Rabbit Cake

By: Annie Hartnett

Narrated by: Katie Schorr

Fans of Maria Semple's Where'd You Go Bernadette and and Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You will delight in Annie Hartnett's debut, Rabbit Cake, a darkly comic novel about a young girl named Elvis trying to figure out her place in a world without her mother.

Twelve-year-old Elvis Babbitt has a head for the facts: she knows science proves yellow is the happiest color, she knows a healthy male giraffe weighs about 3,000 pounds, and she knows that the naked mole rat is the longest living rodent. She knows she should plan to grieve her mother, who has recently drowned while sleepwalking, for exactly 18 months. But there are things Elvis doesn't yet know—like how to keep her sister Lizzie from poisoning herself while sleep-eating or why her father has started wearing her mother's silk bathrobe around the house.

Elvis investigates the strange circumstances of her mother's death and finds comfort, if not answers, in the people (and animals) of Freedom, Alabama. As hilarious a storyteller as she is heartbreakingly honest, Elvis is a truly original voice in this exploration of grief, family, and the endurance of humor after loss.

©2017 Annie Hartnett (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Charming

It was charming. The narrator was good, it was quirky without getting sticky, addressed “dark” topics (death, cross dressing, death) in a light format. I had no idea how to describe it, until I saw the Goodreads description. Sometimes you just can’t describe it better (unlike some Reese’s Book Club blurbs, lol. ) Here you go:

“This is a darkly comic novel about a young girl named Elvis trying to figure out her place in a world without her mother. Twelve-year-old Elvis Babbitt has a head for the facts: she knows science proves yellow is the happiest color, she knows a healthy male giraffe weighs about 3,000 pounds, and she knows that the naked mole rat is the longest living rodent. She knows she should plan to grieve her mother, who has recently drowned while sleepwalking, for exactly eighteen months. But there are things Elvis doesn’t yet know—like how to keep her sister Lizzie from poisoning herself while sleep-eating or why her father has started wearing her mother's silk bathrobe around the house. Elvis investigates the strange circumstances of her mother's death and finds comfort, if not answers, in the people (and animals) of Freedom, Alabama.”

A Delightful Story

Rabbit Cake was a delightful book. I listened to it on Audible, but I would also like to read it someday. The narrator was superb. I actually thought it was being read by the author, as the narrator had each character down pat. She knew the characters, and that made a huge difference from someone just reading a story aloud. The story to me was very interesting, with the main character Elvis reminding me slightly of Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird. She's a young girl who has lost her mother and is trying desperately to figure her world out. She's very smart for a 6th grader, but also naive in that sweet way that children of her age are. All the characters in this story are so well-developed you can picture them in your mind. Of course, the excellent narration doesn't hurt! This is one of those stories that you don't want to end. I would love a sequel to see what happens with all of the characters in the future. More Please!

loved it

I could not wait listen to it!! The story * presentaion was fablous!! thank you!!!

Beautiful story

Incredibly lovable characters and easy listening. Such a good book. ♥️I will be thinking of these characters for days.

Haunting

This is one of those rare books that is so beautifully written that parts of it come back to haunt you unexpectedly.

I'm looking forward to reading more from its author.

How to grieve

A tough book but a good one. My mother is still alive but this still hit very close. I always want answers and to know why. This book forces you to accept what you can't know.
It's quirky but not really funny. Great character study.

Wonderful!

I got this one for free through Audible Plus and it was a perfect listen! The writing and narration moved you through the story so naturally you almost forget how absolutely tragic the lives of the characters are. I ended up purchasing Unlikely Animals after this and that one was wonderful as well!

Worth it

Lovely novel, incredible reader. Rabbit Cake is engaging, entertaining, touching, funny, and sweet equal measure. Katie Schorr’s voice is perfect for the young protagonist Elvis. Definitely worth a listen.

I loved it!

I loved everything about it! Several places made me laugh out loud. This is definitely up there as one of my “ all time favorites. Thank you Ms. Hartnett for writing such a treasure and thank you Ms. Schorr for bringing it all to life!

Delightful!

Enjoyed this book thoroughly! Thanks to Audible Plus I have a new author to enjoy!