theteamsreader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-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? Yes
4.0
lindir26's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
amylynn1031's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
cassidyryan's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
4.5
kkop12's review against another edition
3.0
So this was a hard one for me to rate. 3 or 4.....I went with the three because it was a little difficult to follow in some parts (all the names!, a personal disability for me!) and some parts were too descriptive for me (I like description, but enough about the flowers and wind in the fields, let's get back to the rabbits!). But this was a good book. I LOVED that I kept forgetting the characters were RABBITS (due to their 'people like' qualities). And I loved some of their differences from people that the author took the time to explain (how they grieve for those that die, how they forget their suggestions if their 'chief' is not intersted in them). It was well written and I was a little sad to say goodbye to some of the characters. Thank God there is a sequel :-)
aotora's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars-
I've never read this as a child. And I've never watched the movie or the lesser known tv series aside from maybe a few episode because I vaguely remember Bigvig from tv series I guess. But anyhow:
I finally decided to pick up this book because it's been on my tbr list for way too long and I really enjoyed it aside from a few minor points.
Lapine was an interesting addition and it was nice seeing rabbits having their own language- I also loved Keehar's language - it wasn't that hard to understand but I hated when humans spoke - rabbits didn't understand them I guess so the author chose to make every other letter missing and he added a lot of apostrophes which was all right because it wasn't there much but I really struggled to get through last Lucy's chapter because she and the doctor and her dad spoke and it got so annoying to read so fast.
The legends about El-ahrairah were interesting and adding that lore the story was really nice - it eased some tenser parts and it was so much fun to read for sure.
Woundwort was a nice villain, you feel some sympathy for him because he gets a good backstory as to why he became a tiran he was and he is not confirmed dead or alive and he becomes a living legend afterwards - which was a much better ending for him in my opinion than straight up being slaughtered- you never know if he will come back or not until the end of the book - the blurb at the end does say that author wished he could've rewritten him as an anti hero - that would have been an interesting angle to read for sure.
Hazel is the leader of the group - he is a good leader for sure but he had some questionable moments like when he snapped at Bluebell that was just trying to cheer everyone up before the mission to get the does - and everybody pretty much ignoring it.
Bigvig had to be my favourite character though - he goes from being a bully and not respecting Fiver or Hazel to their most important ally and one of the best warriors - I just wish that we got to see him die either peacefully from old age either in a battle or something, but he along with others just … vanishes after the last battle - we see him with some kits before the end of the book but that's that, Fiver who had a much larger role in the book too seem to just vanish after the last battle too - he is mentioned again because one of his kits gets the same powers as him but that's about it.
Whilst I love that we start the book with Hazel and we finish the book with Hazel's death I wish that we got to see others die too, or at least have satisfying endings to their stories, most of them just disappear after the final battle and are never mentioned again which really annoyed me because we root for them through the entire story, we are so happy when they all make it through without dying - and then they are just never mentioned again.
So my problems are minimal, but they are there and I didn't want to ignore them, that's why this book gets 4.5 stars and not 5 stars - I love this book to bits and will definitely reread it later but it had it's flaws. I can't wait to read the other book about Watership down now.
I've never read this as a child. And I've never watched the movie or the lesser known tv series aside from maybe a few episode because I vaguely remember Bigvig from tv series I guess. But anyhow:
I finally decided to pick up this book because it's been on my tbr list for way too long and I really enjoyed it aside from a few minor points.
Lapine was an interesting addition and it was nice seeing rabbits having their own language- I also loved Keehar's language - it wasn't that hard to understand but I hated when humans spoke - rabbits didn't understand them I guess so the author chose to make every other letter missing and he added a lot of apostrophes which was all right because it wasn't there much but I really struggled to get through last Lucy's chapter because she and the doctor and her dad spoke and it got so annoying to read so fast.
The legends about El-ahrairah were interesting and adding that lore the story was really nice - it eased some tenser parts and it was so much fun to read for sure.
