Raising Hare : by Chloe Dalton. This is one of those beautiful books that will stay with you for a long long time. It will reach deep into your soul, and ring of magic, even though it is a true account. I couldn't put it down. You will learn the history and myths regarding hares, ,but the story that will enchant you is the unusual one that plays out during the authors rescue of the little leveret and the emotional connection between then. Very highly Recommended. A MUST read.

This book was the most lovely book I have read for many years. The author went to such efforts to raise the leveret after she found it. Really heartwarming and will definitely recommend. Beautifully and sensitively written, I loved it. Great present

An intimate record of a rare relationship

We've all had encounters with wild animals, but probably not as intimately as Dalton's with a wild leveret lying in the middle of a country path. Taking it home and looking after it with as much care as she can, Dalton records how she reorients her life and her home around the hare, trying to give it as wild a life as possible and never anthropomorphising it. It never becomes a pet and Dalton never gives it a name.

This is a lyrical book that is more than memoir or nature writing: it's a commonplace book on the whys and wherefores of hares, seemingly obvious in the idioms and myths that we have for them (mad as a March hare, hare brained) but instead gathering historical and literary sources, what little there is on keeping them, much more on hunting and killing them. It's a book about how to live with a wild animal, never tamed, and Dalton records things never before seen or known about the hare in her orbit, that make this one of my books of the year, and sure to be a classic.

This is one of the best non fiction books I have read recently. It is such a page turner, I just had to keep reading once I had started. It is so well written and easy to read, I have been telling all my customers about this book & they have been fascinated by it just like I was when I read it. If you don't normally read non fiction, make this book an exception, you won't be disappointed.

I absolutely loved this book. It was so unexpected. What a treat to spend time with a hare and her family. Reconnecting with nature, opening our eyes to see what exactly is out there. So many things right under our nose that we never even see. Beautifully written and so much historical research. Quite amazing that our ancestors knew so much more about them than we do today. Cosy up and enjoy.

A warm and engaging account of human interaction with a wild animal when the author rescues a young leveret that she discovers when out walking. The experience is very much a process of discovery and learning for the author, which is beautifully shared with her readers.

With thanks to NetGalley fro the opportunity to read and review this book.

"Raising Hare" by Chloe Dalton is an absolute delight of a book.
It is at once deliciously lyrical, beautifully illustrated, satisfyingly factual and well researched, and full of gems about what is, for me. the secret and somewhat mystical life of hares.
Chloe Dalton responded with sensitivity, concern and care to the plight of the leveret she found, and the transformation that raising this beautiful creature brought to her life is most moving, telling the story of her determination and generosity of spirit in adapting her way of life, sharing her home, and finding new ways to think about and express her own way of being.
Raising Hare also highlights the ongoing challenges faced by wildlife as agriculture swallows land, and gives us insight into their shrinking world, and how we might be more accommodating and less brutal in the way we interact with land and its wild inhabitants.
I couldn't stop reading, wonderful.

I wouldn’t normally choose an autobiography to read but the blurb peaked my interest on NetGalley.

This book is full of personal stories and reflection, facts about hares and how they are a misunderstood creature.

Chloe Dalton has written this book beautifully, informing the reader on theories and facts about hares as creatures and how she adjusted her life for this tiny little leveret.

Imagine a world where society is locked down. People are desperate to get back to their busy lives and craving “normalcy” again after being kept locked inside for almost a year. Craving contact with people, returning to jobs and business as usual. Whereas Chloe slowed down, took the opportunity to be in nature and found a little leveret. This leveret taught her to take in nature but not interfere with it, to take life at a slower pace. Appreciate silence and the stillness that lockdown brought us and know to look after our wilderness but not prevent Mother Nature taking her course.

Chloe adjusted her life by being quiet and asking the same of others, taking in nature and seeing the small tracks left behind by numerous animals that surrounded her secluded home. She understood that one day the leveret would leave, for whatever reason but she’d taken in all that it had taught her and this was her new normal. The leveret trusted her until she was a hare and created leverets of her own and trusted Chloe and her home enough to bring 6 of them “home”. Was this because she knew to keep her distance and keep her wild so that she did not fall into the trap of trusting humans, or was it just because this leveret chose Chloe at this time in her life? Rather than Chloe choosing the leveret?

