How is Water Ship Down?

[hitchhiker]

I am finishing up on Robison Cruseo and have recently watched Donnie Darko which makes a connection to Water Ship Down. The movie (Donnie Darko) needless to say is one of the greatest movies in the world so I figure that the book must be great. But I do not have the slightest clue what it is about. So I was woundering if there is people who have read it who would like to give me a little info. about it.

[Arguendo]

There you go. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watership_down)

It's one of my favourite books.

[hitchhiker]

Well what is it about?

[Behemoth]

Haha, this reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend:

"So what are you reading right now?"
"Wuthering Heights"
"Oh, isn't that the one about the rabbits?"


:lol:

[hitchhiker]

So what is it about. I understand it is about rabbits and the author is suppost to be a great writer creating his own world with in them but still I have no clue what the true plot is.

[trismegistus]

still I have no clue what the true plot is.
Dude. Go to the Wikipedia link that Arguendo provided. Once there go to "plot summary."

As for the book, it's charming and well worth reading. Furthermore, Adams doesn't treat his audience like a bunch of dunces as Kelly did at the end of Donnie Darko.

[EAP]

It is one of the best novels ever written.

[Neovia]

Bunnies! \o/ Great book. It's about the rules of society.

[Annamariah]

Watership Down is a great book, though it's sometimes hard to make people to believe it...

"Watership Down is really one of the best books I've ever read!"
"What does it tell about?"
"Well, there's a bunch of rabbits..."
"..."

:D

[Arguendo]

Watership Down is a great book, though it's sometimes hard to make people to believe it...

"Watership Down is really one of the best books I've ever read!"
"What does it tell about?"
"Well, there's a bunch of rabbits..."
"..."

:D
Spot on, which is why I resorted to the Wiki instead of attempting a plot summary myself.

"..and and and they fight other rabbits and there's this mouse and no it's not anything like The Wind in the Willows..."

[Annamariah]

Spot on, which is why I resorted to the Wiki instead of attempting a plot summary myself.

"..and and and they fight other rabbits and there's this mouse and no it's not anything like The Wind in the Willows..."

Exactly!:D I realised that myself when I had to recommend a book at my Finnish lesson. I think no one who hadn't read the book really though it could have any sense in it...:blush:

[SummerSolstice]

Somehow I've never managed to read this book, even though I'm very familiar with it. The National Spelling Bee's word booklet, Paideia, is divided into themed lists, and one of the years I was shooting for that big gold loving cup they had a Watership Down. It's been a good three or four years since I got too old to compete, but ever since then whenever I see a reference to it I think, "I ought to read that." Then I don't. *shrugs* From what I'm hearing, I should check it out for my Christmas break reading, hm?

[Arguendo]

Somehow I've never managed to read this book, even though I'm very familiar with it. The National Spelling Bee's word booklet, Paideia, is divided into themed lists, and one of the years I was shooting for that big gold loving cup they had a Watership Down. It's been a good three or four years since I got too old to compete, but ever since then whenever I see a reference to it I think, "I ought to read that." Then I don't. *shrugs* From what I'm hearing, I should check it out for my Christmas break reading, hm?
You should. It's got rabbits and Lapine and everything.

...and sentences like that is what happens when one tries to describe it. Yikes.

[Annamariah]

And Kehaar! Never forget Kehaar. My favourite character (okay, Kehaar and Thlayli/Bigwig are both my favourite characters). I thought Kehaar speaks in a very funny way in the Finnish translation, but it was even better when I read it in English a couple of months ago. :D

[Maida]

Hazel was my favorite!

[BibliophileTRJ]

I read this book when I was 10..... most of it went over my head, but enough of it stuck with me so I re-read it at 15-16. This time I really got it and it became one of my all time favorites. I've since re-read it several times and enjoy it more every time.

The thing from this story that has worked it's way into my daily life is "tharn". A rabbit word for being frozen in fear..... a synonym for "deer-in-the-headlights". I use it often, and you'd be surprised by how few times I have to explain it. More often than not people will respond with "You've read Watership Down...... wasn't that a wonderful book?"

[UltimaHybrid]

my mother gave that book for my birthday and i have to say it is a good book...a lil confusing but good,really good. just as Maida said Hazel is my favorite and also Fiver

[BroadwayBaby]

it's about bunnies! my dad read it to me when I was about 7 and it's still one of my favorite books

[Mortis Anarchy]

The movie is so freaky!!!

[BroadwayBaby]

yeah the movie was weird...

[Annamariah]

yeah the movie was weird...

Yeah... When I told one of my friends that Watership Down is a great book, he said: "Oh yeah, I think I saw that freak movie where there were a lot of violent rabbits fighting each other... is that the one you mean?"

[Mortis Anarchy]

I enjoyed the book, then we watched the movie...wow!!! I've never seen such violence from little rabbits!!! INSANE!!!!

[Scharphedin2]

Watership Down was one of those books that were perpetually displayed on the rack of librarian's "recommended reads for young adults" at my local library, when I was a kid. Needless to say, I gave it the widest of berths.

Then, once, when I was in my mid-twenties, I was waiting around in O'Hare airport, and I was desperate for a book to read. The newsstand had a very meagre selection, and in the end I picked Watership Down. I started reading it on the flight from Chicago to Copenhagen, and I became completely engrossed.

The wonderful thing about the book (when reading it as an adult) is that it really gives you the experience of the pleasure of reading, the way you read, when you were an adolescent. At least that is the best way I can describe it. I really do not think it is a children's book any more than Lord of the Rings or Lord of the Flies, yet it has that rare magic of transporting you back to your childhood. Really, an excellent book!

[Lioness_Heart]

I love it because I read it when I was about 7 or 8 and really into the Animals of Farthing Wood, and it gave me a really new perspective on things in general, and made me want to read more deeper books. And then I've read it about 3 times since, and each time, it's meant something more to me. I love books like that!

[Jamilah]

You must read Watership Down. I read this in Grade 8 and never forgot it. The author began weaving the tale while driving his young daughters to and from school. Whenever they would start a journey, he'd add another part to the tale. His knowledge of natural history (plants, animal behaviour) and socio-political history of Europe are what make the rabbits so believable. Also, the book is so creative. Each rabbit is infused with unique characterstics! I love their names: Hazel, BigWig, Dandelion. Just read it and you won't be disappointed.

[Jamilah]

Sorry, I just wanted to correct my thought process. In my above post I meant to say that he infused historical knowledge and uses natural history in a brilliant way that make the warren seem like a functioning human society. This in turn affects how the rabbits are portrayed (like people) and adds to the story.

[Stieg]

Great book, I have a large print edition lying about somewhere.

The animated movie is like.... like a horror film for furries, vegans, and children!