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bootrat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
This was far less traumatising than my memory of the film was expecting it to be, which is good! I listened to the audiobook, so I struggled a little bit with the lapine words sometimes, but other than that this was a great book.
It was also interesting hearing the introduction by Richard Adams where he explained that this was just a story he made up to tell his kids and they convinced him to turn it into a book. And he then struggled to get it published, but that it was surprisingly popular which he never expected. I think all of that comes across in the book, it's a story he wrote for himself and his kids and he refused to make any changes to make it more marketable - that authenticity of his writing and connection to the story shines through.
It was also interesting hearing the introduction by Richard Adams where he explained that this was just a story he made up to tell his kids and they convinced him to turn it into a book. And he then struggled to get it published, but that it was surprisingly popular which he never expected. I think all of that comes across in the book, it's a story he wrote for himself and his kids and he refused to make any changes to make it more marketable - that authenticity of his writing and connection to the story shines through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Violence
lou_pooh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-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? Yes
4.0
I loved how descriptive the book was and how you get to know all the charecters in the story. New adventures challenging, dark but inspiring around each cornor. It also had great additions in there about there beliefs and story tellings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, and Blood
Minor: Racism and War
itshrewsbury's review against another edition
adventurous
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Moderate: Animal death
isleofsnow's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Violence
deathmetalheron's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This is classic I've wanted to read for a while, as I love rabbits and I found the concept of them very fun. The worldbuilding, between the warren dynamics, the Lapine language, and descriptions of the human world from rabbit point of view are all phenomenal. There are a lot of characters here but and many of the aspects would contrast against common assumptions about "good" writing, but I do appreciate the asides where Adams takes the time to explain the distinction as to why rabbits approach things the way they do. The rabbits may be talking and they may have a lot of human tendencies but there is a careful tendency to not completely anthropomorphize them.
I was definitely led to believe this was much grittier than it is, I wouldn't say it's lighthearted but it's not a downer ending by any means. I do find it interesting that is often characterized as "children's" literature because the writing is shockingly dense. There's quite a bit to process and it feels like the kind of book a parent should read with children. It definitely feels like a hallmark of an older era of children's books.
My own personal complaint with the books is the El-ahrairah stories--there are four of them, one in each arc, they are all quite long, and I don't feel like they add much to the narrative bar the one with the Black Rabbit. I do feel a cutaway would've been fair at this point.
I was definitely led to believe this was much grittier than it is, I wouldn't say it's lighthearted but it's not a downer ending by any means. I do find it interesting that is often characterized as "children's" literature because the writing is shockingly dense. There's quite a bit to process and it feels like the kind of book a parent should read with children. It definitely feels like a hallmark of an older era of children's books.
My own personal complaint with the books is the El-ahrairah stories--there are four of them, one in each arc, they are all quite long, and I don't feel like they add much to the narrative bar the one with the Black Rabbit. I do feel a cutaway would've been fair at this point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Confinement and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
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 bedtime 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, Animal death, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, and Murder
Minor: Bullying and Confinement
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 cruelty, Animal death, and Violence
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 cruelty, Animal death, Violence, and Classism
woolen_pigeon's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
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? N/A
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Blood and Kidnapping
jaimc's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Blood
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail