Reviews - Watership Down | The StoryGraph

4.63k reviews for:

Watership Down

Richard Adams

4.04 AVERAGE

tknauf's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous emotional medium-paced

crazygoangirl's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional inspiring fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Brilliantly performed by Peter Capaldi! I listened to this while reading along physically and the combination was completely and delightfully immersive 😃😃

crazygoangirl's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional inspiring fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Finally got to this classic that’s been on my TBR forever. I listened to the audiobook on Storytel, brilliantly performed by Peter Capaldi, while reading along physically in my beautiful 40th Anniversary edition, and the combination was utterly and delightfully immersive 😃😃

This is a rip-roaring tale featuring a band of adventurous rabbits who leave their home warren after receiving a prophesy of impeding doom. They are on a mission to find a safe haven, away from human interference, and this is the story of their thrilling journey. Along the way, they face innumerable physical dangers - snares, predators, thunderstorms, rivers, inhospitable terrain and the worst of them all - humans! They persevere however and demonstrate a tremendous ability to learn, adapt and innovate and what was initially a motley crew evolves into a true fellowship with every new challenge they face. By the end, they have transformed into a well-oiled unit with deep bonds of trust, loyalty and friendship between individuals. Plenty of LOTR vibes ☺️

I love that Adams writes the rabbits as rabbits! Yes they are anthropomorphised to an extent but largely stay true to their rabbit nature. Even in the face of overwhelming odds, Adams relies on their inherent senses and intuitive powers, to come up with believable solutions - so that an action as simple as gnawing a rope makes the difference between life and death! It’s hard to decide which I love more - Adams’ imaginative story itself or his formidable skills in telling it! He paints pictures with his words - of Nature and of each individual rabbit, whether it’s the creative and impulsive Hazel; the persistent & ‘psychic’ Fiver; the resourceful and highly intelligent Blackberry; the quietly steadfast Pipkin; storyteller extraordinaire- Dandelion; the wily & astute soldier - General Woundwort or my absolute favourite- the big-hearted, brave, brusque and bombastic warrior Bigwig! The eeriness of Cowslip’s Warren and the regimented discipline of Efrafa are both evocatively atmospheric, as are the many dramatic events during the journey - the escape from Efrafa being just one of them.

I have fallen in love with the world that Adam’s has created and with rabbits ☺️ I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at them in quite the same way again! My opinion of them as merely ‘decorative pieces of fluff’ has been quite decisively turned on its head! They are resourceful, intelligent, mischievous, capricious and although generally peace-loving, capable of great violence when threatened. Adams illustrates these qualities wonderfully through the fantastical exploits of the inimitable rabbit prince El-ahrairah and his faithful companion Rabscuttle, who get in and out of innumerable scrapes exclusively through the use of their wits and chutzpah! I loved these little gems of rabbit lore 😊 I also enjoyed Adams’ invention of Lapine - rabbit language, my favourite word being ‘tharn’- the condition that leaves a rabbit frozen in fear like a deer caught in headlights.

Reading about our world from a rabbit’s perspective was educational and strangely uplifting. It reminded me of our connection and deep dependence on Mother Earth, a relationship we so casually take for granted or cruelly abuse. Rabbits, on the other hand, like all other animals have an intimate and visceral bond with Earth that is central to their very existence. They nurture it, taking only what they need, while we plunder at will, heedless of the destruction we cause. Adams describes the heartbreaking destruction of a warren by humans that left me shaking with rage and despair. This book was written more than half a century ago, and things have only become worse 😔 The happenings at Cowslip’s warren were also disturbing. They made think about what might we be willing to tolerate in exchange for security or sacrifice for comfort? What might we be willing to ignore in exchange for peace and security? Basic existential questions that force one to introspect and that have no easy answers. This book is a potent mix of allegory and adventure and whether you focus on one or the other, it remains intensely thought-provoking.

All told, I could go on about how much I love this book until the rabbits come home and I run out of adjectives! Suffice it to say, that this an amazing yarn replete with all the core ingredients of a rollicking adventure - thrills, suspense, danger, courage, bravado, foolishness, conceit, friendship, loyalty, a wily and brave villain, and several heroes who rise to the occasion as and when required!

I have never read anything like this and can only regret not having read this earlier! The definite LOTR and Harry Potter vibes make me wonder whether Rowling was inspired by this story! Harry and Hazel are so similar and Fiver reminds me of Professor Trelawney! But Bigwig, with his big tuft of hair and his big heart, is my forever favourite! Everyone, humans and rabbits alike need a Bigwig in their lives!

Now that I’ve finished the book, I can look into the Netflix series. I will be reading Tales from Watership Down, next. I don’t feel quite ready to leave the Downs yet!

A MUST READ ♥️

tlsoe's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

jhenbeck's review against another edition

5.0

I really loved Adams' style of writing. He really did his research on bunnies for writing this book. I am glad to be done with this book though--it was so long!!! Hazel-rah is an excellent character--with his leadership and wisdom. Fiver is my second favorite, but it's probably Bigwig who is my favorite. He got all those does out of Efrafa, AND defeated Woundwort! I expected to be bored at several points in the book, but Adams kept me entertained with several climactic events! It just kept on going! My favorite parts of the book was when the bunnies were telling stories of El-ahrairah. Those stories were so interesting and symbolic.

This book is definitely worth the read--even though it's long.

bekareads's review against another edition

I read this in middle school and it emotionally DESTROYED me. I can’t believe I forgot it, but once I got to chapter 14 I figured it out!

bananajo's review against another edition

5.0

The first time I read this book, I was worried about the ending. Rumor has it that while the story is about rabbits, their cute, fluffy selves do not lead fairy-tale lives. Still, I figured better late than never. It's hard not to fall in love with these rabbits, follow them on their adventures, root for their friendships, and want more of their stories. It is just a story about rabbits, as Adams says, but it's a story that makes me smile. What more could we ask for?

(March 2025)