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Summary: I ain't no Siskel --This is the best darn book I ever read!
Review: A lot of reviewers, teachers, and other people that like to make themselves sound intellectually mature, would tell you that in order to enjoy Watership Down, or any other book for that matter, is to read deep meanings in to every aspect of the book. Please, do yourself a favor and don't torture yourself in this way. Although it has all the characteristics of a great book, a modern day classic even, and could be full of sybolism and irony, I feel that it is best enjoyed by taking it for what it is: A great story about a group of rabbit's adventure, failure, success, self-discovery, and their long, journey. The story is set in the English countryside, with great descriptions of the surroundings as well as the rabbits and their lifestyle. It is told from a rabbits point of view, but one that knows human behavior as well, and somehow Adams makes the whole thing realistic. The book is about a group of rabbits that decide to leave their home warren after Fiver, a sort of psychic rabbit, tells them that danger is on the way. And so they begin a voyage that will change their lives forever. Along the way theyt encounter an evil warren, crows, a fox, rivers, a rabbit farm, and countless other dangers. Their final destination is a sort of "rabbit heaven," a beautiful, safe, secure piece of l;and known as Watership Down. Also included in the book is a whole new language that Adams somehow brings the reader to understand, and tales of how Frith, the sun god, was so impressed with El-Arairah (a folk hero) that he granted him wonderful boons. When I was first told of the book I thought it would be a cute, kids book. I was completely wrong. This is a mature book that would probably be best suited for middle-school students through adults. I would recommend this book to anyone that isn't afraid to spend a little time, and become fully engrossed in a wonderful tale.
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Summary: Enjoyed by "hrair" readers
Review: I didn't think I'd like this. I really didn't. Watership Down, a rather thick novel about rabbits and their adventures in the countryside of England. Could it be enjoyable? Well, I do remember enjoying the animated film when I was younger (even if I can't remember what happened), and I didn't have any other books to read until christmas, so I thought I'd give it a go.
I'm glad I did. What a pleasant surprise. What an engaging story!
Watership Down tells the story of a group of rabbits who leave their warren for pastures new, based on the prophecies of a clairvoyant little rabbit called Fiver, who warns that their home will soon be destroyed by man. Led by Fiver's best friend Hazel, this band of rabbits braves weather, predators and man to find a place for their new warrens, and to find doe rabbits with which they can breed with. Things aren't easy, but they have their friendship and comradery to keep them going, as well as their tales of El-Ahrairiah, their cunning folk hero and savior of old, favorite of Frith the god of rabbits (the sun).
Author Richard Adams takes quite a unique approach to telling this story, I thought. Each chapter begins with a quote from a work of literature, (everything from Shakespeare to Plato) each quote drawing parallels with the events that follow, to help us readers understand in human terms just what the rabbits are feeling. In addition to rabbit facts (culled from R.M. Lockley's "The Private Life of the Rabbit) Adams gives the rabbit their own culture, mythology and language (which Adams calls Lapine), with detailed explanations of each, helping us to relate all the more. Adams knows the English countryside well and fills us with the sights, the sounds and smells of the landscapes the rabbits cross. It's a beautiful place, but being a rabbit it is an ever threatening one.
The characterizations are very enjoyable, I could picture them all very well. The brave leader Hazel, the timid Pipkin, the clever Blackberry, Dandelion the storyteller, Bluebell the joker, Bigwig the proud and tough. So many rabbits and quite a few warrens in the story, and I can remember them all by name (even though a couple of the Lapine names are hard to pronounce). That's definitely something!
The book is thick, yes, but it never drags on. It is choc-full of adventures and exploits. It gets pretty exciting towards the end too, I thought.
The copy I have has maps of the countryside the rabbits cross, which are fun to follow, and gives you a bit more of an idea of what's happening, a bit more context. (I always love a book with a map to follow in the front).
If you've heard about Watership Down and are at all curious, I recommend give it a try. Read a few chapters, there's much to like. If you are already a fan of animal adventures, you will more than love this book, I'm sure.
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Summary: If you like the world of Tolkien...
Review: I first experienced the amazing lapine world in Watership Down at the age of 7 when my mother read it aloud to me. I was absolutely entranced by the different characters, the epic feel of the journey (which would seem as mere miles and months to humans), and the deeply entrenched mythos that tells the rabbits their place in the world.If you enjoy the deep world and characters of Tolkien, you will find this book to be endearing and riveting. This novel is not just for children or for high school English; it is for everyone and is an experience to share with the ones you love.
Rating:
Summary: Absorbing
Review: I missed reading this book until recently. I never thought in my life I would be so engrossed in a novel about, of all things, rabbits. These aren't cute little Walt Disney Thumper-type rabbits. They come across with as much character as people: there's a hysterical psychic prophet rabbit, a warrior one, smart ones, dumb ones. Adams is a heck of a good writer, and very much a natural one. This is one of those works you will keep and read to your kids.
