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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
There seem to be a number of slightly-sour reviews on here, so I'll toss in my opinion. I loved this follow-up novel. It felt like an extension of "Watership Down." I absolutely loved the stories of El-ahrairah and Rabscuttle and enjoyed the creative adventures that the rabbits of the Downs went through. And I particularly enjoyed the political statements in this book. I think it's well worth reading if you loved the original novel. Who wouldn't want to spend a little more time with beloved Hazel-rah?!
This is worth reading if you have read Watership Down and you wish to read the complete works surrounding the rabbits. If not, then it is more disjointed than if you had read WD. It is a book that has many fables in the first half that don't seem to have any order or point other than abstract lessons for the warren. Somewhere past the second half more of a constant narrative is introduced and is much more enjoyable.
Overall, I would highly recommend Watershed Down but not so much this follow up.
Overall, I would highly recommend Watershed Down but not so much this follow up.
adventurous
Very cute. I remember being sad when I finished Watership Down because it was really fun to read and I was really happy to find out Richard Adams had actually written more about the rabbits of Watership Down.
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Read July 2022
I enjoyed part 3 but 1 & 2 were a struggle to get through.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Well I only read this because hey Watership Down got me all emotional over rabbits and well this was the sequel so of course I was going to read it, and well each chapter of this is a small separate story and well some of them where great others not so much so yeah I was hoping for a continuation from the first book maybe a where are the characters now sort of thing but I didn't get that.
A summery for Tales from Watership Down:
Tales From Watership Down begins with some of the great folk stories well known to all rabbits. Then Dandelion, the rabbits' master storyteller, relates the thrilling adventures experienced by Al-ahrairah, the mythical rabbit hero, and his stalwart, Rabscuttle, during the long journey home after their terrible encounter with the Black Rabbit of Inlé (as told in Watership Down). Finally, in the principal part of the book, we are told eight enchanting stories about the rabbits of the Down-- Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and their companions--including the impact on the warren of the obsessive doe Flyairth, and the appointment of Hyzenthlay as a female Chief Rabbit and partner to Hazel.
Yeah think I need to lower expectations as this book was not what I was expecting it to be which was a shame it's still a good book but not as good as the book that started it all.
A summery for Tales from Watership Down:
Tales From Watership Down begins with some of the great folk stories well known to all rabbits. Then Dandelion, the rabbits' master storyteller, relates the thrilling adventures experienced by Al-ahrairah, the mythical rabbit hero, and his stalwart, Rabscuttle, during the long journey home after their terrible encounter with the Black Rabbit of Inlé (as told in Watership Down). Finally, in the principal part of the book, we are told eight enchanting stories about the rabbits of the Down-- Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and their companions--including the impact on the warren of the obsessive doe Flyairth, and the appointment of Hyzenthlay as a female Chief Rabbit and partner to Hazel.
Yeah think I need to lower expectations as this book was not what I was expecting it to be which was a shame it's still a good book but not as good as the book that started it all.
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was worse than I remembered it, actually. Having recently re-read Watership Down, I was really struck by how lightweight and inconsequential the stories in this book seemed. Even most of the tales of El-ahrairah lacked the mythic quality that Adams was so adept at evoking in the original book. The one that bothered me in particular was the first story in the book, which tells of how El-ahrairah gained the sense of smell for his people. What really annoyed me about it was that none of the other animals in the book were described with their Lapine names or really looked at from the viewpoint of a rabbit. When El-ahrairah journeys to the land of the King of Yesterday, he meets many extinct animals -- nearly all of which are called by their human names, including the Oregon Bison. Talk about yanking the reader out of the story! I absolutely could not believe that a warren of rabbits would be sitting around listening to Dandelion tell a story that talked about Oregon Bison and jaguars. SO aggravating. I gave this three stars for the nostalgia factor, but it's really more of a two-star book.