Watership Down
By: Richard Adams
My Rating: ALL THE STARS!!
Best for: 16 and up

The most beloved story of all time

March 2023
Watership Down is aging very, very well. One thing I appreciated more this time than previous reads: These rabbits are RABBITS. Meaning, they aren’t rabbits that act like humans. They don’t do things rabbits wouldn’t do. That adds a special element of realism to this fantasy novel that I enjoyed, so much.

Nothing to change from my reviews of previous years. Watership Down remains a treasure.

Read it.
May 2016
There’s not a story I love more than Watership Down.

It’s been a while since my last re read, and this time around I was afraid I would find I’ve been fooling myself all these years…that I would discover my teenage self had turned Watership Down into something that it wasn’t and didn’t deserve.

I shouldn’t have worried. It’s everything I had it built up to be.

Actually, this time around, it was more.

Now, I know many find this book tedious. I admit a book about rabbits traveling the English countryside doesn’t sound like it would get your heart pumping. I even hesitate to encourage my own kids to read it for fear they won’t understand.

Get over it.

Embrace Watership Down, and you’ll find some of the greatest literary characters ever written. You’ll find heroes being brave even though they are scared. You’ll find leaders who lead by love and leaders who lead by fear. You’ll find excitement. Bloody fighting. Tyranny over thrown. Friendships. Loyalty. Peace.

Goosebumps. Chills. Tears.

All that. More.

In a book about rabbits.

Hopping across the English countryside.

Give it a try. I think you’ll love it too.

Suitable for all ages. Recommended for all ages. It’ll take a bit of maturity just because of the pacing, but content is PG.

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2011 re read

I don’t know if it’s solely because happy memories from my childhood, but I consider Watership Down one of my favorite all time books. I could read it again and again–well, I have read it again and again. If you haven’t had the pleasure, consider this my strong recommendation.

Originally read somewhere around 1993.