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Summary: Intriguing
Review: I read this book for the first time in grade school; it was the longest book in the school's library, and I had a bet with a friend that I really could finish it. I thought it was a great adventure story at the time.
The next time I read it, I understood the allegory. Like "Animal Farm", it comments on society institutions- in this case, fascism. It addresses social problems of the human world in a unique light. I recommend this book to anyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for the faint of heart
Review: I was first introduced to this book in seventh grade. We referred to it as the dreaded, hated, despised bunny book. I was much too young to even begin to understand the deaper meanings of this book or to appreciate it in the least bit. I have now revisited it as an adult. It's as if the light bulb came on. It all makes sense to me now.
Richard Adams does an amazing job of explaining the inner workings of the rabbit world. You learn new vocabulary and begin to appreciate the complexity of nature (Yes I know it's ficiton, but for a second you can almost imagine this is all real, and that's the beauty of the book.) This is another one of those books that just because you are capable of reading the words does not mean you are capable of understanding the book. This should not be read to seventh graders or junior high for that matter unless you are an excpetional teacher and/or have exceptional students.
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Summary: The best book ever!
Review: This is my favorite book outside of the horror genre. It is full of social and political undertones, beautifully described, and well researched into the nature of wild rabbits.
I tend to avoid most animal books because they usually focus around one or two animal heros that meet some tragic untimely doom and their human owner or whatever cries and buries them, etc. etc. you get my point. This book has it's share of death and tragedy but it also has it's share of triumphs and rescues. It is a saga of short lived creatures, so in rabbit terms - it's practically generational. Tragedy befalls us all at some time or another. This book deals it's blows in natural doses. It's easier to take that way.
If you are considering reading it, please do. I don't even think of it as a childrens novel, though I supposed they could read it if they were intelligent enough to understand the underlying themes.
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Summary: WOW!
Review: Watership Down easily became one of my favorite novels. Its fascinating plot and beguiling characters could hook any reader, teenagers and adults alike. Richard Adams, the author, has an extremely incredible imagination. Throughout most of the story, I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to turn the page to see what befell Hazel and his followers next. At first glance, one might think that this novel is just a childish story about talking rabbits, but it's so much more. It reflects human life and character. Watership Down is tale of rabbits that leave their warren, in fear that a prophecy that their home will be destroyed is true. These rabbits, lead by Hazel-rah, encounter many hindrances and dangers in their search for a perfect warren. When Hazel's group finally finds this ideal home, they are faced with many harsh realities, including a full-fledged war with another warren. Watership Down has a little bit of everything in it: suspense, action, drama, even comedy. The list is endless! It imposes strong values of loyalty, friendship, determination, leadership, and standing up for what's right. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read, in my opinion, one of the most enchanting novels ever written. Once you read this book, you will never look at rabbits the same way again.
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Summary: Watership Down
Review: Watership Down is probably my favorite book of all time. It's one of those remarkable books that manages to tie together the qualities that matter most to me. The plot is full of twists, the writing can't be beat, and the characters are incredibly believable. The rabbits are not so fictitious that they carry around swords and walk upright, but nor are they the boring, fluffy creatures one might imagine. They have a whole culture of their own, which includes Lord Frith (the sun) and a whole language called lapine (What? You thought rabbits were stupid? Silly you).
The story starts with Fiver, a small rabbit with special kind of gift, who warns them that they must escape, because some great evil is coming. He only convinces a few, and they set out, wandering and vulnerable, onto a course that includes fear, hate, and tenderness. They meet some pretty twisted rabbits (which give ME the chills), and plenty of elil (enemies). One of the funniest points is when they're finally settled, happy on a hillside after days of traveliing unprotected, and they realize there aren't any females. Obviously this is another problem that leads them into yet more adventurous acts.
While this book is wonderful, I've found that it's extremely difficult to convince someone to read a book, when you are forced to begin, "It's about rabbits...". After the first sentence, they become uninterested.
No really, listen! It's a GOOD book about rabbits...
Rating:
Summary: A Rippin' Good Yarn.
Review: Watership Down will survive as one of the great classics of Twentieth Century literature. It is the anthropomorphic tale of a rabbit warren that must flee the impending destruction of its bunny hole in the English countryside by advancing urban sprawl. They set off on a journey of adventure and discovery toward their new home, Watership Down. The beauty of the book is in its deceptive complexity. As a multi-layered work, it appeals to a wide variety of readers by satisfying their needs at many different levels. For those who just like rabbits or warm and fuzzy animal tales, Watership Down competes with The Incredible Journey, Black Beauty, or anything by Disney. For those interested in intriguing plot-based fiction with good action and character development, look no further. And surprisingly, for the discriminating reader of literary fiction, Watership Down provides a sophisticated corollary to the ironies of advanced human civilization, reminiscent of Animal Farm, yet less sardonic. A great read for all ages. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.
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