Amy, Jin and Lucie are leading isolated lives in their partially renovated, inner city home. They are not happy, but they are also terrified of change. When they buy a pet rabbit for Lucie, and then Amy’s mother, Pauline, comes to stay, the family is forced to confront long-buried secrets. Will opening their hearts to the rabbit help them to heal or only invite further tragedy?
The Burrow tells an unforgettable story about grief and hope. With her characteristic compassion and eye for detail, Melanie Cheng reveals the lives of others—even of a small rabbit.
Review
The Burrow is a slender book with a hefty emotional impact. I’ve been trying to find the best words to describe the writing, and the best I can think of are ‘tender’, ‘restrained’, and ‘thoughtful’.
The story is set during Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdowns, and it captures the mood so well: there is this quiet and lack of things in the external environment, yet you have all these strong feelings internally. The characters can’t do very much, but Melanie Cheng takes us into each character’s head as they reflect on their lives and the shape a recent tragedy has left in them, revealing more and more about them as well as the tragedy as we go. Readers who prefer plot-led stories may find this pace too slow, but if you enjoy character-led book, this is for you.
I find that I don’t want to use a lot of words to talk about this book. I’ll just say that it is beautiful, and I kept thinking about it after I finished it. It is an understated gem; one I hope more and more people will discover.
Thank you to Text Publishing for the review copy.
Review by Priscilla
Has Novel Feelings entertained you, or taught you something? Show your support with a once-off donation by buying us a coffee. All proceeds go towards making the show stronger and more sustainable for the future.
Novel Feelings 