Scan barcode
A review by danaslitlist
Watership Down by Richard Adams
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? N/A
5.0
Growing up I had a love hate relationship with the 1978 movie; I would watch it every time I went to visit my grandma (which means I probably watched it at least 6 times a month) and each time I'd watch it I would terrify myself. But with that terror I was also in awe of the story and characters. When I was finally old enough to read the book for the first time, I feel like quite a lot of it went over my head.
I finally decided it was time for a reread after about ten years and I'm happy to report that Watership Down is still as enchanting, terrifying, and impactful as I had thought it was when I was younger. I actually have much more of an appreciation for the themes within the story now that I'm able to think more critically. Watership Down excels at presenting a believable story because of Richard Adam's determination to have the rabbits act as they would naturally (save for the speaking). Thus, the adventures the characters have mixed with the little bits of fiction and liberties taken doesn't come off as so farfetched.
Watership Down at its core is a tale of survival and overcoming one's fears. The characters overcoming all the obstacles and trials in their path (sometimes obstacles that are created by themselves), growing into themselves and finding who they are outside of their strict warren life is the major draw of the book for me.
The lore and world of the rabbits is equally compelling and some of my favorite moments have to be the stories that Dandelion tells the rest about the Prince of Rabbit’s adventures and tricks.
It would be easy to dismiss Watership Down as a silly story about rabbits but that would be doing it a great disservice. This book is compelling and touching and is full of moments that had me holding my breath even though I knew the outcome.
I finally decided it was time for a reread after about ten years and I'm happy to report that Watership Down is still as enchanting, terrifying, and impactful as I had thought it was when I was younger. I actually have much more of an appreciation for the themes within the story now that I'm able to think more critically. Watership Down excels at presenting a believable story because of Richard Adam's determination to have the rabbits act as they would naturally (save for the speaking). Thus, the adventures the characters have mixed with the little bits of fiction and liberties taken doesn't come off as so farfetched.
Watership Down at its core is a tale of survival and overcoming one's fears. The characters overcoming all the obstacles and trials in their path (sometimes obstacles that are created by themselves), growing into themselves and finding who they are outside of their strict warren life is the major draw of the book for me.
The lore and world of the rabbits is equally compelling and some of my favorite moments have to be the stories that Dandelion tells the rest about the Prince of Rabbit’s adventures and tricks.
It would be easy to dismiss Watership Down as a silly story about rabbits but that would be doing it a great disservice. This book is compelling and touching and is full of moments that had me holding my breath even though I knew the outcome.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, and Gore