Oh….my god….
This book is so good?!? How I went through my life until 30 years old without ever hearing of this book before this subreddit is, frankly, astounding considering how much I've been a reader my whole life, but here I am.
Calling it a Greek epic but about rabbits is the best short description I've ever seen for it. I saw the "how do I describe watership down to people" post and decided to listen to the Peter Capaldi audiobook…wow. Probably the best way to experience it the first time imo, Capaldi PERFORMS. (Plus, it really helped with understanding the Lapine language to have him reading the words instead of my brain just mushing the sounds together) I was completely transported listening. I cheated a bit and looked up if any of the main characters died after Bigwig's first near death experience, so I wasn't losing my mind the rest of the book when bad things cropped up…but the ending?? Ahhh I'm gonna start crying again. Yeah it's a happy ending but it really hits you right in the emotions. Hazel is an amazing leader and Adams taking us to his end so we can really sit in the satisfaction of a life well lived…sniff Anyways thank you to this subreddit because this has easily become one of my all time favorite books and now I'm going to be one of those "weirdos" telling everyone "it's a Greek epic, but rabbits".
by exhaustedhorti
6 Comments
I read that book almost 2 decades ago when I was in my late teens and it still gives me shivers to think about it.
I still recall when and where I began reading that book… It was on the mezzanine floor of the Leamington Hotel in Oakland on July 3, 1975. That was the first day of Westercon 28, my first SF convention – age 17. I have no idea how I was convinced to read a book about rabbits, but I’m REALLY glad I did.
Hoi hoi u embleer hrair…
This book is what stopped me eating rabbit.
I like that.
I’ve been telling people that it’s a horror novel. The rabbits live in so much _fear_, and it’s present from the very first page. There are moments when the fear can be somewhat ignored, but they are few and fleeting, the fear always comes back in New and surprising ways.
If you want a similar read, try “Talichaser’s Song” by Tad Willams. It’s a Greek epic with cats, I guess…
This is one of my all time favorite books and I’ve read it over and over.