Rating: Summary: I'm just commenting on other peoples' reviews Review: I scroll down this page and I see mostly 4 and 5 star ratings. Good for those who like this book, I mean, I absoluely LOVED it! But then I see some 1 and 2 ratings, and I just have to look at these reviews. I don't see any good reasons for not liking this book. All I see is, "Why base a book on rabbits?", "Would be better with humans as main characters", "hard to understand", "had to read it for school". First of all, I though this was a spectacular book, and I read it by myself, on my own, and I'm only in 7th grade! Second of all, it didn't have to be hard to understand. There was a glossary in the back of my book, and there were even footnotes! As for those who didn't understand why this was just a story about rabbits- It's called IMAGINATION! What kind of boring books would we have if each one was about humans and real life and the same old stuff we deal with everyday? It would be terrible! And writing this book from the points of view from rabbits was a very good idea. It allowed readers to be able to see what it might be like to be in the shoes (or paws) of someone else. To everyone who doesn't like this book, you have to look deeper than the words! THIS IS A VERY GOOD BOOK! (sorry about the errors in this review)
Rating: Summary: The Best Piece of Fiction I've Ever Read! Review: I've read Hemingway, Steinbeck, Conrad, Fitzgerald, and on and on and on. One tires of Hemingway's tireless digressions and narcissistic portrayals of himself. Steinbeck's attempts to create atmosphere in order to overcome substance just didn't seem to cut. I just don't like fiction because the author's seem to be living in a "dream land" and they then project this onto the written page. Then I read a book about a bunch of bunnies. In fact I read it twice. The first fifty pages will be hard reading. Simply because the bunnies are simply not very romantic and are simply trying to survive. The writing itself is incredible. But what makes this book great is that these bunnies are how people actually are in real life! We have always known people how are quiet but natural born leaders. People, at first, look down on them. But their dipolomacy and selflessness leads a group into safety. He is truly brave but not a "natural born" fighter. Then there is thefighter with a heart of gold and filled with good intentions. These people do not want to show how much they care so they are a little bit aggressive. And they are not diplomats. The first is Hazel, who isn't a small rabbit, but slightly less than average in size. Bigwig is the second. He is a large rabbit and a great fighter. The one rabbit who Bigfoot will finally confront is one big mean "Momma". Whew! These type of people want power and control. The more power and control they lose, the more they want. They usually self-destruct. It's a bit different with this rabbit. Hazel will lead his rabbits among thick and thin. But the amazing thing is that he knows how to pick the talents of his group and he doesn't seem to have any real unique talent except to size up the situation totally. That and his unselfishness. He even calls on his weak brother, Fiver, for his intuition. But the main genius of this book is the exact match of bunnies with all the humans we we have met (which is really quite funny!). One bunny just conforms to his fate and takes everything that is tossed at him. I won't talk about this warren. It is chilling to the bone. I would rather watch the "holocaust" on TV. Stephen King, the horror writer, stated that this book can really "chill" you out with horror. What humans or rabbits can do under adverse conditions is quite sick and understandable. I keep "blanking out" when I remember that part of the book. The end comes in a smashing series of encounters in which you know that Hazel-rah (the leader) can not simply win. In fact, a very small chance. To see if he wins, buy the book and read it.
Rating: Summary: A wonderful Book Review: I read this first when I was in 5th grade. I loved it even then. Anyone who has read and likes Brian Jaques's books will just love this tale. I liked learning part of the Rabbit language and it was a very interesting book.:)
Rating: Summary: A truly spectacular book! Review: I can't explain how amazing this book is. All I can say is that it is an awesome, spectular, amazing story that I loved the whole way through. The ending is a great surprize. This book will truly blow you away if you like animals and adventure. Watership Down is my FAVORITE book! It's awesome!
Rating: Summary: A big let-down Review: I am a teenager and I read the whole book, I found it a total let down. So many people had said that it was a wonderful book. However I found it increadible boring and confusing. The author made up words so that you couldn't follow what the rabbits were saying, the only nice thing that I can say about it is the irony of the book and the little action that is in it. Also the rabbits are incredibly stupid, it isn't until they get to there destination before they figure out that they are a bucks and that they need to mate to keep their warren going. I would advise anyone to not buy this book.
