Watership Down

Hadn't read this one since I was a kid, and I was surprised at how well it held up. It's really quite an action/adventure story, and the pacing is mostly first rate. The anthropomorphizing is fascinating, in part because Adams is able to keep the animalistic nature of the rabbits even though they are going around talking, theorizing and the like. It's definitely a product of its time regarding gender, but it still takes on an amazing number of (human) social problems for a book that is ostensibly about a bunch of rabbits. In particular, the fascist police state warren seems particularly poignant at the moment, as our police state continues to grow.

”???Well, I???d rather say no more about the end of that meeting. Strawberry tried all he could to help me. He spoke very well about the decency and comradeship natural to animals. ???Animals don???t behave like men,??? he said. ???If they have to fight, they fight; and if they have to kill, they kill. But they don???t sit down and set their wits to work to devise ways of spoiling other creatures??? lives and hurting them. They have dignity and animality.???

In the introduction, the author addresses the rejections he got when trying to find a publisher for the book. All of them said that it was too childish for older children and written in too adult of a fashion for younger children. And that is basically my assessment of the book as well. However, some publisher saw something in the manuscript, and I'm glad, because it is definitely an enjoyable book to read. I'm just not sure who would read it. It's an adventure tale about a group of rabbits, great children's book material. But it is rather dark and gruesome at points. It might be best for adults like me who like to sometimes read books intended for somewhat younger audiences. Overall, delightful characters, gripping plot twists and great writing.

Despite having hazy memories of being terrified by the cartoon adaptation, I was still surprised at how intense this book was. It's one I've always meant to read, but only now been prodded into it by my book club.

The story reads like a great fairy tale with points which, like any good fairy tale, are highly inappropriate for children. It's definitely one I'd tell kids not to read just to see what they'd do when they read about a rabbit shouting “Piss off!”

Probably the most interesting bit for me was when they discover the first warren of tharn rabbits. Adams focused a lot on the politics of Efrafa, which feels like a strong commentary on military dictatorships fascist and communist alike. For me as a modern reader, I feel the metaphor of unspoken captivity, of not talking about problems because life is so much easier not talking about them, is far more poignant to the world I've grown up in.

Glad I finally found a reason to read the book at any rate.

As a child, my parents had me watch the movie version of this before I ever knew it originated from a book. If you've ever seen the movie, you would know it's a graphic, terrifying visual representation for a young child to see–as good as it was. Having been scarred for life by images of bunnies getting gassed underground, I would never have picked up this book had it not been for all the great reviews.

Reluctant at first, I started reading it and within a few chapters, I was in love! The story was a beautifully told, with simple yet entrancing descriptions and characters. I could read this over and over again and never grow tired of it. I will definitely read this to my own children someday, but probably wait to show them the movie until they're a bit older...

Executive Summary: After a bit of a slow start for me, I found this to be a really enjoyable adventure story.

Audiobook: Ralph Cosham does a really good job with the narration. He adds a few voices and has a good reading voice that makes this a book that works really well in audio.

Full Review
This book has been on my to read list for awhile. In fact I've owned not one but two copies for years. I'm not sure why it took me so long to get around to it. I was motivated to finally read it by the release of the new Netflix mini-series.

Initially I was concerned that a story about rabbits was not going to keep my interest, but it ended up working really well. I did find the start a bit slow, but once I got into it I found myself really attached to all the rabbits. I particularly like Hazel, Fiver and Bigwig. But most of the rabbits were pretty memorable.

This book could easily be a coming of age story, or just an adventure story and not fantasy if was about people and not rabbits. However I don't think it would have felt nearly as epic, or the adventure nearly as compelling had that been the case.

This book is written for a younger audience, but done in such a way as to be a compelling read for older people as well. The rabbits are just so well written that you get swept along in the story and don't

I think my favorite aspect of the book was the stories within the stories. Anytime the rabbits would stop and tell stories about the cleverness and cunning of El-ahrairah. All but one of these stories were incredibly enjoyable. The final story was harder to listen to.

I'm glad I finally got around to reading this book and shouldn't have waited so long. It's truly an excellent epic adventure tale.

This is one that I've putting off for, oh, say 25 years. But, like the proverbial tortoise, I finally can cross this particular finish line, and honestly think I could've gone another 25 years without it. That said, it was an okay read. Just underwhelming.

I'd probably have given this 3-stars if it hadn't been for everything I've heard about this classic. There were no major problems (sure, the whole made up words for no particular reason littered throughout bugged me), but there wasn't anything that wowed me either. Just an okay book.