What a wonderful reflection on life and how different perspectives change peoples lives permanently.

Thank you for letting me review on NetGalley! 4⭐️ from me.

This extraordinary book took my breath away at times. It's more than a memoir, it's a masterful reflection on the place human beings occupy in the world, the fragility of the natural world and the wild animals who inhabit it, and the relationships we build with ourselves and those around us (including animals) in the quiet moments. It's right up there with my favourite books this year. And the writing, oh the writing: it is flawless.

Chloe Dalton is a political advisor and speechwriter (she thanks William Hague in the acknowledgements) who, during the pandemic, returns to the English countryside of her childhood. While there, she finds a leveret (a baby hare) injured after being chased by a dog. She takes in the leveret, but doesn't cage it, giving it freedom to roam in and out of the house.

The book chronicles their time together and the challenges faced preparing the leveret for life in the wild as it grows into a hare. This might sound plodding to anyone not into nature memoirs (I can't say I'm particularly into them myself), but I promise Raising Hare is full of thrilling moments, tension and beauty. I absolutely loved it and plan to pick up a physical copy. This will surely win prizes. Comfortably a 5/5 stars for me. A thing of dazzling beauty.

Favourite reads so far this year: The Axeman's Carnival, The Safekeep, The Coast Road and Raising Hare.

*Many thanks to the author, publisher @canongatebooks and Netgalley for the arc. As always, this is an honest review.

A truly unexpected delight of a book. An unusual premise leading to a life changing experience. The best thing is it forces you to place yourself in the same position and wonder, "What if?" It cries out to be made into a film and one can only cross one's fingers and hope!

The nature memoir is alive and well, and Chloe Dalton’s Raising Hare proves it.

There has long been something special about nature writing, but it sometimes seems like a genre best left to writers from times before ours - where nature and affairs and war were really the only things they had to write about.

Not true, as it turns out.

I requested Raising Hare primarily because I have rabbits, and I love them. Yes, yes, I know they are not the same as hares, but they are all lagamorphs, and I still see many more similarities than differences. (In fact, my biggest gripe is Dalton’s insistent talk about how different hares are from rabbits, so much so that she misses out on valuable information that could have helped her were she willing to consider their similarities).

Even so, I can’t help but give Raising Hare highest praise. Most beautifully written, and most poignantly mused, it made my heart sing.

Woman. Hare.

Humans. Nature.

Solace.

Read it.

I loved this book! It was so beautifully written and I was really drawn in. Who knew that a story about raising a tiny leveret would be so enthralling. It feels really authentic and encourages reflection about our relationship with the natural world on an individual and societal level, without being at all preachy.

I loved learning about the life of hares - and this happens naturally as you move through the book via the relationship between the Narrator and Hare. There is real life and light in the author's writing and I found this a very uplifting read overall.

Raising Hare is a rich, life affirming story full of hope and joy. Touching, beautifully written, a sweet triumph.

Chloe finds a newborn leveret on her evening walk and cannot bring herself to leave it exposed to the elements and predators. She goes against conventional wisdom and brings it home without a clue what to do for it. Thus begins a beautiful, though unlikely, relationship that will change Chloe’s life.

I relished this book more than I can say. Its charm lies in the unknown and the development of trust between woman and hare. I adore hares and feel very lucky when I spot one in the field, jumping high, boxing another or streaking from one corner to the other at high speed. They are magical creatures I feel an affinity with. A few months ago there was a mother hare with a leveret within easy view of our window. I was mesmerised watching them. Chloe’s story perfectly captures the stillness of their nature.

Anyone who loves nature, the glorious diversity of creatures that inhabit it, or just the countryside will find this book a delight. Thank you, Chloe, for sharing your story as it is tales like this that strengthen the bond with the natural world for those who may find that feeling dormant.

What a book, I loved it.
I'd never really given hares much thought as they are not often talked about. The research was interesting, and gave a fasciantiong insight into nature that we don't always see.
A lovely book to read with a hot drink and blanket on a cosy day.

