Rating: 
Summary: Not the Best but Indeed Very Great
Review: I won't go off and say that this is simply the best novel ever written. I will say, however, that this is an outstanding novel. If anyone wants to enjoy a well-told and captivating story with classic story-telling elements then I strongly suggest they pick this up. It's quite humorous to read the comments of those who gave it one star. Not only is allegory lost on a portion of them but they don't seem to want to accept a different culture. "The predators are portrayed as evil". Well, this story is being told by the rabbit's point of view. Therefore, anyone who wants to kill/eat the main character is naturally going to be viewed unfavorably. Honestly, think of something else except for neadless nit-picking. I love how some readers are disgusted by the idea of "hraka" or feces. Get over it. It's part of life. Rabbits don't absorb everything into their body without needing to pass "hraka".Anyway, it's very good and I suggest you read it. Don't make the mistake of passing up such a wonderful novel.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Story
Review: Adams has outdone himself here. He spun a tale of rabbits having voices and talking amoung themselves. He tells of the troubles that they endure adn the dagers they conquer. This is a very detailed story that should be read by every person who has a feel for good, quality books. This book comes highly recommended by myself, my friends. (and my English teacher!)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book, One of my Favorites
Review: I just finished this book and I loved it. It is extremely well written and you can tell that the author has done tremendous research on rabbits. I have always believed that animals shouldn't be hunted for fun or for money. In the begining, I wondered why Hazel and his band of rabbits were so afraid of humans and then I realized that we have done this ourselves. We have made rabbits afraid of us because of the way we treat them. This is not always the case. Later in the book there is an act of kindness by a human to a rabbit. While reading this, I became part of the world of Hazel, Fiver, Pipkin, Bigwig, Dandelion, Blackberry, and others. The book is so descriptive that it can do that to you. It starts out with Hazel and Fiver frolicking through the warren in which they live. Fiver begins to get one of his bad feelings. This time it is for the rabbits to immediately leave their warren. Only some choose to leave, but for the others there only lies trouble. The rabbits set out on a journey that will certainly change, but maybe end their lives. Where will they live? Who will they meet? Will they ever find out what happened to their old warren? I was able to read this in a week, so it is not very difficult.
Rating:
Summary: Best Book Ever!
Review: This book was FANTASTIC! Maybe the best book that I have ever read! It is about a little group of rabbits that think danger is near, and decide to leave their home warren in hopes of evading it. It is a book of sheer suspense in the end, their clash with Woundwort. I really enjoyed the book and think that everyone who likes rabbits, or just likes good books, should read it!
Rating:
Summary: I believe this is the best fantasy animal book.
Review: The characterizations and story are charming all the way and it's even believable that such things could happen at the time you are reading it. A basic, good story and applied to the rabbit cast in expert fashion. Although the rabbits more or less act like humans, they are still recognizable as rabbits and are very interesting because of it. A basic good and evil story, with good triumphing.
Rating:
Summary: Heroism in the Hedgerow: or, Hobbits on four legs
Review: The subtitle is not entirely silly. Tolkien himself said that "rabbit" was one of the words lying behind "hobbit." After all, llike hobbits, rabbits are insignificant little creatures whom one doesn't associate with grand adventure, but who turn out to be tough and resourceful nonetheless. I would be surprised to find anyone who loved the Lord of the Rings but hates Watership Down. Like Tolkien and all good heroic fantasy writers, Adams is interested in finding heroism and adventure in unlikely places, and in the way hope springs out of despair when we come to care about bringing salvation more than about being the bringer of it. Watership Down is quite literally about finding adventure in your own backyard. However, the place you, as a human, play in it is not very heroic. We are, we learn, the most vicious among the "thousand," the enemies of rabbits. Unlike foxes, hawks, and other natural enemies, we kill not just because we are hungry but because, say, we are building a new housing development and a rabbit warren happens to be in the way. One of the many excellencies of _Watership Down_ is the way one identifies closely with the rabbits and then suddenly realizes, "but I'm human! I'm one of the Thousand Enemies!" Perhaps this will help us identify better with those human beings in history whose lives have been like those of Adams's rabbits--a continual struggle for survival against powerful oppressors. But mostly what one experiences in _Watership Down_ is the sheer joy of Adams's creation, from the myths about the trickster hero El'ahrairah, to the decadent rabbits who compose lyric poetry and create works of art but have forgotten about heroism and adventure (for a reason that I won't reveal), to the final, epic showdown with the totalitarian dictator General Woundwort, to whom the tiny, helpless prophet Fiver says with compassionate irony (given who seems to have the power at the time): "Believe me, I am sorry for your death." And then there is the large and warlike Bigwig, who learns to accept gracefully the superiority of the greatest of all the rabbits, Hazel, whose leadership is based not on strength and fighting ability but on the ability to think ahead and, most importantly, to sacrifice himself for the others.
