Watership Down was an absolute delight upon rereading. It not only withstands multiple readings but actually deepens with each encounter. This brilliant story on its own takes on an added layer of charm when one realizes its connection to Greek myth. Fiver, depending on the situation, can be seen as both Cassandra and the Oracle of Delphi. Hazel, on the other hand, is a wonderful and creative echo of Odysseus. While these parallels might not have been the author's original intention, they are there for me, and I cherish the extra depth they bring to the narrative.

Below is my original review from 2017 when I first read this book. I still stand by everything I said then. I'm so glad I was able to share a rereading (and a first experience for her) of this novel with my book twin, TS. And now, without further ado, here are my original thoughts on Watership Down:

I've been an avid fantasy reader since around fifth grade. So how did I manage to miss Watership Down during my school years? Was it because our library didn't have a copy? Or was its reputation as a "classic" a deterrent to friends who might have told me about it? Whatever the reason, I had never even heard of Watership Down until my later college years. The people who raved about the book back then were usually hipster guys who couldn't stop talking about their favorite novel. Naturally, this turned me off. So I never picked up this book until this month (October 2017), for a book club I recently joined. Boy, do I regret waiting so long. On the other hand, it's truly amazing to discover what would have been a childhood favorite as an adult and be able to embrace it as a new favorite that can proudly sit next to older favorites on your bookshelf.

Watership Down is the story of Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and other young buck rabbits who leave their home to start their own warren. Their adventure is filled with danger and risk, but their ingenuity, courage, and plain old luck see them through. I won't go into details as I don't want to spoil anything. I truly believe that everyone should read this book at some point in their lives. It's a classic for a reason. The story is engaging, well-written, and so realistic that you can almost smell the grass on Watership Down and feel the heat of the summer sun.

One of the things I loved about the novel was Adams' use of epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter. It was great fun trying to figure out why the author had chosen each epigraph, as they always had some connection to the plot of that particular chapter. The references were diverse and added to my enjoyment. Bookworms love literary references! The mythology that Adams created for the rabbits was also wonderful, providing a nice break from the main story and adding some lightness.

Another aspect of Watership Down that I really enjoyed was that the author's rabbits were truly rabbits. Some of my favorite childhood books featured anthropomorphic characters. From the Alphapets books that taught me to read to the worlds of Narnia and Redwall, many of my favorite literary animals were basically people with fur and tails. They walked, ate, and dressed like us. But not so with Hazel and the other rabbits of Watership Down. They were rabbits through and through, with the diets, problems, life expectancies, and mannerisms that one would expect from a rabbit.

This review is really just a long, convoluted way for me to say, "Hey, you. You should really read this book."

This book is a classic on multiple levels. I have included it in my Goodreads list because it truly had a profound influence on me as a teenage writer.

I find myself constantly wondering why all of my reviews are five stars. The reason is simple: I am only reviewing my favorite books, not every single book that I read. When a novel appears on my Goodreads bookshelf, it should be considered as a strong endorsement.

It's quite amusing to think that I just used the word "hearty." It gives the impression of a warm and filling stew. However, in this context, it accurately describes the enthusiasm with which I recommend these books. Each one has left a lasting impression on me and has contributed to my growth as a reader and a writer.

I hope that by sharing my love for these books, others will also discover the joy and inspiration that they have brought to my life.

I don't have much to say about this. The book was long, and it was incredibly boring.

Yes, the setting was dark, and I am generally a fan of satirical books like this. However, this one just seemed to drag on and on without end. >.>

It felt like the author was stretching out the story unnecessarily, and there were parts that could have been cut or condensed to make the reading experience more engaging.

Despite its interesting premise, the execution left a lot to be desired. I found myself losing interest and having to force myself to keep reading.

Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others looking for an exciting and engaging read.

Every book should be about a bunch of rabbits trying to find their place in the world.

These cute and furry creatures embark on an exciting adventure, facing various challenges and obstacles along the way.

They encounter different habitats, meet other animals, and learn valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and perseverance.

The story could follow their journey as they search for a safe and comfortable home, where they can thrive and be happy.

It could also explore their relationships with one another, as they work together to overcome difficulties and achieve their goals.

