This is an older, long book about a bunch of rabbits (yes, rabbits) who need to find a new place to live. Sound boring and childish? It is most definitely not.
On the surface, Watership Down is an adventure story about a warren of rabbits who need to find a new home when their's is threatened by a land developer. The leader of the rabbits is Hazel. On their quest, Hazel and his compatriots encounter a Hitler-like rabbit, General Woundwart. General Woundwart captures some of the rabbits and one of the rabbits, Bigwig, masterminds a daring escape. (BTW, the book has nothing to do with ships or the sea. Watership Down is the name of the place where the rabbits find a safe haven.)
The main characters in the book ARE rabbits. These aren't cute, cuddly bunnies who speak English and walk on their hind legs like humans. These rabbits are very rabbit-like and yet, we human beings will have no trouble relating to the lives of the rabbits. That is part of the genius of this book. Richard Adams does a masterful job of making this book relevant to OUR lives. He is especially adept at conveying the importance of our role in nature, either to help or to destroy. Although this book was written over 30 years ago, the environmental themes are as relevant today as they were "back then".
Watership Down is on many people's lists of best books they've ever read. It's on mine. Try it some time and see if it might end up on your list.
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