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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
It was a great book. At least, what I could finish of it. I was unable to finish it because of personal issues (it messed with my mind something fierce), but I would definitely recommend it.
adventurous
sad
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Odysseus brings not one man to shore with him. Yet he sleeps sound beside Calypso and when he wakes thinks only of Penelope."
Adams' writing is at its best when he suddenly injects one of these achingly poetic philosophical theses into his "children's" book about rabbits, and it's main protagonist, Hazel, is certainly a Ulysses of his own. They catch you off guard and make you read the more pedestrian sequences with an eye for symbolism, metaphor and narrative parallels, as these are clearly intentional (evidenced by the quotes from an extensive array of literature which start each chapter). The fact the above quote comes after a diegetic oral retelling - just as the Odyssey itself was originally told - is the cherry on top.
It's funny to note that after the movie traumatised us all as children, in the novel it's these darker sections (like a really disturbing description of a badger in the night) which are far more compelling than the numerous occasions the rabbits are all just sitting around and talking about stuff. The pacing is pretty glacial, and the action is never really that thrilling, with some very sudden halts in the suspense, but the cast is loveable enough.
Besides these moments, my favourite chapters were probably the El-ahrairah stories, as I've loved the legends of Frith and the Black Rabbit of Inle since I was a child, and they stick with me as the novel's most powerful legacy. Adams has thought up such a gorgeous mythology, and his classical influences are on full display.
There are rather a few too many characters to satisfyingly keep up with, most notably Hawkbit, Acorn and Speedwell who are barely mentioned. There are also some dodgy bits of internal logic, such as rabbits - who have been shown in previous chapters to not know even what a peg, train, car, sea, or fish are - suddenly referring to petrol.
As for the ending I found the paragraphs on the passage of summer into winter some of the most hauntingly beautiful writing in the whole novel, and the epilogue had me in tears. But it wasn't an entirely satisfying ending, with no cast members (who we've come to know and love) receiving a gratifying sendoff besides Hazel.
Adams' writing is at its best when he suddenly injects one of these achingly poetic philosophical theses into his "children's" book about rabbits, and it's main protagonist, Hazel, is certainly a Ulysses of his own. They catch you off guard and make you read the more pedestrian sequences with an eye for symbolism, metaphor and narrative parallels, as these are clearly intentional (evidenced by the quotes from an extensive array of literature which start each chapter). The fact the above quote comes after a diegetic oral retelling - just as the Odyssey itself was originally told - is the cherry on top.
It's funny to note that after the movie traumatised us all as children, in the novel it's these darker sections (like a really disturbing description of a badger in the night) which are far more compelling than the numerous occasions the rabbits are all just sitting around and talking about stuff. The pacing is pretty glacial, and the action is never really that thrilling, with some very sudden halts in the suspense, but the cast is loveable enough.
Besides these moments, my favourite chapters were probably the El-ahrairah stories, as I've loved the legends of Frith and the Black Rabbit of Inle since I was a child, and they stick with me as the novel's most powerful legacy. Adams has thought up such a gorgeous mythology, and his classical influences are on full display.
There are rather a few too many characters to satisfyingly keep up with, most notably Hawkbit, Acorn and Speedwell who are barely mentioned. There are also some dodgy bits of internal logic, such as rabbits - who have been shown in previous chapters to not know even what a peg, train, car, sea, or fish are - suddenly referring to petrol.
As for the ending