With their soft fur, twitching noses, and playful personalities, the rabbits would make for an engaging and lovable cast of characters.

Readers of all ages would be drawn into their world, rooting for them as they strive to find their place in the big, wide world.

Such a book would not only be entertaining but also teach important values and life lessons in a fun and accessible way.

It would inspire readers to be勇敢 and persistent in the face of challenges, and to cherish the importance of friendship and community.

So, let's imagine a world where every book is about a bunch of rabbits on a quest to find their place in the world - a world full of adventure, discovery, and heartwarming moments.

“My heart has joined the Thousand, for my friend stopped running today.”

Group read with the pantless, crunchless ones. This wasn't a childhood favorite. I knew little about it until recent years when it appeared on classics lists and in random discussions. I learned it was about rabbits, and an allegory on life. Loving Animal Farm, I decided to give it a try.

Fiver, a psychic bun, has instincts about disasters and saving graces. He convinces some warren bunnies to leave their safe haven. Throughout the book, they risk life and tail to escape peril, encounter other warrens, outmaneuver viciousness, and seek their dream.

Overall, it's a great book. The story focuses on life, with allegories for human experiences through bunny eyes. There are risks, betrayals, bravery, and adventures. The group starts small and grows, with main characters like Fiver, Hazel, Bunwat, and others. There's tension when the rabbits are at risk, and the best parts are when they explore new warrens and uncover the truth about falsely happy worlds. It has a dystopian, cult feel.

However, the writer spends too long describing fields, feeding, and drifting. The book could have been better if it were shorter and less repetitive. While the bunnies' personalities blend together, the emphasis on their sedate habits gives the story credibility. It's a worthy classic, with a peaceful and heartwarming ending. Despite its flaws, it's certainly deserving of its classic status.

An entertaining summer read awaits you! If you have already delved into and relished Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, then you are bound to enjoy this one as well.

It is truly difficult not to hold admiration for the rabbits vividly described within the book. With just a few rare exceptions, they are all unwaveringly loyal to and deeply caring about their community. They possess qualities such as compassion, cooperation, and consideration. In the face of hardships, they are tenacious, and in their struggles to survive, they are creative. Despite living under constant stress and surrounded by circumstantial perils, these vulnerable creatures never abandon hope for a better tomorrow.

As Mr. Lockley astutely observes, "Rabbits are like human beings in many ways. One of these is certainly their staunch ability to withstand disaster and to let the stream of their life carry them along, past reaches of terror and loss. They have a certain quality which it would not be accurate to describe as callousness or indifference. It is, rather, a blessedly circumscribed imagination and an intuitive feeling that Life is Now. A foraging wild creature, intent above all upon survival, is as strong as the grass."

Richard Adams openly declares that he gleaned a wealth of information about rabbits from R. M. Lockley's The Private Life of the Rabbit.

Personally, being one who was born in the Year of the Rabbit, I have an inherent and natural liking for these charming creatures.

I have read this book at least three or four times, and yet it still remains such a worthwhile and emotive read.

It is truly a classic that has captured the hearts of countless readers. I don't think I need to give a detailed review of the story as both the book and the film adaptation are widely known and loved by so many.

The characters and the plot are so engaging that it's easy to get lost in the world created by the author.

For those who love this book, I would also recommend checking out the Duncton Wood books by William Horwood. These books are set in a similar world of animals and their adventures, and they offer a unique and captivating reading experience.

Another great book to consider is "Tailchaser's Song" by Tad Williams. This book tells the story of a young cat's journey to find his lost love, and it is filled with heartwarming moments and exciting adventures.

If you're a fan of this type of literature, then these books are definitely worth checking out.

How did I miss reading this book before now?

Watership Down was truly enchanting! The robust character development and beautiful prose simply drew me in. I could vividly feel the struggles and fear that these lovely creatures endured as the story gracefully progressed.

Hazel and his pal Fiver were not on the inside track of their community. Fiver had visions, and other rabbits found him odd and his strange behavior rather off-putting. One day, Fiver had a powerful visualization of danger approaching their little corner of the world. He managed to convince Hazel that they must leave, or else they would all perish. Leaving the safety of the only home they had ever known was not something a rabbit would typically do. A bunny out in the open was fair game to all manner of predators. Hazel took Fiver to the chief of their clan as they attempted to convince him of the oncoming storm. However, their leader wouldn't listen, which left the two friends to decide their own fate.