It's weird because this was pretty much exactly what I was expecting, but because of that, it felt like a let down. I have heard from some friends that this book is one of their favorite classics so when I had a reading prompt come up for a book with a rabbit on the cover, I went for it. I definitely fell in love with a few of the characters, but it was overall kind of boring to me.

When I think of wonderful books that I've read only once and will probably never have time to read again, Watership Down comes to the top of my list. I became a rabbit in that world for the two weeks I spent reading this big book way back when it first came out. I still have days when I long to be a rabbit and go back to Watership Down.

Second read: I remember like it was yesterday instead of thirty years ago the first time I read Watership Down. I couldn't put it down. I read it at night, and during odd free moments at work. I picked it up again as soon as I got home. For the week I read WD, I was a rabbit. I , too, admired the unexpected leadership of Hazel. I, too, worried about our nervous prophet Fiver. I, too, loved my world of Frith (the sun) and El-ahrairah (our mighty rabbit folk hero) and I, too, was terrified of Lendri (badger) and Pfeffa (cat) and I, too, was mystified about the white burning sticks.

Happily, I decided to read this book again with my online 1001 Children's Books You Must Read group.

And, happily, the book held up. Delightful.

My esteem of the story ebbed and flowed between a 3 and 4 star rating. However that sentiment may be due to reading most of it on an 11 hour plane ride. I particularly liked the rabbit lore and the tales of El-ahrairah, also the ending was very well done, earning it the overall 4 star rating.

I think the next animal story that I will read will be Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. I've very familiar with the movie, but have yet to read the book. I bring this up because, Watership Down reminded me of Rats of NIMH because the main characters act slightly out of their natures. I am very happy that in the story Richard Adams has his rabbits admit that they are acting slightly out of character of their rabbit nature, which is one of there reasons why I so admired the story. There's something to be said of unlikely adventures, whether they be Hobbits, mice, reluctant princesses, or rabbits, it's nice to see a character slightly out of their element and how, or even if, they cope and handle it.

Somehow, I can't wait to read this to my kids. I really enjoyed this little read. It was short but had depth. It was packed with adult themes but wrapped in a child's packaging. Laced with truth, rapt with adventure, and entertaining to the last word. Well worth my time and, I dare say, if delivered/taken with a bit of an open mind, would be worth yours.

The first time I'd read this I was in eighth grade. I chose it for the next read-aloud book for my kids. It took a good month-and-a-half to finish it with almost nightly readings. They enjoyed it and were very curious about all the characters. I really enjoyed giving Kehaar a faux-Slavic accent, but trying to read aloud some of the names can be a tongue-twister. You say “Hyzenthlay and Thethuthinnang” and see how well you do! Of course, it's been so long since I read this story I was only familiar with some of the key plot points. One thing I'd forgotten was how much description of the landscape Adams works in to the story. He throws in names of plants and animals that I have just zero knowledge of. But this classic story is a captivating one. My kids – especially my eldest – kept asking me to read more every night when I deemed I was done for the night. They were also curious about which rabbits might be mating with which (at the end of the story). They also loved all the little scattered stories within the story about the rabbit folk hero El-Ahrairah (a.k.a. the Prince With a Thousand Enemies).

C'mon! Say it! “Hyzenthlay and Thethuthinnang!”

An enjoyable adventure story that certainly surpassed my expectations - I did not expect a book about rabbits journeying through the country to have quite so much depth. It's insightful, and brutal, and dark at times - for example:

“Well, if you want a doe, you have one—any doe in the Mark, that is. We're not officers for nothing, are we? The does are under orders and none of the bucks can stop you.”

And I thought this was a kids' book!

It gets 3 stars because it took forever to get into and I didn't feel warmth for the characters. I was hoping to feel some sort of magical connection to this book since it regularly features on lists of favourites, but I simply found it to be pleasant reading, and I'm not sad it's over. 

The story over, the demands of their own hard, rough lives began to reassert themselves in their hearts, in their nerves, their blood and appetites. Would that the dead were not dead! But there is grass that must be eaten, pellets that must be chewed, hraka that must be passed, holes that must be dug, sleep that must be slept.

Watership Down

Watership Down

“I couldn't do it again, Hazel,” he said.“You haven't got to,” replied Hazel.

When I started it, I didn't expect much and thought about it as just another book about rabbits. Sort of like Orwell's Animal Farm. But as I went on reading, I got pulled right into the wonderful world of these rabbits! Bigwig, Hazel, Fiver, Dandelion, Kehaar, General Woundwort! Every character was beautifully written. One of the best books I have read in a while.

Richard Adams has created a masterpiece here. And as I go to bed tonight, I fondly remember Shiroo, my beloved pet rabbit who is right up there in heaven, watching over and blessing us with love! Would surely recommend this one for everyone to read.