious laws and is attacked by her community for her disregard. For his part, Yaakov has to leave his yeshiva (a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and Halacha) to work in the city. He too faces violence and discrimination by those he considered friends. This is the sequel to Ragen’s An Unorthodox Match and also explores the complexity and alienness of different communities. — Jessica Levitt

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