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Reviews tagging 'Animal 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
104 reviews
adventurous
dark
tense
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Very good read! Brought back fond memories of reading this as a child.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
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
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Why I picked this up: This was a childhood favorite of mine that I wanted to revisit, because I'm in the dangerous game of revisiting things I loved in the past and seeing how they held up.
Why I kept reading: This book is a fun adventure story with unique point-of-view characters.
Liked:
- There is a big ensemble cast, but every character feels like they have a role in the story.
- It manages to strike a really interesting balance between being cozy and familiar, while capturing the dread/horror that comes from being a prey animal.
- I enjoyed the world-building around rabbit culture and how the theme of the mythic trickster god echoed the actions of the characters.
- The scope of the story feels epic, but is fresh because of how unique the point-of-view is (ie - it's not a medieval fantasy epic).
- I enjoy how each chapter is introduced with a quote from a famous piece of literature, as a kid, this was my first exposure to some of my favorite poets!
Disliked:
- Frankly, I'm not sure if this is a book I could ever really look at objectively, since it's wrapped in so much nostalgia for me.
Your Milage May Very:
- It's a book written in the 1970's; I wouldn't call it egregious, but there are definitely a few comments about native societies that reflect outdated points of view.
- It's a pretty standard, albeit well executed, example of the hero's journey.
- In terms of classification, it's a tricky one -- it's sort of proto "young-adult" before that was really a classification. I first read it when I was 7-8 because I was a precocious little weirdo who sought out the largest book in my elementary school's library. I found it challenging, but absolutely loved it.
Why I kept reading: This book is a fun adventure story with unique point-of-view characters.
Liked:
- There is a big ensemble cast, but every character feels like they have a role in the story.
- It manages to strike a really interesting balance between being cozy and familiar, while capturing the dread/horror that comes from being a prey animal.
- I enjoyed the world-building around rabbit culture and how the theme of the mythic trickster god echoed the actions of the characters.
- The scope of the story feels epic, but is fresh because of how unique the point-of-view is (ie - it's not a medieval fantasy epic).
- I enjoy how each chapter is introduced with a quote from a famous piece of literature, as a kid, this was my first exposure to some of my favorite poets!
Disliked:
- Frankly, I'm not sure if this is a book I could ever really look at objectively, since it's wrapped in so much nostalgia for me.
Your Milage May Very:
- It's a book written in the 1970's; I wouldn't call it egregious, but there are definitely a few comments about native societies that reflect outdated points of view.
- It's a pretty standard, albeit well executed, example of the hero's journey.
- In terms of classification, it's a tricky one -- it's sort of proto "young-adult" before that was really a classification. I first read it when I was 7-8 because I was a precocious little weirdo who sought out the largest book in my elementary school's library. I found it challenging, but absolutely loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence
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