DNF at 30%. Even listening to the audiobook at 2x speed, I just couldn’t carry on any more. The jumping around in time (Lena reflecting back on her life, I’m guessing) was too hard to follow without any dates to help me track. I didn’t care about any of the characters, and after reading the scene where it’s basically spousal rape, I gave up. No, I’m not pouting that in spoilers, people who might be triggered by that should be aware. I can see many people liked the book (though clearly some people felt like me), but this book was not for me.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review. Apologies for the delay in providing this.

The story of a older woman looking back on her life, through the ups and downs and back to a time when her life was turned upside down. Food for thought, and emotional at times.

This was a nice story that shows the hardships of life. It’s a coming-of-age story. The start is slightly slow as the author builds up the story and sets the scene. It had lots going on and was interesting. I listened to the audiobook and liked the narrator but I wasn't so sure about the echoed sections. There were some great unexpected events and some shocking moments. I just wished that I had felt more of a connection to the story. I really liked the storyline and the characters were great. I just didn't feel any emotions while reading. This is very important for me. I think it just lacked atmosphere and tension. I found myself a little annoyed by some of the things the characters did. I did really like the survival aspects of the story. I was also very shocked by the ending but I won't be giving anything away. This book had so much potential as many aspects of this book were brilliant, they just didn't flow well. Causing me to not connect fully with the book. Always remember I am one person and my views may not be shared so if this book sounds great to you try a sample. My 3-star average rating could be your 5-star read.

Many thanks to the author, narrator, and publishers for creating this interesting story. I only wish I loved it more.
The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK where found and my blog today
https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/the-snow-hare-by-paula-lichtarowicz-john-murrey-press-3-stars under ladyreading365

The Snow Hare by Paula Lichtarowicz Narrated by Rose Ackroyd was an audiobook that I just had to sit back for a while, when I finished listening to it and absorb what I had listen to.
WoW this was a book that just took my breathe away; which made it a Brilliant book from start to finish.

Magdalena shortened to Lena is the main character, who is an elderly woman now. She is looking back on her life from her deathbed in Wales, England. She tells her story from when she was a young child, she and her family, in Poland during the Second World War that destroyed her country and so many other countries around her.
Lena's life was turned upside down when her and her family was sent to a Siberian camp.
She tells of her dreams, her main dream was to become a Doctor; to be able to help others. Sadly dream engulfs her existence but the passion is still there in her heart, she reads so many medical and medicine books etc. However, her destiny has other plans for her, She became a wife of a military officer who she never loved and became a mother to their daughter, whose arrival changed everything. But, she still dreams of one day becoming a Doctor.

Lena did find love, but this at what cost!

WoW I highly recommend this book.

I was lucky to get both the ebook and audio version. The narrator Rose Ackroyd) was excellent 5 stars for Rose., especially as It was not an easy read in several places.

A beautiful novel in a setting that I hadn't really explored before, I really enjoyed the audiobook and the story, there was some interesting characters and the pacing seemed quite steady for the story it was telling.

This story is told by the main character, Lena, an elderly woman looking back on her life, and her perspective flits back and forth as her memories unfold, taking us from her deathbed in Wales, England all the way back to her childhood in Poland and the war that decimated her country. She recalls her dreams of becoming a doctor, a dream that was replaced when her mother intervened and Lena married a Polish officer. Her mother is determined that both of her daughters marry well.
The story offers an original view of the Holocaust and of WW2 and is well written and plotted. Highly recommend.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook which is well narrated and I can highly recommend it.

Charting the life of Lena, from her carefree childhood in Poland to her death in old age, this beautifully written book is filled with lots of interesting - and at times unusual - characters for the reader to both love and hate.

Exposing the reader a number of quite brutal (and trigger inducing) events including rape, displacement, war and being a prisoner of war, as well as death of loved ones, Snow Hare primarily focuses on how the love of family and friends can lessen the impact of many things, even the most distressing.

Listening to rather than reading the story, I did occasionally find myself getting a little confused by the events in Lena's story. I think this is more due more to my listening to audiobooks while doing tasks rather than the story though. The echo sound effect at points in the story also served to help refocus the mind, once I'd realised there wasn't something wrong with my headphones/phone!

A moving story. Difficult to read in places. I didn't care to much for Lena. I felt she was selfish, arrogant and naïve but this was maybe a product of having all her hopes and dreams taken away from her. What moved me was thinking of the real women who were in similar situations to Lena. However, it was well written and kept my interest.

This was an an intriguing tale, weaving both historical fiction and a love story that came across as sinister and also compelling. At times I wasn't sure where it was going, but it kept my intrigue all the same. The narration was good and overall provided a very atmospheric story.

As Lena lies on her deathbed she recalls the events and people in her life that led to this moment. Set in Poland and Russia, Lena dreams of being a dr however circumstances end with her being married against her will and becoming the wife of a military officer. Trapped in a loveless marriage but now with a child she adores things start to look up, that is until the Soviet’s arrive. While staying in Poland with her family they are Labelled enemies of the state they are shipped off to Siberia and face the cold, hard and frigid winter with her daughter and her family.

This book transports you to another countries and regimes, you’re completely submerged in Lena’s life and while I’ve read that some have not connected with Lena’s character I have completely. She’s strong and forthright woman who dreams of more than society allows of her.

While overall I did enjoy the book, there were parts that dragged for me at the start especially. I enjoyed the tension the author built around the birth of Lena’s daughter but I don’t want to give any spoilers.

Lena dreams of becoming a doctor, as science is where her passion lies, and living just an ordinary life but little does she know things are about to change as WWII looms on the horizon in Poland. Lena’s life unfolds in a way completely opposite to what she thought it would , she has a child and is in a loveless marriage but then life delivers another cruel twist when she is sent to a Siberian Labour camp. Lena’s strong character and courage get her through as she fights to take care of her family and finds love on the brink of misery. Poor Lena has so much misery in her life but she also finds moments of happiness. Narrated by Rose Ackroyd this audiobook brings the reality of the war in Poland to the forefront. I cannot help mentioning the beautiful cover of this book. The audio is out on the 2nd of February 2023. Thank you to John Murray books and Netgalley for my copy.

Had to take an hour or two after finishing this excellent novel.

Snow Hare tells the story of Magdalena (Lena), whose life is caught up in the machinations of others - first the gypsy who tells her fortunes, her parents, her husband and finally World War II. Lend is determined to be a doctor but life dictates another path for her which leads eventually to a house in England.

The story is told by Lena as a memory of her life as it unfolded, moving back and forth from her bed in England as an old lady to her childhood through her marriage and the war which ripped through Poland and caused the deaths of around 6 million Poles.

I was lucky enough to get both the ebook and audio version and swapped between reading and listening depending on where I was. I have to say the audio was an absolute triumph. The narrator (Rose Ackroyd) was excellent. I found my nails digging into my palms or shouting at the recording at some of the injustices Lena is dealt. I wept at several points.

This is not an easy read in places. The treatment of the Poles by both Nazis and Russians is horrifying and heartbreaking. Lena's story (based on the story of the author's own grandmother) is utterly captivating. I defy anyone not to be moved by this brilliantly told story and I'm going off now to order more of Paula Lichtarowicz's work.

Highly recommended. Many thanks to Netgalley for both the written and audio copy