Get ready to be blown away by Anna Goldreich's searing debut novel, 'The Leveret', a heart-wrenching and awe-inspiring exploration of grief, healing, and the human spirit. This powerful tale delves headfirst into the unspoken pain of late miscarriage, laying bare the crushing reality that many women face in silence.
The story centres on Clare, a woman torn apart by her loss six months on, feeling suffocated by those around her – including her partner Phoebe – who just don't get it. The narrative kicks off with a stark and haunting portrayal of birth, only to be met with deafening silence, setting the tone for the turmoil that follows. Having fled to a rural village in search of a new beginning with Phoebe, Clare's struggles intensify as she battles to come to terms with her loss.
Then comes the turning point: an abandoned baby hare, which Clare names Isla, is discovered under a hedge – and it's here that Goldreich weaves a 'second birth' into the narrative, brimming with life and possibility. As Clare forms a bond with this wild creature, she begins to reconnect with her own body and find purpose in life again. But what does this evolving relationship truly mean? Is it a symptom of mental illness or a desperate attempt at self-healing – or is it something more profound?
Goldreich's portrayal of the complex layers between Clare and Isla is nothing short of extraordinary, raising questions about the fine line between reality and coping mechanism. For weeks, the leveret becomes a constant companion, sleeping in Clare's arms and carried lovingly in a sling – but as it grows wilder, Clare clings to a delusion of domesticity that threatens to consume her.
Some reviewers have noted that Phoebe's chapters don't quite live up to their full potential, but the visceral depiction of both the initial miscarriage and Clare's bond with the hare makes 'The Leveret' an astonishingly good first novel. The book subtly explores modern themes of humanity's relationship with nature, offering a refreshingly elegantly undogmatic perspective. In the end, it leaves you wondering: did Clare save Isla or inadvertently seal its fate? Whatever the truth may be, it's undeniable that the leveret helped restore Clare's sense of physical reality – and in doing so, gave her hope for healing.