Watership Down, by Richard Adams (Book Review)

 

“There is not a day or night but a doe offers her life for her kittens.”

Set in a once rural landscape, this wild tale shows the stories of a bands of rabbits and their flight from the invasion of man and the future demolition of their warren. They journey from their native home, through the trials posed by the world together. Lead by a band of brothers, they move on toward the dream more perfect society and a promised home…

“Bigwig realized that he had stumbled, quite unexpectedly, upon what he needed most of all: a strong, sensible friend who would think on her own account and help to bear his burden.”

This book I didn’t love, but it actually wasn't terrible. If you know me, I love a good dystopian—and while you may be thinking I’m crazy saying that this classical novel with Bambi vibes to it, about a group of rabbits—is a dystopian, let me explain. 

At first, found this book very kiddish and dull, and even started listening to the audio book just so I could finish it. Again, it seemed like just another version of Bambi with only rabbits instead of deer. But, it took a surprising turn the more I read, and I did find myself intrigued by the plot more towards the end.

There is even one warren that they come to in their travels, that adds in the dystopian flare I was mentioning. The rabbits there try to form a perfect society, but then only end up creating yet another flawed Utopia. 

I honestly thought this book could have been really promising if I could get my mind of the fact that the main character are rabbits. If the author had taken this really incisive plot and made more interesting points and characters, this book I think I would have really enjoyed and would have been more captivating and appealing. 

Again, this is a classic, so I can’t really compare it to others, but I just didn’t find it as appealing as other books. I think younger ages would like the storyline more, but wouldn’t necessarily understand the metaphorical side of it. There’s absolutely no content other than some more graphic violence towards the end, but if that doesn’t bother you, the Audible audio book makes this book a lot more immersive. I’d rate this book a 4 out of 10.

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Tally ho,

Finlee