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meecespieces's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
geekmom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
This is a classic for a reason. It’s a story of friendship, courage and survival, with lovely descriptions of the English countryside and a very believable cast of characters who are almost all animals.
A fantastic performance by Peter Capaldi made this 17.5 hour audiobook a real pleasure to listen to.
As a person who tends to be very sensitive to (and easily put off by) the lack of female characters in a book, I did find it extremely funny when the rabbits, having found a new home, turned around and were all... "Hey guys? Umm... we have no women, and that's kind of a problem." Well, I could have told them that from page 1, if only they'd asked me!
A fantastic performance by Peter Capaldi made this 17.5 hour audiobook a real pleasure to listen to.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Violence
arlorees's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Just a perfectly sweet story. Makes you feel like a kid being told a bedtims story by a grandparent.
I listened to Peter Capaldi narate it, he was fantastic.
I listened to Peter Capaldi narate it, he was fantastic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Murder, Police brutality, and Physical abuse
Minor: Bullying and Confinement
antigonecounterpart's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Blood
naes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Having not seen any of the adaptions for Watership Down I went into this novel totally blind. I knew rabbits were involved but that was the extent of my knowledge.
Watership Down follows the adventures of a band of rabbits trying to escape an unknown threat to their burrow and make their own. There are trials and hardship along with epic wins and beautiful moments. Somehow this story about an unlikely ragtag group made me care so much about and see rabbits in a totally new light.
The only issues I had with the book were the pacing in some parts was agonizingly slow and there were some incredibly long and detailed descriptions when all I wanted to know was how the bunnies were doing! After finishing I do appreciate the details a bit more especially after someone likened it to an epic poem which you need to work for the pay off.
Overall I really liked the story and plan on listening to the audiobook in the next month or two.
Watership Down follows the adventures of a band of rabbits trying to escape an unknown threat to their burrow and make their own. There are trials and hardship along with epic wins and beautiful moments. Somehow this story about an unlikely ragtag group made me care so much about and see rabbits in a totally new light.
The only issues I had with the book were the pacing in some parts was agonizingly slow and there were some incredibly long and detailed descriptions when all I wanted to know was how the bunnies were doing! After finishing I do appreciate the details a bit more especially after someone likened it to an epic poem which you need to work for the pay off.
Overall I really liked the story and plan on listening to the audiobook in the next month or two.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Classism, and Animal cruelty
readerette's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
While unnecessarily long, this is a great adventure story where characters from a variety of backgrounds learn to rely on one another's strengths and build a new home together. It's wonderful to see the world through the eyes of creatures humans commonly call "pests".
It's a bit predictable after the first twist, but I don't think the twists and action are really the point.
My major complaint besides the length is the depiction of female characters, given that this book was written in the 1970s (not 1870s) by a man with daughters. There aren't many females in the book, the rabbit ones have very few thoughts or contributions of any kind besides fear and kittens, and they come across as dispensable considering their death rate relative to the main male rabbit characters. One could argue that this is all simply because of the "natural" way of rabbits, but the male rabbit characters behave in lots of unnatural ways despite the author's research into rabbits, which I'm sure was a deliberate choice. So why didn't he choose to create stronger, more present female characters?
Given the violence, the emotional toll, and the struggles the rabbits undergo, I would suggest this for children 12+ at minimum (more middle grade than children's), but it's a great read as an adult as well.
I listened to the audiobook read by Peter Capaldi, who did wonders with all the different character voices. I listened at 1.75x instead of my usual 2x because otherwise I couldn't catch all the rabbit-language words underneath the accents.
It's a bit predictable after the first twist, but I don't think the twists and action are really the point.
My major complaint besides the length is the depiction of female characters, given that this book was written in the 1970s (not 1870s) by a man with daughters. There aren't many females in the book, the rabbit ones have very few thoughts or contributions of any kind besides fear and kittens, and they come across as dispensable considering their death rate relative to the main male rabbit characters. One could argue that this is all simply because of the "natural" way of rabbits, but the male rabbit characters behave in lots of unnatural ways despite the author's research into rabbits, which I'm sure was a deliberate choice. So why didn't he choose to create stronger, more present female characters?
Given the violence, the emotional toll, and the struggles the rabbits undergo, I would suggest this for children 12+ at minimum (more middle grade than children's), but it's a great read as an adult as well.
I listened to the audiobook read by Peter Capaldi, who did wonders with all the different character voices. I listened at 1.75x instead of my usual 2x because otherwise I couldn't catch all the rabbit-language words underneath the accents.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexism
remescient's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The most emotionally devastating book about rabbits.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Animal death, and Violence
thehobbitbarbie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Animal death, Gore, Blood, Murder, and Violence
gabriella_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This made me feel like a little kid again which I know isn’t an easy feat. I was squirming reading this feeling so tense and anxious for battle rabbits in a society some parts even felt apocalyptic. An absolute page-turner this was awesome
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Genocide, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Murder, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Violence, Gore, Confinement, Stalking, Grief, Pregnancy, War, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Blood, Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, and Xenophobia