Not an easy story to read - while heart breaking, I found it hard not to love the characters. It was an interesting read into the lives of Polish people during the time. It shows the difficulties of life for them then and how love could help to overcome the pain.

As Lena's life comes to an end, she thinks over paths that led her here. A comfortable childhood in Poland, a desire to be a doctor, and a war that will push them to the frozen edge of the world.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The story follows Lena, as an elderly woman on her deathbed in England.
Her mind inevitably drifts back to the life she had led, and we also follow Lena as a young woman in Poland.
Lena is singularly focused and wants to be a doctor, despite not many women being allowed to take up the profession. Her family supports her dreams, and provide her with schooling and books; but her mother is also hoping that Lena will forget about the doctor dreams, when she falls in love with a suitable man.
All of their plans are thrown askew as the threats of war become a reality.

Unfortunately, I found the first half really slow and hard to connect to.
Despite the fact that I thought it was really interesting, watching how the war affected Lena's hometown. The Soviet soldiers came, and everything changed. Neighbours are turned against each other; everyone is living under the fear of being labelled as an "Enemy of the State", and made to disappear.
While Lena works as a nurse, you get to watch the risks that the local doctor takes, secretly providing medicine for people that aren't allowed it. You can feel the dark inevitability of what will happen.

The problem is that everyone else is interesting, but Lena seems oddly disconnected from the world.
You could argue that the memories of an old woman are imperfect; or that she remembers the actions of other more clearly; but it made it hard to be invested.
Lena is lacking in personality beyond the sole-focus to be a doctor, at the expense of everything else.
I found that some of her choices and actions (or lack of actions) contradicted everything her character had been built up to. Especially concerning a certain person. She allows herself to be pushed into things, despite her thoughts and words constantly opposing them.

The second half was much easier to connect with our main character, when Lena and her family are rounded up and sent to the frozen end of the world, to work in a labour camp.
Lena becomes more focussed on helping her family survive, and she learns to embrace each day, and appreciate the little things.
Lena's developing friendship with one of the guards is terribly sweet, a complete contrast to the horror they are all living through.

Throughout the second half of the book, you get the sense of foreboding - you know where Lena ends up, and you know that not everyone makes it. It's just a question of how it will happen, and it hovers over everything, making it so much more painful as you can't help getting attached to her family.

Overall, this was a 2.5 out of 5 for me. I found the second half of the book very moving, and it was interesting to learn more about life in a Siberian labour camp. Unfortunately, I found the first half very hard to get through, and I couldn't come to terms with some of Lena's decisions at the end of the book, too.

Simply brilliant. I hadn't realised how much I had been drawn in, until the last sentence when I broke down in tears. Absolute masterpiece of writing, based loosely on the true stories of Poles exiled in Siberia by the Soviets at the start of the 2nd World War. A story about survival, courage, love and so much more. Told through the life of Lena a young woman at the end of her life

This one focused on Polish life during WW2 when they were caught in the middle of Soviet Union and Nazi. It also upheld women's fiction genre, exploring motherhood and marriage. Love the strong willed woman of MC. However, as it was trying to create emotional stories but some informations were left out and it kinda lacks of essence in making place settings legit. I noticed on the hardships living but the political situation were like censored. In easier word, it lacks of depth. I was craved for more but I kinda got some basic stuff only.

This story follows Lena, a Polish girl and her fates through WW2. I felt the pacing was a bit off at times as some parts dragged a little and the book really got going once the family were sent to Siberia and their fates changed. An interesting story based on the authors grandmother and the decisions we make and the choices we don't really have if people have to survive.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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.

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.

Not my cup of tea at all I'm afraid. I can see some other reviewers said it was hard to get into and I'm afraid I found it the same. Lovely cover design though!

I found the book difficult to get into. There is a great array of characters but the overwhelming theme of misery about such awful times was difficult to engage with. This harsh subject matter made the reading hard and perhaps at a different time of my life I would have appreciated the splendid writing more.

Generally I am not a huge fan of stories set during wars. However, this story is so engrossing and beautifully written it totally won me over. A heartbreaking story about love and loss and one that I am sure will linger in my memory for some time.

