Reviews

Rabbits for Food by Binnie Kirshenbaum

aman757's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

i checked this book out from the library because of an interest i have in learning about the literal practice of consuming rabbits for food. however, what i discovered early into beginning to read this book was that it is not directly about consuming rabbits, but rather a story of a complex, uniquely particular narrator who navigates a relationship, family dynamics, and intensive mental health treatment while remaining true to herself and her lived identity. the title rabbits for food may be read as an extended metaphor for the narrator's trials through the plot of the book, which i was able to identity directly at scattered times during my reading. that said,

the title is more explicitly referenced in a section of the book that explains the narrator's pretty peculiar name of bunny as coming from her family ancestry's proclivity to eat rabbits for food.

also, closer to the last chapters of the book, there was a section that referenced the literary character lolita, with whom bunny was surprised one of the mental health patients at the facility with her wasn't familiar. this seemed to me like a sort of deliberate reference from the author of this book, possibly as a reference to one of her personal literary influences or even to a character whom has shaped her own life or the personality she instills into her personal literary characters. so, though i'd probably be explicit in my recommendation that the book isn't really about eating rabbits, i would suggest this book for many different readers, including but not limited to anyone with experience in being treated for mental health struggles, whether inpatient or otherwise.

lottapotta's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective

3.25

"And worse than that the hurt of not being someone special is the shame of it, the shame of how much I want that, to be someone special" p.5

magtattle's review against another edition

4.0

Reading this feels like a continuous pinch and a reprieve at the same time. It's refreshing to read something centered on the lack of meaning rather than pushing progress.

tiffanygrace's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

sophiareads_'s review against another edition

dark emotional reflective

4.0

jentidders's review against another edition

3.0

In Rabbits For Food (a possibly semi-autobiographical?) novel, we follow a writer (Bunny aka Binnie Kirshenbaum?) as she slides from clinical depression into institutionalization.

I very much enjoyed the first half of the book and could relate to the alternating monotony and drama of long term depression, the pain, the mistreatment of loved ones, and feeling on the edge of losing it. Bunny is not the most likeable protagonist and reminded me of the narrator in Ottessa Moshfegh's My Year of Rest and Relaxation, except I liked Bunny more.

Sadly, the book lost me a bit once Bunny was committed to the psychiatric facility. Forgive me if the book is based on a true experience, as I've never been in such an institution, but it didn't ring true to me and this second half just felt full of the various tropes and cliches that exist about mental health facilities and their inpatients.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed Kirschenbaum's wry, observational way of writing and would definitely read something else by her.

sofiaishere97's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 rounded down (if only goodreads accepted half stars...). I love reading about unhinged women, even if they are depressed, so I had a good time. Also, to be fair, if I had had to attend the same dinner as Bunny, I would've probably done the same thing.

carsickshark's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

ejoppenheimer's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

paigeburrell's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25