Watership Down

When speaking of this novel, I've often heard others be of the opinion that “this is little more than a book about rabbits.” Indeed, with the ferocity of the title, I too was taken aback to discover that all of the cast were, indeed, rabbits. However, this is much more than that.

This novel has the equivocal depth of an Aesop's fable. The cast, despite their Lapine nature, are all complex in their emotions and decisions. There's both agreement and disagreement. The plot itself is quite simple, but the nature of the chapters and the pacing makes it feel complex and engaging. The writing style itself is somehow a balanced effort of description ( an entire page, just describing the setting around the warren! ) and things to move it along ( on that same page, meeting the cast that you will watch the story unfold around. ) There are legends, there are characters made into legends, and it just continues onward. Richard Adams was really “feeling it” as he wrote this, may he walk in peace.

This is a book that I recommend, and probably will to everybody. I wish I could read it for the first time all over again, but I suppose I'll just have to look forward to reading it for a second time, and seeing what things I missed. Perhaps one small critique I would have is, in the penultimate closing chapters, there would be more “specific” descriptions of what happened, and who was with whom, but to be honest, that's neither here nor there. It could be that, if it had been included, then I would be saying it felt too bogged down, so, I digress.

If you're searching for something to move you, look no further. This will take you by surprise.