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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
antigonecounterpart's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
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
readerette's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
While unnecessarily long, this is a great adventure story where characters from a variety of backgrounds learn to rely on one another's strengths and build a new home together. It's wonderful to see the world through the eyes of creatures humans commonly call "pests".
It's a bit predictable after the first twist, but I don't think the twists and action are really the point.
My major complaint besides the length is the depiction of female characters, given that this book was written in the 1970s (not 1870s) by a man with daughters. There aren't many females in the book, the rabbit ones have very few thoughts or contributions of any kind besides fear and kittens, and they come across as dispensable considering their death rate relative to the main male rabbit characters. One could argue that this is all simply because of the "natural" way of rabbits, but the male rabbit characters behave in lots of unnatural ways despite the author's research into rabbits, which I'm sure was a deliberate choice. So why didn't he choose to create stronger, more present female characters?
Given the violence, the emotional toll, and the struggles the rabbits undergo, I would suggest this for children 12+ at minimum (more middle grade than children's), but it's a great read as an adult as well.
I listened to the audiobook read by Peter Capaldi, who did wonders with all the different character voices. I listened at 1.75x instead of my usual 2x because otherwise I couldn't catch all the rabbit-language words underneath the accents.
It's a bit predictable after the first twist, but I don't think the twists and action are really the point.
My major complaint besides the length is the depiction of female characters, given that this book was written in the 1970s (not 1870s) by a man with daughters. There aren't many females in the book, the rabbit ones have very few thoughts or contributions of any kind besides fear and kittens, and they come across as dispensable considering their death rate relative to the main male rabbit characters. One could argue that this is all simply because of the "natural" way of rabbits, but the male rabbit characters behave in lots of unnatural ways despite the author's research into rabbits, which I'm sure was a deliberate choice. So why didn't he choose to create stronger, more present female characters?
Given the violence, the emotional toll, and the struggles the rabbits undergo, I would suggest this for children 12+ at minimum (more middle grade than children's), but it's a great read as an adult as well.
I listened to the audiobook read by Peter Capaldi, who did wonders with all the different character voices. I listened at 1.75x instead of my usual 2x because otherwise I couldn't catch all the rabbit-language words underneath the accents.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexism
remescient's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
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? It's complicated
4.75
The most emotionally devastating book about rabbits.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, and Violence
thehobbitbarbie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
gabriella_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
This made me feel like a little kid again which I know isn’t an easy feat. I was squirming reading this feeling so tense and anxious for battle rabbits in a society some parts even felt apocalyptic. An absolute page-turner this was awesome
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
minoestrashrat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
I've always been interested in this book, telling myself I'd read it later, but I finally caved after I watched the BBC adaptation, followed by the old movie.
This book is truly something special, and while the depiction of the does is sometimes somewhat questionable, the worldbuilding and characters still hold up after so many years.
Bigwig and Fiver will forever stay in my heart, I can't wait to buy the graphic novel when I get the chance.
This book is truly something special, and while the depiction of the does is sometimes somewhat questionable, the worldbuilding and characters still hold up after so many years.
Bigwig and Fiver will forever stay in my heart, I can't wait to buy the graphic novel when I get the chance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism
lay_kone's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Violence