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Science Fiction & Fantasy |
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Watership Down: A Novel
written by Richard Adams
Studio : Scribner
by Scribner
Publisher : Scribner
Released : 2005-11-01
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780743277709
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 949 reviews)
List Price : $16.00
Our Price : $9.16
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Product Description |
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A phenomenal worldwide bestseller for over thirty years, Richard Adams's Watership Down is a timeless classic and one of the most beloved novels of all time. Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of brothers, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society. |
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Americancivilwar.com Review |
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Watership Down has been a staple of high-school English classes for years. Despite the fact that it's often a hard sell at first (what teenager wouldn't cringe at the thought of 400-plus pages of talking rabbits?), Richard Adams's bunny-centric epic rarely fails to win the love and respect of anyone who reads it, regardless of age. Like most great novels, Watership Down is a rich story that can be read (and reread) on many different levels. The book is often praised as an allegory, with its analogs between human and rabbit culture (a fact sometimes used to goad skeptical teens, who resent the challenge that they won't "get" it, into reading it), but it's equally praiseworthy as just a corking good adventure. The story follows a warren of Berkshire rabbits fleeing the destruction of their home by a land developer. As they search for a safe haven, skirting danger at every turn, we become acquainted with the band and its compelling culture and mythos. Adams has crafted a touching, involving world in the dirt and scrub of the English countryside, complete with its own folk history and language (the book comes with a "lapine" glossary, a guide to rabbitese). As much about freedom, ethics, and human nature as it is about a bunch of bunnies looking for a warm hidey-hole and some mates, Watership Down will continue to make the transition from classroom desk to bedside table for many generations to come. --Paul Hughes |
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Yes , Rabbits! |
The title of my review refers to a conversation I had with a friend about his favorite book. We were in a book store browsing and he pointed to a book saying, "that's my favorite book." I was immediately curious, I deeply respect this guy and consider him the smartest person I know. I asked him what is it about, he said "Rabbits." Me: "Rabbits?" Him: "Rabbits" Me: "Rabbits?" Him: "Yes, Rabbits!"
In the end, I did not buy the book nor did I in the near future. WHAT A MISTAKE!!!
When I finally did decide to buy and read the book, I was enthralled. Is there a perfect book/read? I don't know, but here's another story.
I was reading Watership Down at work on a Friday. Time came to pack up for the day. After being half-way home I realized I forgot Watership Down. There was no way for me to go back and get it, and I was not going to be back at work for another two days. To make a long story short, I bought another copy of the book and finished it over the weekend.
Watership Down is a remarkable book. BUY/BORROW IT. |
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Watership Down |
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I bought this as a gift as I had read the book before and thought it would be a suitable present. |
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Not for young children, but teenagers and adults will enjoy it. |
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Alright, the first thing you need to know is that this is about rabbits. Yes, rabbits, and not a childrens book. It is a long book, and it is a complex book. Even if you don't understand the complexities of the allegories that are involved with this book, it is still a fine read. The writing is superb, and the characters pop right off of the page. This book will stay with you long after you read it. Not for its amazing points it makes, although they are in there, but really for its terrific storytelling, and wonderful language. You can tell that this book was a labor of love for Richard Adams. I don't need to describe the story for you, that is done above. I don't need to talk about the allegorical significance of the various parts of the book, that is done in colleges all over the country. What I do need to tell you is that if you read this book you won't be sorry. I promise you won't even remember they are rabbits except in the smallest sense of yourself by the time you are a quarter of the way into the book. By the end you might even find a tear or two for the ending. So read it, enjoy it, and than pass it along to someone who you know will like it. That was how I got it, and I have cherished it ever since. |
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Sometimes unbelievable or slow, but largely intelligent, compelling, and strongly written. A satisfying book. Highly recommended |
When Fiver has an ominous premonition that death will come to the warren, his brother Hazel leads a pack of willing bucks out into the wide world. Their journey takes them through challenges and strange encounters, and Hazel must grow to be a cunning leader that he may found and protect a better warren in a safer land. Although it requires a certain suspension of disbelief, Watership Down is remarkably faithful to the animals which inspire it. The constantly involving plot can make for slow reading, but on the whole this is an intelligent, compelling, strongly written work. I highly recommend it.
Watership Down differs hugely from most anthropomorphic animal stories in that in that it remains quite faithful to its source. That is to say: these rabbits are rabbits. They do not wear clothes or cook meals in a kitchen; I'm not a rabbit expert, but it's clear that Adams has researched, and for the most part his depiction of rabbits and other wildlife is convincing. Sometimes the novel does stretch the suspension of disbelief--the rabbits don't have human lifestyles or intelligence, but there are still an unbelievable number of unusual rabbit behaviors, from singing and laughing rabbits to a militarized warren. Nonetheless, Watership Down is refreshingly realistic, and the story is all the more compelling for the fact that it could indeed occur in the country downs.
As a novel rather than a concept alone, Watership Down is sometimes slow but largely skillful. The premise--that a group of disaffected rabbits leave one warren to found another--is only mere glimpse into the overall plot, which includes a journey across the countryside, dealings with two other unusual warrens, and a lengthy search for does. The plot is constantly unfolding and the book is quite long, and so it sometimes feels like slow going. Once the reader adjusts to the unfolding plotline, however, the book becomes easier to read--and it is remarkably well written. With thoughtful detail and a complex plot, lifelike characters and skillful writing, Watership Down is on the whole an intelligent and strongly written book. It is heavier fare than many anthropomorphic-animal stories, and it has some faults, but on the whole it's a joy to read, engaging and thought-provoking, with plentiful interpretations which will stand up to rereads. I was very satisfied, and I highly recommend it. |
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Possibly the best book I have ever read |
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I was instantly entranced with the way it's spoken from a rabbit point of view. It is sad, interesting, brutal, and yet beautiful. It should be mandatory reading for everyone! |
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