Rating: Summary: A wonderful book with a thrilling plot! Review: Watership Down is a wonderful book with vivid description and an entrancing plot. The author shows the social behavior of rabbits and also shows how particular rabbits changed their ways of life to adapt to different situations. He makes you feel as if you are part of the book and the wonderfully developed characters seem to form a special bond with you as you face fear after fear and adventure after adventure with them. Fiver, a tiny rabbit, begins to sense danger in the flourishing warren he lives in. His friend, Hazel, doesn't want to believe Fiver but knows he he\as an uncanny knack for forseeing what is to come. Hazel helps Fiver round up a small band of rabbits and together they set out on an adventure to get away from the danger Fiver feels and to find the high, dry ploace Fiver tells himis the perfect place to start a new warren. On their way they meet many troubles including encounters with eili (the rabbit term for enemies of rabbits such as foxes, owls, and humans) and even rabbits much like themselves, but with a dark secret. Yet, even when they find Fiver's perfect place, their struggle for survival doesn't end, it has just began. Watership Down has a complex, but enjoyable plot. Just as one conflict is resolved, another is introduced. You can predict what the rabbits are going to do, but sometmies they will surprise you as the plot takes a suspenseful twist. Suspense builds and keeps you with your nose in the binding. The ways the rabbits react to the conflicts show their distinct and unique personalities. Each character is different and as you read you get to know each one as if they wre old friends. Bigwig, a former Osla (rabbit army) member is a rabbit that you can always count on to be there when another rabbit is in trouble and will stay loyal to his friends at all costs. Fiver, whe seems to be a shy, young, and indeciseive rabbit in the begining of the story quickly changes as he becomes adjust to his new found riends. He, much to your surprise, ends up making many important decisions and isn't just a follower, but a stong leader. The author's writing style is one of my favorate parts of the story. He uses much rabbit terminology and adds rabbit language vocabulary into the tale. As you read, you get to know the vocabluary and this makes you feel as if you are really part of the story, talking with the rabbits. Watership Down may sound like a story that would be a fairytale because of the communicating rabbits and other animals. However, this story really seems very realistic and not very made up at all! I really enjoyed reading Watership Down. The plot, characters, and the author's writing style made is one of the best books I have ever read. I give this book 5 stars and recomend reading this book.
Rating: Summary: I've read it hrair times Review: I have given my two best friends in this world Watership Down as gifts. Why? Because it's the only way I can see to give people I love another world, which they deserve. It's the only way I know to share with them a sense of love for nature and an understanding of the supernatural. Watership Down is tremendous. There's some people who have given this book one star, and sneeringly suggested Stephen King or Michael Crichton as acceptable alternatives. Well, in _The_Stand_, Stephen King not only quotes Watership Down, but pays it high praise indeed. This book is not for everyone. It's not for young kids (the violence is probably too disturbing). It's not for people who don't like too read. But if you love good fiction and are hunting for a phenomenal book--well, look no further. Is this the best book I've ever read? People that read voraciously, at some point, develop a list of "best books". This is on my list. Read it. It might get on yours, too.
Rating: Summary: A modern-day classic Review: Richard Adams has skillfully crafted a simple fairy-tale into a wonderfully touching book. On face value, it is easily dismissable, due to the subject matter but the level of depth Adams delves into is amazing. Full of chases and escapes, danger in all forms, be it man, animal or fellow rabbit (poetically symbolic), the book is set against the amazingly descriptive background of Adams' England. The last 100 pages will leave you in breathless anticipation, and the epilogue will move you. Far superior to its sequal, do not miss this book at any age.
Rating: Summary: Great, in an intellectually stimulating kind of way Review: Richard Adams has written a story of incredible depth and magnitude, coming near the achivment of the master storyteller; Tolkien himself. Don't read it, however, if you think that it is just "about rabbits." stretch your mind and look deeper. You might be surprised.
Rating: Summary: Good Book! Review: I studied this book "Watership Down" in my 8th grade English class back in 1984 and still have the book today. I even read the sequel a couple of years ago and it is very entertaining just like the original. Talking bunnies may sound crazy, but once you pick up this book, you will definately change your thoughts and be entertained!
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