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Reviews tagging 'Death'
Unten am Fluss - »Watership Down«: Roman | Ein ergreifendes Spiegelbild der Gesellschaft und die fesselnde Geschichte eines langen Weges in die Freiheit by Richard Adams
27 reviews
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
No
Stirring tale of a small band of rabbits seeking to establish a new warren and of the leaders who guide the effort to build and defend that new home against great odds.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Pregnancy, Colonisation
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I understand now why this book is regarded as a classic and why a book about rabbits is studied in classrooms. As someone who just finished a year of Greek lit, Roman lit, and Shakespearean lit courses (and as fan of Lord of the Rings), I see exactly where Adams draws his inspirations. Yes, it's about rabbits, but it's realistic and immersive, and has a bit of a military tone if you completely forget that they're rabbits. But Adams never does let you forget his characters are rabbits, as much as they are compared to humans. The journey from Sandalford to Watership Down is not unlike Aeneas' voyage from Troy to Italy, or Odysseus' journey, and just like Tolkien's rich descriptive imagery, Adams also gives picturesque descriptions of the environment (but in a much easier and condensed read).
Most of the rabbits who we follow have distinctive personalities and character traits that set them apart and it was so so easy to grow attached to them, but there arent so many that it becomes overwhelming. The background characters aren't constantly mentioned that you'd need a character description sheet like Warrior Cats.
And just like Warrior Cats there are some violent and some very sad gruesome parts. Like the genocide of the Sandalford warren. This part is recounted to us by Captain Holly who's turnaround is incredibly sympathetic. The line where he very sorrowfully acknowledges he is now a completely different rabbit from when we first met him made me feel so sad. Another sympathetic turnaround character was Strawberry. When he begs the main company to take him with them it really pulled at my heartstrings.
Fiver's speech after they rescue Bigwig stuck with me too. That was his MOMENT and i loved it. The respect he gains from all the others when they finally listen to him really makes you feel proud. It's so immersive and emotionally provoking that I feel like i made this journey with them. And Hazelrah! I love Hazel so much. I love a kind, supportive, harmonious, open-hearted main character.
The myths and folklore really make it feel like a real society. Like the stories of the trickster rabbit El-ahraira interspersed throughout the book. Sometimes id groan about it but halfway through when the story would be interrupted by one of the rabbits being restless, just like a kid id get impatient and be like "okay but what happens to El-ahraira next??"And by the end of the book when Hazel is dying and sees a rabbit spirit and is like who are you? The spirit says oh you know me very well, i was inbetween giddiness and tears.
The El-ahrairah myths are like a meta plot device in hindsight, each one has a little lesson for the rabbits to be resourceful and tricky in order to survive, but by the end of the book you realize Hazel played the role of El-ahraira.
Normally my reviews are more constructive but I just wanted to rave about how much i loved this book. Some parts dragged (mainly the descriptive bits) but it doesnt take away from the 5 stars im giving this.
Most of the rabbits who we follow have distinctive personalities and character traits that set them apart and it was so so easy to grow attached to them, but there arent so many that it becomes overwhelming. The background characters aren't constantly mentioned that you'd need a character description sheet like Warrior Cats.
And just like Warrior Cats there are some violent and some very sad gruesome parts. Like the genocide of the Sandalford warren. This part is recounted to us by Captain Holly who's turnaround is incredibly sympathetic. The line where he very sorrowfully acknowledges he is now a completely different rabbit from when we first met him made me feel so sad. Another sympathetic turnaround character was Strawberry. When he begs the main company to take him with them it really pulled at my heartstrings.
Fiver's speech after they rescue Bigwig stuck with me too. That was his MOMENT and i loved it. The respect he gains from all the others when they finally listen to him really makes you feel proud. It's so immersive and emotionally provoking that I feel like i made this journey with them. And Hazelrah! I love Hazel so much. I love a kind, supportive, harmonious, open-hearted main character.
The myths and folklore really make it feel like a real society. Like the stories of the trickster rabbit El-ahraira interspersed throughout the book. Sometimes id groan about it but halfway through when the story would be interrupted by one of the rabbits being restless, just like a kid id get impatient and be like "okay but what happens to El-ahraira next??"
The El-ahrairah myths are like a meta plot device in hindsight, each one has a little lesson for the rabbits to be resourceful and tricky in order to survive, but by the end of the book you realize Hazel played the role of El-ahraira.
Normally my reviews are more constructive but I just wanted to rave about how much i loved this book. Some parts dragged (mainly the descriptive bits) but it doesnt take away from the 5 stars im giving this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Suicide attempt, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cannibalism, War, Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
RTC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Moderate: Death, Slavery, Torture, Violence
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexism, Pregnancy
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A worthy classic is an understatement. I personally loved this book and the contents. I find that it could be a great read for almost anyone, young and old. Whether you love animal fables, classics, or just a good compelling story, this book is a must.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Violence, War
Minor: Confinement
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
it hopped along without a plot until 3/4s of the way through, and i wasn't attached enough to the characters to care too much. the sections from the 'narrator' about rabbit life, or culture were good, and the book is extremely well written. it's just not to my taste sadly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence
adventurous
dark
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Loved this book; it's the book that has re-ignited my love for reading!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Excrement, Car accident, Pregnancy, Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Gore, Grief
Minor: Body horror, Sexual content, Car accident, Pregnancy
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Excrement, War
Minor: Miscarriage, Pregnancy
Every character of any significance in the book is a rabbit (or bird), so these are the best-fit content warnings. Pregnancy loss, for example, does not happen in the same way for rabbits as for humans ( reabsorption back into the body ) so may be less distressing for some readers