This book was absolutely beautiful. A rare book that is educational, enjoyable and leaves you slightly envious of the authors experience.
The levered was found alone in the lane one day and after going back a few hours later and, tge levered still had not moved and mum had not returned, Claire made a decision to take it back to her home otherwise it wouldn't survive the night with predators.
The book continues as the relationship grows with the Leveret. Claire keeps a human distance but still there is a definite relationship growing between the two. She researches hares and includes much off her research within the memoir which is relevant to the levered behaviour or what she needs to provide for it.
Thus book had me giggling at times, in particular when ahevteied ti protect a small bush and put chicken wire around it. The levered had been previously lying against it and affect its growth. However once the chicken wire was in place it still manage to get in and she found it squashed in with its nose squashed against the wire!
The kindle edition has some beautiful sketches on each chapter too and I personally feel this book is fantastic for all ages. The research pieces could be skipped for younger readers, if read as an evening story time, it's an absolute joy!
Thank you to Netgalley and Canongates books for an early copy to an enjoy!

This gentle memoir is heartwarming and beautifully captures how much humans can learn from animals. That the author didn’t attempt to make a pet of the hair is both surprising and admirable – I believe most people would try to do so. The descriptions of the hare’s antics are a delight and not to be missed, nor are the ‘lessons’ learned. ‘Raising Hare’ is one of the most delightful books I have read.

Wow

What a different book
About her raising a baby hare in covid

I’m a massive animal lover and I love this book
Beautifully written
Heartwarming
Just a beautiful book

Loved it

Excellent book! I thought the authors connection with the Hare was so touching and there were so many moments I was highly invested. It did get bogged down in extraneous information about Hares sometimes, though.

This is an absolutely delightful book. We follow Chloe as she first finds what looks to be a possible abandoned baby hare - leveret - she umms and errs about what to do and, eventually, when it is still there after a wee while, decides to take it home and try look after it herself.
And so begins their story. How she flounders at first, how she works out what it needs and what it wants. What she can give it. We then marvel at what it eventually gives back to her.
In amongst this hare raising tail (see what I did there, sorrynotsorry) we also learn a LOT about hares. Their lives, natures, and the folklore that surrounds them. We also touch on the many literal and artistic versions of the animal.
We follow as Chloe flounders, makes mistakes, and then wonder at the bond that develops between the two of them. Whilst still maintaining the fact that the hare is still, and always will (should) be, a wild animal.
I think I gelled with this book so much as I also have wild animals near me. I live in the middle of a built up city, in a terrace house with a small back yard. But for the past 5 years, we have had litters of foxes born in a den they dug under our shed. It kept me and my brother going during lockdown - we had 5 kits that year - so I can relate to how this helped her at the same time too. I can also now relate to getting attached. This year, for the first year, I bonded with 2 of the seven kits we watched grow up. It is getting on "chasing off" time and I am dreading the day they don't come to visit me. The one glaring difference between us and Chloe is that we named our foxes. The two special ones being Ethel and Spot. But that's nothing to do with the book - sorry I overshare!
The point I guess I am making is that this book touched me on a different level. I understood better some of what Chloe went through, albeit I was never responsible for any of my kits. I also only knew them for a matter of months. Chloe took on a long term responsibility. Little did she know...
All in all, a fascinating story and a wonderful one to boot. It definitely opened my eyes to a creature that you don't hear much about these days and one that I myself have only seen once or twice in the wild.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton is a beautifully written memoir chronicling her experience rescuing a baby hare, or leveret, during the Covid lockdown. After finding the newborn hare abandoned on a footpath, Dalton decides to save it, always mindful of maintaining its wild nature.

The memoir follows the heartwarming connection that grows between Dalton and the hare, as she helps it return to the wild while the hare continues to visit in unexpected ways. Dalton's vivid observations highlight the mysterious qualities of hares, their habits, and the seasonal changes that impact wildlife.

Through this three-year journey, Raising Hare explores the human connection to the natural world and the detrimental effects of mass agriculture on wildlife. Dalton writes with warmth and compassion, offering a moving story of a rare bond with an animal in decline. This book is both a celebration of nature and a reflection on the importance of slowing down to appreciate the world around us.

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