Woundwort was a nice villain, you feel some sympathy for him because he gets a good backstory as to why he became a tiran he was and he is not confirmed dead or alive and he becomes a living legend afterwards - which was a much better ending for him in my opinion than straight up being slaughtered- you never know if he will come back or not until the end of the book - the blurb at the end does say that author wished he could've rewritten him as an anti hero - that would have been an interesting angle to read for sure.
Hazel is the leader of the group - he is a good leader for sure but he had some questionable moments like when he snapped at Bluebell that was just trying to cheer everyone up before the mission to get the does - and everybody pretty much ignoring it.
Bigvig had to be my favourite character though - he goes from being a bully and not respecting Fiver or Hazel to their most important ally and one of the best warriors - I just wish that we got to see him die either peacefully from old age either in a battle or something, but he along with others just … vanishes after the last battle - we see him with some kits before the end of the book but that's that, Fiver who had a much larger role in the book too seem to just vanish after the last battle too - he is mentioned again because one of his kits gets the same powers as him but that's about it.
Whilst I love that we start the book with Hazel and we finish the book with Hazel's death I wish that we got to see others die too, or at least have satisfying endings to their stories, most of them just disappear after the final battle and are never mentioned again which really annoyed me because we root for them through the entire story, we are so happy when they all make it through without dying - and then they are just never mentioned again.
So my problems are minimal, but they are there and I didn't want to ignore them, that's why this book gets 4.5 stars and not 5 stars - I love this book to bits and will definitely reread it later but it had it's flaws. I can't wait to read the other book about Watership down now.
corinnecor's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book, for me, succeeded where Lord of the rings failed, narrating a captivating story about a long travel filled with dangers and interesting developments.
The lapine world and vocabulary created by Adams is well-thought, easy to understand and it makes sense. The presence of the Author's notes and explanations at no point feels "forced", but is instead a functioning narrating device.
The characters are not multi-dimensional as you'd wish, but it is logical given that they are not really people, but animals and therefore follow a more basic moral code and have simpler necessities. That said, it doesn't mean that they don't mature and improve: the rabbits do learn from their mistakes and, by the end of the book, become better versions of themselves.
An unexpectedly enjoyable book, although not exactly a light read and not the kind of book you'd read as a bedtime story to your children. (I just want to know if Adams's daughters are okay, tbh)
The lapine world and vocabulary created by Adams is well-thought, easy to understand and it makes sense. The presence of the Author's notes and explanations at no point feels "forced", but is instead a functioning narrating device.
The characters are not multi-dimensional as you'd wish, but it is logical given that they are not really people, but animals and therefore follow a more basic moral code and have simpler necessities. That said, it doesn't mean that they don't mature and improve: the rabbits do learn from their mistakes and, by the end of the book, become better versions of themselves.
An unexpectedly enjoyable book, although not exactly a light read and not the kind of book you'd read as a bedtime story to your children. (I just want to know if Adams's daughters are okay, tbh)
phoxyphoenix's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
aprilthelibrarian's review against another edition
I just couldn't get into this book. I tried, I really did, but it really is just about rabbits making a journey. snooze.
mcoleman1250's review against another edition
5.0
"You know how you let yourself think that everything will be all right if you can only get to a certain place or do a certain thing. But when you get there you find it's not that simple."
Speedy summary: A fluffle of rabbits search for a new, safe home overcoming many obstacles along the way.
Thoughts: Who knew you could read almost 500 pages about rabbits and enjoy it the whole time. Yes, this book is about rabbits! Not an old english ship battle, like I thought, haha. And yes, you can enjoy that much rabbit time! I would describe it as a cross between the movie Once Upon A Forest (anyone remember this cartoon?) and Lord of the Rings! A adventure with a surprising amount of depth and great character development.
Check out @realreaderreallife on instagram!
Speedy summary: A fluffle of rabbits search for a new, safe home overcoming many obstacles along the way.
Thoughts: Who knew you could read almost 500 pages about rabbits and enjoy it the whole time. Yes, this book is about rabbits! Not an old english ship battle, like I thought, haha. And yes, you can enjoy that much rabbit time! I would describe it as a cross between the movie Once Upon A Forest (anyone remember this cartoon?) and Lord of the Rings! A adventure with a surprising amount of depth and great character development.
Check out @realreaderreallife on instagram!