Rating:
Summary: Watership Down
Review: Alright, I'll admit, that I was not so enthusiastic aboutW.D. when I first learned I would be reading it. In fifth grade, myteacher, Mr. Beaty, was 'in-love' with this book. He would set some time from the day for reading us the story. We were allowed to draw pictures of the rabbits. I was only 10 at the time, so, I, of course wasn't happy when we were supposed to read a 400-page book. By and by, my whole class started to love it. I loved their words for cars (at which, as of this point I don't remember), and all the other man-made objects. In 7th grade, I was blessed when my teacher handed out the sumemr-reading list, with W.D. on it! (I was currently in a different school than I was in 5th grade) I just LOVE the book, and am happy about having to read that, I mean, it's better than reading A tree grows in Brooklyn alone, isn't it? :)
Rating:
Summary: A Classic Not Quickly Forgotten
Review: I first read "Watership Down" a long time ago- I believe I was in 3rd grade when I first tackled it. As people who've read this book know, that is a pretty young age to read something like this- but, luckily, even at the age I had an aptitude for great literature, and this book is definitely great literature. Even now, much later, I still think of Watership Down as one of the best books I've ever read. Of course, this book may not be for everyone. The first factor that probably makes the biggest difference is that this book is pretty much about talking animals. I know that many people simply imagine this concept and decide that this book is not for them. And, in fact, that may be true; I know many people who probably would not come away from this book enlightened, or happier for the effort. However, if you give it a chance, there's a very good probability that you will be glad you did. You see, unlike the classic idea of talking animals, which dominates most Disney movies, this book approaches the entire concept differently; instead of simply imposing human thoughts and personalities superficially onto the animals, mainly rabbits, Richard Adams (the author) develops his characters as any characters should be developed; slowly, carefully, but deliberately. Despite the fact that the characters aren't human, they hold almost all aspects of human characters, and in the end they become quite realistic. In its simplicity, this story is a classic story of adventure, discovery, and the pursuit of righteousness and freedom. It begins surprisingly dramatically, with a desperate escape by a band of rabbits from their warren (community). The rabbits are driven from this warren, and narrowly escape a terrible destruction from man. For the rest of the book the story follows this band of rabbits and their adventures searching for a new home. While this seems like a classic formula story, the plot becomes very complex and enjoyable, and by the time you read to the end, in which a final battle must take place, you most likely won't be able to put the book down. As I said, this story in its simplest form is a classic story of adventure. However, upon closer examination you notice many things that make it much deeper; things like philosiphical questions of ethics and freedom, subtle but complex ideas that give this story its true power. All of this is encompassed in this book, and it is wonderfully told. Richard Adams' work is full of suspense and drama- the mood and tone of it make it come across beautifully. And, as the reader finds out, there is underlying meaning- often the rabbits' societies mirror our own in an eerie, subtle way. Overall, this book is extremely worthwhile, and succeeds on all levels. If you are willing to give this book a chance, you will surely be rewarded with a great experience and a broader view on life itself.
Rating:
Summary: A classic
Review: I first saw the film "Watership Down" as a young child, and when some years later I came across, the book, I fell in love with it immediately. The story of a group of young rabbits fleeing their home because of man's need "to destroy the earth" and finding a new settlement is perhaps the most beautiful story I have ever read. It is realistic, never silly nor sentimental but conveys the world of nature clearly - wonderful but cruel, and too be handled carefully. The characters of the rabbits are individual and can indeed be likened to people - Fiver the quiet dreamer, filled with insights, Hazel the cool authoritarian figure, Bigwig the bluff fighter, Hawthorne the somewhat tiresome, grating irritant - all are unforgettable in this timeless classic which will last generations. It is one of the few books which I can honestly say everyone should rad, and those who have not are truly missing out.
Rating:
Summary: On of my all time favorite books
Review: I read this book year's ago when I was a sophomore in High School. It was so good, I made my younger sister read it so I had someone to discuss it with over the summer. We even memorized the "rabbit's language" to use as code against our older sister. I was delighted when my daughter told me it was on her 8th grade required summer reading. The book is a bit difficult for the reader to get into at first, but once you start reading you are totally captivated by the characters. You will laugh, cry and cheer the main characters. A must read for anyone from 12 to 200! Read it and share it with all your "book buddies". You might actually be disappointed to say goodbye to the characters at the end of the book.
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