A review by aman757
Rabbits for Food by Binnie Kirshenbaum

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.