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Watership Down
Watership Down
Author: Richard Adams, D. Parkins
The story of a motley band of rabbits who desert their ancient warren when the gentle Fiver predicts imminent destruction of all who remain. Led by Fiver's intelligent brother, Hazel, the refugees set out on an epic search for a new home.
ISBN-13: 9780140364538
ISBN-10: 0140364536
Publication Date: 10/28/1993
Pages: 496
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating:
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1

5 stars, based on 1 rating
Publisher: Puffin Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Watership Down on
Helpful Score: 17
honestly, I put off reading this for a long time. not outright, but I always had other books higher in the to-read pile. I did not know what the book was about, except that it had to do with rabbits, and perhaps a boat. there is a boat, of sorts I guess, but thats not where the Ship in the title comes from. for moon-calf Americans like myself, I will explain that Watership Down is a place name. its a hill.

so the book is about rabbits on a hill? well, yes, but no, of course not. honestly this is one of the best books Ive ever read, and I immediately went out and ordered it in hardcover as I know I will be rereading it at least once every two years for the rest of my life. thats how amazing it is. so, no, not just rabbits on a hill.

and the rabbits are not Disney rabbits, or Lewis Carrol rabbits, wearing waistcoats and top hats or helping a princess with the household chores. Adams, with fantastic storytelling, weaves you into the world of real rabbits in a delightful, astonishing, and sometimes quite harrowing way. oh, if you only know rabbits to be fluffy little poopsies, you can think again. and you might not feel so comfortable wearing bunny slippers after this, either!

this book is an adventure unlike anything I was expecting. I was laughing; I was on the edge of the bed with my eyes wide open; I was even crying, and it takes one hell of a story to make me cry. I was practically blissful at the end of the book, even though it was over.

yay, Watership Down :D
MarciNYC avatar reviewed Watership Down on
Helpful Score: 6
I recently gave a copy of this to a friend who said to me, "Rabbits? For years I thought this was about a boat!" Guess she'd never seen the cover of the book. *g*

That said, this ranks right up there with Betty Smith's 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn' as one of my all time favourite books. Who would have throught a book about RABBITS would be engaging?

It was a very emotional read - sorrow, anger, joy and every emotion in between was felt as I read this book. I have vague memories of the animated movie and lots of blood - so I had been scared to read this book even though I had wanted to do so for several years. I'm thrilled that I read it now and found it a wonderful read - a fantastic story of survival against all odds. (Yes, I might hunt down the movie just to see it 'in action'!)
bookchica avatar reviewed Watership Down on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
I was recommended this book by a customer at the library where I work. He said it was his favorite book of all time and at first I was a little skeptical but once I started reading I started to see why. The rabbits the story revolves around are great characters. They struggle to survive and to find a new place to call home. The story is interesting and you even get to hear the rabbit creation myth and other tales from the beginning of rabbit time. I thought the first half of the book was a little slow but once the rabbits get to Watership Down it speeds up and is hard to put down in places. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys classics or animal-centered stories.
reviewed Watership Down on + 187 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
The timeless classic novel of exile, courage and survival. A wonderful story told through the eyes and lives of a band of rabbits...forced to flee the destruction of their fragile community...and their trials and triumphs in the face of extraordinary adversity as they pursue a glorious dream called "home." If you've thought that a story about rabbits couldn't be compelling, you are in for a wonderful experience. You feel their excitment, their fear, their pain and finally their joy at finally finding a place to call home. A truly beautifully told story. And one that humans could certainly learn from!!
reviewed Watership Down on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
A fantastic adventure story about a band of rouge rabbits who strike out on their own for a courageous journey that proves their courage and friendship are the epitome of strength. Overcoming extreme obstacles to triumph in the very face of evil, these rabbits will have readers hooked from the first chapter. This book is the definition of a timeless classic and one I've read at least once a year every year for the last 19 years after my grandmother gave me my first copy when I was only 11. I've literally read the cover off of at least 6 copies of it since then.
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nrlymrtl avatar reviewed Watership Down on + 297 more book reviews
Lots of fuzzy bunnies. Theyve got ambitions, bad dreams, prerogatives. Watership Down starts off with one rabbit that has been blessed with the gift of foresight having a bad feeling and that is why he and those who will follow must leave the warren. A handful of connies set out, not really knowing where they are going nor really why, except Fiver has a vague, deep feeling of dread towards the warren.

Soon Fiver is proved right and we learn of the doom of the home warren. The rabbits have made it to a new warren, very laid-back, breakfast served every day by humans. Fiver and Hazel and crew consider staying for a while. However, soon Fiver is expressing his concerns and fears and the hares must move on after a nasty encounter with a wire trap.

I enjoyed how the rabbits had their own mythology and stories. There are several segues into these tales and they were instructive and imaginative. While there were few female characters, probably because they came into the story late, they are considered integral in sustaining the new warren.
bpasero avatar reviewed Watership Down on
Good book, enjoyed it. Maybe a little predictable.
jasony avatar reviewed Watership Down on
The great classic I remembered as a child....still intriguing as an adult....
reviewed Watership Down on + 13 more book reviews
Classic novel!
reviewed Watership Down on + 5 more book reviews
One of my absolute favorite books.
azmichelle avatar reviewed Watership Down on
One of the best books I have ever read. I won't be swapping this one, as I will probably want to read it again and again. Highly recommended!
reviewed Watership Down on + 58 more book reviews
This book was on my 8th grade required reading list, but by 8th grade I had already read it several times, It's still one of my favorite to this day.
knittymama avatar reviewed Watership Down on + 424 more book reviews
This is the greatest adventure story of all time. It's for boys and girls, young and old. I've read it countless times since age 10 when a friend let me borrow it. I loved it so much that I conveniently "forgot" to return it to her. Hey, I was 10, give me a break...ha ha ha. I have several copies of my own now and I can't say enough good things about it. I enjoy reading to my kids and they love it too!
reviewed Watership Down on + 90 more book reviews
A classic for any age.

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