The Constant Rabbit

 Oh, how I've missed Jasper Fforde's biting and literary satire!  His latest, The Constant Rabbit (#933) does not disappoint.  When a mysterious Event in England and elsewhere suddenly produces anthropomorphized rabbits, the nation is at first astonished, but as time goes on, the rabbits are absorbed into British culture, but never truly accepted by most humans.  In fact, there is a growing backlash against rabbits led by right-wing politicians replete with restrictive policies enforced by foxes and weasels.

Enter Peter Knox, employee of ;government-run RabCot, whose job it is to identify specific rabbits (Honestly, they all look alike!) suspected of illegal activities.  This, of course, is mostly bollocks, as rabbits tend to be very law-abiding.  Back in his university days though, Peter had a crush on the beautiful Constance Rabbit, but she was bounced from the school on a pretext and he hasn't seen her since.  Much to his surprise, she moves in next door with her current husband and two teenagers in the tiny hamlet of Much Hemlock, much to the consternation of the neighbors.  And then things get really interesting... 

What doesn't Fforde savagely satirize here?  He goes after racism, immigration, NIMBY, right-wing politicians, religion, bureaucracy -  you name it, he gets his jabs in effectively.  Yes, you can (and probably should) read a book like White Fragility which soberly lay out some of these issues, but it's so much more fun to read The Constant Rabbit which make these points with humor that sticks.  There was a reason Jesus preached in parables!  People remember the lessons taught there and here.  You go, Jasper Fforde!