Raising Hare: Thoughts + Takeaways
A book chat about my latest five-star nonfiction read, Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton.
If you ventured out on a winter walk near your home and spotted a baby hare - alone, barely moving, and out in the open for predators to see - what would you do?
In the midst of the pandemic, political adviser and foreign policy specialist Chloe Dalton encountered this scenario near her home on the English countryside. Fearing that touching the hare or interfering in any way would prevent it from reuniting with its family, Dalton opted to leave it be and hope its family quickly came to its aid. When she returned to the same spot hours later, however, the hare - or leveret, as a baby hare is called - remained exactly as before, potentially right in the line of a predator or vehicle.
Uncertain what to do, Dalton relied on instinct. She bundled up the leveret and brought it home.
From that point on, neither her - nor, dare I say, the hare’s - life would ever be the same.
The Reading Experience
My recent comments about Raising Hare have prompted wonderful feedback, including some people expressing interest in a stand-alone review of the book. I am happy to oblige, with one caveat: I don’t necessarily want to provide a full overview of the memoir, because so many pieces of the story unfold - at times in surprising ways - as you continue through the pages. With my extensive nonfiction reading, this is a rare instance where I feel the need to try and avoid spoilers!1
In addition, I believe each reader could close this book with a different lesson or theme from it, depending on life experience and the lens through which they read it. In that spirit, I will offer a few of my key thoughts and takeaways here, perhaps to pique your interest if you haven’t yet read the book. If you have read it, I’d love to hear your takeaways in the comments below.
So I will do my best to keep this article spoiler-free, though I am including a few quotes and examples here and there. If you’d prefer to bookmark this article for now and return to it after you’ve finished Raising Hare, please feel free to do so.
Opening Thoughts
Just a few quick notes before we dive in to the themes:
I heard about Raising Hare through the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction, now in its second awards year. It hadn’t yet been published in the U.S. at the time of the announcement, but I put a library hold on it as soon as I could. I’m happy to report it has since made the prize’s short list as well; I believe the winner will be announced June 12. (On a side note, I have also found a number of stellar reads over the years from the Women’s Prize for Fiction, several of which have made my favorite books of the year - if not my favorite books of all time - lists! The fiction prize has been in existence since 1996, and I suggest checking out their nominees and winners if you’re looking for more reading possibilities.)
While I love audiobooks, I’m glad I had the print version of this one, as the start of each chapter includes gorgeous illustrations by Denise Nestor. (If you read the ebook, do the illustrations show up there, too?)
You’ll likely surmise this by the end of the article, but this was an easy 5 out of 5 stars for me. Raising Hare is thoughtful, gentle, emotional, informative, and rich in its storytelling. Honestly one of the most stunning books I’ve read so far this year.
Special note to the members of the Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Book Club (and if you want to become a member, you can learn more here): I’m considering adding a special bonus chat about Raising Hare to our calendar a bit later in the year. Please let me know if you’d be interested!
Key Themes, Thoughts, + Takeaways
Prior to the leveret’s arrival, Dalton had little experience with animals or with nature in general. Her professional role kept her immersed in people, politics, and words, spending much of her time in the bustling city rather than in the countryside. The pandemic lockdown initially led her to spend more time in her home outside the city, but the leveret’s appearance extended - and transformed - her experience:
“For the first time in my life,” Dalton writes, “I have had cause to study animals rather than people, and to see that we are not diminished by making way for them. Coexistence gives our own existence greater poignancy, and perhaps even grandeur.”
I could include numerous thoughts and takeaways, but to avoid a book-length article here, I’ve narrowed my notes down to a few key themes. Not surprisingly, some of these fall right in line with my core values, impressing them even more deeply in my mind and heart.
First, the amount of respect.
From the moment Dalton picked up the leveret, she had no intention of taming, domesticating, or turning it into a pet - only to provide any safety and health needs that she could. She respected the leveret as the wildlife that it was and didn’t try to pet it constantly or keep it from its instinctive actions.
As their time together progressed, this respect grew in breadth and scope. Research and literature on caring for hares apparently is not abundant, but Dalton read as much as she could, consulting veterinarians and other experts for their insights and help as well. (She shares much of what she discovered throughout the book, providing additional interesting knowledge for the reader.) But when instances arose where she needed to make decisions - such as whether to bring the hare for a veterinary visit, or whether to provide a boundary in which to keep it away from potential predators - she always weighted her consideration, as best she could, in favor of the hare and respect for its natural way of being.
