Review: "The Rabbit Back Literature Society" by Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen

Pushkin Press, 2013. 346 pages.
Rating: ★★★★ (4 stars)
Source: The Ceilidh Place, Ullapool 

Summary (via Goodreads): "Only nine people have ever been chosen by renowned children’s author Laura White to join “The Rabbit Back Literature Society,” an elite group of writers in the small town of Rabbit Back. Now a tenth member has been selected: Ella, a young literature teacher. Soon Ella discovers that the Society is not what it seems. What is its mysterious ritual known as 'The Game'? What explains the strange disappearance that occurs at Laura White’s winter party? Why are the words inside books starting to rearrange themselves? Was there once another tenth member, before her? Slowly, as Ella explores the Society and its history, disturbing secrets that had been buried start to come to light..."

My thoughts:

The Rabbit Back Literature Society was first published in Finland in 2006, and published in English last year (translated by Lola M. Rogers). Set in the delightfully bizarre town of Rabbit Back (which one review describes as "where Twin Peaks meets the Brothers Grimm"), home to reclusive children's author Laura White, this is an odd, dark, charming novel brimming with mystery. In short: everything I hoped it would be when I first picked it up.

I should be honest, however, and say that it did take a me a while to warm to this book, and to many of the characters. I liked it well enough, but didn't love it. But this is one those special books that creeps up on you, then all of a sudden wins you over. As the book progresses, the mysteries surrounding Laura White, and the circle of talented young writers she selects to form The Rabbit Back Literature Society, deepen and become stranger. It's almost impossible to resist their pull. It also asks lots of interesting questions about writing, inspiration, reality, childhood memory, and the relationship between writers and the world around them.

For me, the real turning point in this was when Ella starts to play "The Game", a creepy, ritual-like part of the Society, where members challenge each other to "spill" their most raw, intimate thoughts and memories. Through The Game, Ella starts to explore the weird, knotty history of the Society. Each member has their own secrets to spill, which often stir up something new out of the Society's mysterious past. At this point the book really opens up into something magical and intriguing, a real page-turner. I particular loved the mystery surrounding the Society's original "tenth member", who no-one seems to be able to properly remember.

I think it is impossible to review this book without talking a little about the ending. (I'll try to keep this spoiler-free, but please feel free to skip this paragraph if you'd prefer a complete surprise!) There are some books you read, that when you get to ten or twenty pages from the end you start to wonder (and worry) how it will wrap the story up with so little space left. I had that feeling here, and started to fear an unsatisfactory ending, but thankfully I was proved wrong. This isn't a book that sets out to neatly weave in all the loose ends. Any reader going into this book with that expectation will be disappointed. For me, this book is much more about Ella's journey, and about the mystery itself, rather than the solving of it. Overall, I found the ending satisfying and charming, a strange and magical ending to a strange and magical book.

I highly recommend this book if you are looking for something a bit different, particularly if mystery and magical realism are your cup of tea. It's an addictive read, dream-like, nicely paced, and subtly thought-provoking. You might have to persevere for the first few chapters, but personally I think it's worth it. I hope you like it too :) 

Reviews by others:
A Fantastical Librarian. "...an interesting story, with some fascinating exploration of the human psyche and an intricate narrative structure. If you’re looking for something speculative outside of the norm, then The Rabbit Back Literature Society comes highly recommended."

Fantasy Book Review. "With a large cast of characters and back stories to delve into this book will not leave you disappointed, but will hopefully leave you as surprised and satisfied as I felt upon finishing the story."

Review by Catherine Taylor for the Telegraph. "Part philological study, part winter-bound magic realism, Jäaskeläinen has created a world where all is not quite sane; beneath the cosy cups of coffee there is horror at its heart, “a blanket of unending dusk fringed with bad dreams”."