Rating: Summary: Wonderful Modern Mythology Review: Adams is a sheer genius. "Watership Down" is the epitome of a modern mythology. The characters are not mere rabbits; rather, they are people with a culture, complete with language and traditions. The idea of using another species to examine culture, tradition, and prejudice is genius.The plot is almost as enrapturing as the characterization and setting. However, the most stunning part of the novel is Adams's use of rabbits as characters. A well-deserved five stars for my favorite novel.
Rating: Summary: Not for the mindless... NOT just a " bunny book". Review: This book may not be for adults who have left imagination behind, or for anyone who's mind is in the gutter, but for everyone else it should be an enthralling read. If you go through and read these reviews, they are mostly 5-star ratings. That is because anyone willing to put aside the assumption that "talking bunnies" are all that can be found in this book has discovered that here lies a tale that holds adventure, triumph, struggle and defeat. The fact that the characters created are not human does not take away from the amount you can identify with them, or from the fact that the entire story is actually a metaphor for humankind. There are reviews suggesting that this book is dull, or lacks depth or action. These people may need to examine themselves, for they have obviously been too buried in a television society to grasp even the smallest shred of this story's magnitude. I am 16 and have been in gifted programs my entire life, so I find it hard to believe that the sixth graders giving this book horrific reviews took their eyes off their T.V.s long enough to consider whether or not it could have any meaning beyond "bunnies". If you want to find out yourself, read this book and just see if you can put it down. P.S: For those that find the "Lapine" language used in this book hard to understand, there is a glossary. Adams' use of this is to make the book more original, which it does. This book is a masterpiece.
Rating: Summary: Can't we give it a 'hrair' stars? (see Lapine glossary) Review: This book is the best thing that I have ever read as long as I have been alive and I think it is the most wonderful thing in the entire universe! For Richard Adams to write such a fantastic thing astonishes me... to have the power to make something so extrordinary is beyond anything I ever thought of. I never imagined anything about talking rabbits could be so unbelievable. Deserves to be the 8th wonder of the world without second thought. That review on the front is the most true thing I ever read, "anyone who can read English should read it."
Rating: Summary: Life from the perspective of rabbits! Review: The most beloved aspect of this book and the main factor for its enduring popularity is Richard Adams's success in personifying the characters. By depicting them as compassionate, daring, witty, brutish, familial, and as possessing other human characteristics, Adams creates a closer connection between humans and animals. The rabbits in the story each have their own personalities and each warren has a peculiar culture. They share a common view of creation and stories about the life of a legendary rabbit. One of the most interesting aspect of Watership Down is the relationship between rabbits and humans. From our perspective, rabbits are regarded as either docile animals or as pests that wreck havoc to agriculture. Because of the latter view, they are frequently killed. However, Adams portrays these raids on gardens as quests for nourishment, desperate attempts to seek protection, and a weapon of inter-rabbit warfare. Watership Down thus depicts more complex motives for encounters between humans and rabbits. After reading this book, people will feel more compassion for animals and realize that like themselves, animals also must struggle to live in this often harsh world.
Rating: Summary: Only for those with a shred of imagination Review: No wonder so many people are going to homeschooling now; if these comments are indicative of what public schools are turning out now, then I say tear 'em all down. There's really nothing left for American 'culture' now but waiting for the fall.
Rating: Summary: This is the best book I've ever read! Review: The story was suspenseful,a cliff-hanger. The plot was very well-written. I loved this book and I know you will,too!
Rating: Summary: My favorite book of all time. Review: I first read Watership Down when I was 9 and I loved it immediately. I have read literally, thousands of books, everything from Shakespeare and Dickens to Stephen King and Star Trek(all of which I enjoy) but Watership Down remains my favorite. All I can say about some of the other reviews is: No one with an ounce of intelligence or compassion could possibly hate this book. It can be seen from many different viewpoints, as a condemnation of man's cruelty to his fellow creatures, as an adventure story, as an allegory, and also as a story about wild rabbits. I love the stories about El-ahrairah and the Lapine words. Having rabbits of my own, I see aspects of the characters in their individual personalities. I recommend this book to anyone who loves animals or who is looking for a gripping, beautifully written story.
Rating: Summary: Entertaining and enlightening. Review: I first read this book several years ago for a high school assignment. I found myself immediately drawn into the this story of intrepid colonists facing any danger with the instinct of survival perpetually present. This instinct often created a conflict between the immediate animal fear of death and the ongoing quest to find a new home to start a warren. While the latter makes these rabbits seem to possess a human insight, their transcendence from animal nature is necessary to carry the reader through the novel and makes the story and its conclusion worthwhile. Adams creates an entire culture and mythology with the rabbits, while adding political and sociological elements as well. Not only is this book intellectually stimulating, but it is extremely entertaining as well, as new conflicts in the precarious lives of the travelling rabbits bring them closer together into a functional unit, providing the ideal basis for a thriving colony. Since the first reading in high school, I have read the book again and again. While I cannot claim to have found even deeper insights in this novel, it is so entertaining and uplifting that I don't care.
Rating: Summary: BEST BOOK EVER! And the Animated Movie? Review: I think that the author must've had one great talent to write this book. I've even seen the animated movie based on the book. I have seen the movie ever since I was 3 years old! I have always loved the book and movie at the same time and I recommend it to everyone who really enjoys great imagination! The movie may not be the same from the book in some parts of it but it does touch your heart in many ways than you can ever think of!
Rating: Summary: exciting!! I could not put it down!!!!!!!!! Review: Watership Down is my absolute favorite book in the world. I loved the tales of El-arhiah, and the author did a good job writing it, like telling you where they were, and explaining things from a rabbits point of view. If you have not read it, i strongly reccomend it. I can't wait to read the sequel. Sure, it is pretty long, but once you pick it up, you can't put it down. I am only ten years old, and I read it in 2 or 3 days. Like I said once you pick it up, you can't put it down, until your parents get angry for staying up late reading it. I strongly reccomend it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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