After much deliberating, Hazel agreed to go away with Fiver, and they were able to persuade a few others who existed outside of the in-crowd to come along. As you might imagine, many trials were forced upon our little heroes before they reached the place of safety that Fiver had been shown through his dream. There were struggles both within and without as this band of misfits grew together and discovered things about the world and themselves that they would never have otherwise.

Thank you Apatt for another fantastic recommendation. I absolutely loved this book, and though it was written as a bedtime tale for children, I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone.

All the world will be your enemy, Prince of a Thousand enemies. And when they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you; digger, listener, runner, Prince with the swift warning. Be cunning, and full of tricks, and your people will never be destroyed.

This is my all-time favorite book. Although some of my love for this book may be an emotional attachment to the time in my life when it was read for the first time. Before this book, my parents used to read to me at bedtime on my own. I would listen to stories like Eloise, Paddington Bear, and eventually Harriet the Spy. But then one magical day, my dad picked a book that he thought would suit the whole family. It was WATERSHIP DOWN. Now I was allowed at the big people's table. I was six years old. My brother Les was ten, and my sister Bonnie was fourteen. Every night after supper, we all gathered around. After my mom and us children cleared the dishes, my dad read a chapter or two each night. It was a time when life was PERFECT. It was before any stresses hit our world. WATERSHIP DOWN is about a young bunny named Fiver who is a seer. One day he receives a frightening vision of his warren's imminent destruction. When he and his brother Hazel fail to convince their chief rabbit of the need to evacuate, they set out on their own with a small band of rabbits to search for a new home. I will just say that many of my childhood pets have been named after characters in this book (two dogs and two cats, named after Pipkin and Fiver). Probably most people that read this book will not have the same experience that I did, but to me it was a welcoming into the adult world of reading.

It was a special time that I will always cherish, and WATERSHIP DOWN will always hold a special place in my heart.

This tale of rabbits is truly hair-raising.

Putting all puns aside, Adams masterfully crafts unique personalities for his group of affable rabbits. They bravely risk their lives to establish a new warren of safety and liberty.

Nevertheless, dangers are plentiful for the rabbits of Watership Down, and their adventures are extremely harrowing.

Fortunately, Adams has created a rich rabbit mythology. The stories that the rabbits recount to comfort and soothe each other are truly delightful.

It's as if Adams has opened up a whole new world of rabbit lore and adventure, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the lives and struggles of these endearing creatures.

The vivid descriptions and engaging characters make this tale a captivating read from start to finish.

Whether you're a fan of animal stories or simply looking for an exciting and imaginative adventure, Watership Down is sure to satisfy.

I'm already 100 pages into this book, and it's as dull as can be. There are so many indistinguishable rabbits jumping around, munching on various green things in the ground. I attempt to read it during my lunch break, but I always find that I'd rather do anything else than pick up this book again. Is it some unwritten rule that classics have to be boring? Do books become classics just because they are dull and someone has decided that reading boring books is a sign of high class? Oh, dear god, please let this book improve, as there are still 350 more pages to go.

Edit: Since people keep coming across this review and being shocked by it, let me clarify that I found the book to be beautifully written. However, I just didn't find any characters that I particularly cared about, and the storyline simply wasn't interesting to me. I watched the movie to see if it would be worth reading the book, and I had the same reaction. It just wasn't engaging. I'm not a big fan of journey-type narratives or anthropomorphic stories. I'm an avid reader of everything from classics to sci-fi. I read a lot of children's literature. I taught American literature for 10 years. And I also know what I like and what I don't. This just happens to be a book that doesn't appeal to me. Maybe it does to you. Every book is different for every person. Every person brings in different experiences that allow a book to resonate with them in a unique way. If we all liked the same things, the world would be an incredibly boring place. My feelings towards this book should not be taken as a personal insult to those who count it among their favorites. My one-star rating is personal and has little to do with the author's writing ability or others' likelihood of enjoying it. One star simply means that it doesn't appeal to me at all. So, calm down and move on.