Book Review: The Constant Rabbit - Jasper Fforde

I love Fforde's provincial epics. They are dystopias set in the endless wastelands of suburban England. Whole new worlds brought to life in sleepy villages. The Constant Rabbit isn't exactly subtle in its politics - fears that "the Rabbits" might out-breed us leads to a rise in an anti-rabbit dictatorship. But it is the way he deftly weaves polemic and punchline that is so delightful.

‘Rehoming rabbits in Wales’ policy was won on a slender majority and with half the country not voting at all.

The humour is daft and, on more than one occasion, near the knuckle. He lays delicious traps for the reader and is expert at revealing our culture's weird foibles.

The back-and-forth nature of the storytelling felt a little unnecessary. It almost feels like it wants to be a documentary, but ends up diminishing some of the tension. The gentle reveal of the true nature of several characters is expertly done.

Funny, and just a little terrifying.