The Rabbit Back Literature Society

By: Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen

Narrated by: Kate Rawson

A highly contagious book virus, a literary society and a Snow Queen-like disappearing author...

She came to realise that under one reality there's always another. And another one under that.

Only very special people are chosen by children's author Laura White to join 'The Society', an elite group of writers in the small town of Rabbit Back. Now a 10th member has been selected: Ella, literature teacher and possessor of beautifully curving lips.

But soon Ella discovers that the Society is not what it seems. What is its mysterious ritual, 'The Game'? What explains the strange disappearance that occurs at Laura's winter party, in a whirlwind of snow? Why are the words inside books starting to rearrange themselves? Was there once another 10th member, before her? Slowly, disturbing secrets that had been buried come to light....

In this chilling, darkly funny novel, the uncanny brushes up against the everyday in the most beguiling and unexpected of ways.

Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen, born in 1966, is one of Finland's best-kept secrets. A novelist and short-story writer, he is well known for his fantasy and sci-fi narratives and has twice won the Kuvastaja Fantasy Prize given by Finland's Tolkien Society and four times won the Atorax Award for Fantasy. He teaches Finnish language and literature and is the father of three sons.

©2013 Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen (P)2014 Audible Studios

Critic reviews

"The Rabbit Back Literature Society Mixes the small-town surrealism of Twin Peaks with the clandestine-society theme of Donna Tartt's The Secret History’ The List Unnerving, enigmatic... Hints of Let the Right One In and Haruki Murakami's elliptical early science fiction novels flavour a creepy tale about mutating books, buried secrets and ghostly encounters" James Lovegrove, (Financial Times)
"Wonderfully knotty... a very grown-up fantasy masquerading as quirky fable. Unexpected, thrilling and absurd" (Sunday Telegraph)
"Charming, chilling and gripping from its very first page" (Bizarre)
"Sly wit... characterises The Rabbit Back Literature Society" (Metro)
"Charming and intriguing, switching from playful to creepy to heartfelt and back again... good fun" (The Bookbag)
"The Rabbit Back Literature Society is a lobster pot of a book... an exquisite balance of suspense, precision-engineered structure and darkly playful humour... fascinating. And fun." 5-star review, (SFX)
"A novel about big questions ... wonderful characters... amazing" (TQR Stories)

Outstanding.

The author creates such a rich universe. Think a hybrid of Twin Peaks, Harry Potter, Philip Roth, and genuine originality.

interesting story

literature viewed in a new light. interesting characters. a new way to look at life. I will try this author again.

Had some promise, came up short

This has to have one of the best book jackets I've ever seen-- I skimmed the blurb and bought it immediately based on that summary and the cultural references. Yes, it does bring the surrealism of something like Twin Peaks, but in a very casual way that gets it off to a great start. But there's something about the lightness of the mystery here that never quite digs below the surface, leaving the whole story to feel a little flippant.

I also can't help feeling like there are some weird gender things at play here. The epilogue--and I'll avoid spoilers as best I can--came off as very out of character for our protagonist and a little squicky. The book, as a whole, left me feeling unsatisfied and a little uncomfortable.

Delightful

Loved this. The bits about the game and spilling . . . what a delightful plot device. Dark, funny, and can't put it down interesting. Such good fun.

Interesting Read

when I started this book, I honestly didn't know what to expect. As i made my way through, I realized it's a sort of fairy tale/ suspense if that can be combine between two covers of a book. there were points I wish I had more or wish the author had taken it further but overall I liked it.