This was such a good book. I love historical fiction, especially when it is about eras/ situations that I previously knew nothing about and this was definitely one of those books. It was so well researched and so compelling in its narrative that not only did I love reading it but I felt that I learned too. A really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words some text written has been typed in red and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

I was attracted to this one because I really enjoyed the author’s previous novel 



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

which was a light hearted and surreal farce set in the exotic climes of Vietnam. This one isn’t any of those things, but is instead the story of a woman having a terrible time during the WWII occupation of Poland. An afterword explains that it’s very close to home for the author, being inspired by the experiences of her grandmother. While it’s uncomfortably vivd in the depiction of misery, there is also hope and endurance here, alongside a cast of engaging and believable characters. The contrast with her earlier book demonstrates that Lichtarowicz has a considerable range and taking the two together she should really be better known than she is.

This is a devastating story of love and loss. I thought the relationships were really well crafted and the writing was beautiful. It really brought to life the suffering of war time but still has hopeful meditations on life.

I found the Snow Hare by Paula Lichtarowicz to be a beautifully written, compelling read. Paula in her detailed descriptions of life, sets a scene where I became an unseen observer, close enough to touch the characters. The Snow Hare divides itself between Poland and Siberia with Magdelena being the central character in both. Growing up in Poland, she sets her sights on becoming a doctor but her mother wants nothing more for her than becoming a wife. However, her mother had no idea how her meddling would turn out for the whole family. When Hitler was marching in to Poland, the Russians were marching in from the East and it's in that latter occupation that the family falls foul of the Soviet regime when they are declared 'enemies of the state' and shipped off to Siberia. There she meets a man who stirs something in her heart and they slowly form a relationship and a shared idea of their future together, strangely a life in Siberia eking out a living from nature's bounty. For two years she lived the life of hard labour and then events took hold of her future yet again.
The novel is littered with unintended consequences with Magdelena bobbing along with them like a cork on the sea. Tragically one consequence leads to the death of her beloved daughter but saved the life of her 'bone man'.
This novel brings to life an aspect of the Second World War which is seldom explored or even known about but it is very much a people story.

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 read or listened 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

The Snow Hare is a moving story of the best and worst of humankind in times of war. While it is set around World War II, it is much more than a period piece; the war in Ukraine has proven that peace in Europe is fragile and that the lessons of history are not always learned. At times, it is desperately sad, yet manages to retain a sense that there is always light and hope.

Lichtarowicz has assembled a fascinating cast of characters. They are relatable, flawed and not altogether likeable at times, but show us so many aspects of humanity under pressure. She makes us wonder how we might react in such extreme circumstances as a detention centre, hungry and cold; would be still retain our pride and stubbornness or would we. be prepared to do anything that would help relieve the suffering of our family members and friends?

Despite the tough subject matter and the brutal times in which the story is set, Lichtarowicz retains a lightness of touch that makes for a very readable novel. She reveals the story in such a fashion that the ending comes as no surprise, but that is what keeps you hooked; you want to know how it came to be and read on looking for hints and clues to show themselves. At times the writing is wonderfully descriptive and atmospheric -especially the passages about the forest - but there is the occasional lapse into a clumsy turn of phrase here and there, which is a little frustrating given how well-written so much of it is.

Recommended

I’m afraid this book wasn’t for me. I couldn’t get into it and I found there was a lot of trauma which I found difficult, but beyond that I wasn’t really able to connect with the book.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Lena, a young Polish girl, dreams of becoming a doctor. Life and circumstances decide differently and Lena must follow her destiny. After a slow start, the novel becomes a terrifying journey through war and life in a Siberian camp.
Emotionally engaging and a lesson to be learnt when it comes to war and Russian invasions.

An unforgettable love story set in Siberia during the Second World War about living with impossible choices
I read this book quickly, mainly because I couldn't put it down.

A heartbreaking historical fiction read inspired by the author’s grandmother's life is one which considers the Polish experiences during the Second World war. It’s not an easy read but it’s an emotional one.
Thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the opportunity to read and review this moving arc