I found Dalton’s decision-making process in these instances so insightful, wondering too what decisions I would have made in these same situations. I always felt a through-line of respect for the hare in all that she did.
“[The hare] needed nothing from me other than that I do no harm, which might serve as a motto for all wild animals. All [the hare] required was a little space, a patch of sun in which to lie, and peace.” - Chloe Dalton
Second, the power of silence.
The impact, beauty, and power of silence stood out for me in numerous ways throughout the memoir. Would Dalton have even noticed the hare, for example, had it not been for a quiet walk, fully taking in her surroundings as she went?
Beyond the benefits we can experience from silence and solitude as individuals, what seemed like silent communication between Dalton and the hare would at times shine through the pages, too. She writes about one experience - which, in my attempt to be spoiler-free here, I’ll keep rather vague2 - where she sensed the hare might need, or at least benefit from, her help. Again, the question of whether or not to interfere rose to the surface for Dalton:
“I decided I must try, and began to walk downstairs while calling gently to [the hare]. To my surprise, [the hare] ran straight towards me and pawed my leg…”
The story then continues to unfold so touchingly, and it’s one I think you’ll benefit from reading directly in the context of the book, so I won’t go any further here. Suffice it to say, the human and the hare communicated beautifully, mostly in silence, in this moment, and I get a bit teary-eyed each time I think about this little scene.
“[The hare] has taught me patience. And as someone who has made their living through words, [the hare] has made me consider the dignity and persuasiveness of silence.” - Chloe Dalton
Third, the seemingly mutual trust.
Several experiences throughout the book demonstrate trust between all sorts of parties: Dalton and the hare, the hare and its surroundings, even Dalton herself and the nearby wildlife, as she would often leave openings for the hare - and potentially any other form of wildlife, I would imagine - to easily enter her home.
I loved all of that. But I also loved how Dalton trusted herself to do what was right for the hare. She didn’t always do so confidently; when she encountered an uncertain situation, she might ask a vet, or her farmer sister, or the minimal literature she could find about hares, but she’d ultimately trust herself and her intuition to guide her decisions. I appreciated this reminder, woven subtly throughout, about doing the best we can with the information we have, and that learning to trust ourselves can sometimes be an ongoing - but ever worthwhile - journey throughout the course of life.
“The fact that the leveret appeared to feel safe with me seemed a tacit approval from the wildest of the wild. It made me feel accepted in my environment, akin to living in a state of peace with nature.” - Chloe Dalton
A Beauty Of A Book
What a gift this book has been to my reading life, and arriving at just the right time for me personally as well.
I adored the writing style, the flow, and the overall experience of reading Raising Hare, and I can easily see myself returning to this one when I need a bit of calm and peacefulness on the page. Dalton’s words, and the experience she shares between her and the hare, provided a beautiful environment that I’d be glad to immerse myself in again and again. There are some difficult moments too, but they are handled with the care and respect portrayed throughout the entire memoir.
If any of the above intrigues you, or if you are a nature lover and/or looking for an example of the gifts that can arise in the most unexpected situations, I think you might really enjoy this one.
In writing this memoir, Dalton truly seemed to savor her unique experience with the hare. “Every minute [the hare] chooses to spend in my vicinity feels precious and fleeting,” she writes.
What a beautiful, and widely-applicable, life message. What a beauty of a book!
Have you read Raising Hare? Do you plan to? Share your thoughts below!
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Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC, and self-proclaimed book nerd, is a certified coach who helps achievers work with meaning, live with purpose, and reach bold + difference-making goals. Feel free to share your questions, comments, or topic/book suggestions below or via email to readingandpurpose (at) gmail (dot) com.
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If you’re unfamiliar with the term ‘spoiler’ when it comes to books, it essentially means giving away the plot points, ending, or aspects better left to the discovery of the reader. In my experience, it’s rarely an issue with nonfiction (at least the type I read) but feels somewhat applicable in this instance!
I’m happy to share more if you’ve already read the book or don’t care about spoilers!
I like your reflections on this book Christi - it too came to me at a particularly hectic and stressful time and like I mentioned to you previously, it was like a balm to pick this book up at the end of each day. One of the things I loved about it was that Chloe Dalton was admittedly not a nature/outdoors/animal type of person, and yet the personal impact and growth that connecting with a living creature has had on her life is undeniable. So many lessons to be learnt. It's a brilliant book.