vbfdoee
Young Warrior
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Post by vbfdoee on Dec 10, 2012 16:40:25 GMT -6
I've never seen the movie, but I love the book. So much. I think I first read it when I was... nine, maybe? It has a lot of the things that I love about Warriors, actually- the world from the point of view of an organized animal society, with a sense of the mystical/fantastic about it (and also Richard Adams is a better writer than Erin Hunter). If you were previously unaware of such a book but are intrigued by my clumsy description of it, here's what it's about (I shall attempt to avoid spoilers): It's about rabbits; however, rather than being fluffy and frolicsome, it's pretty dark. At one point, a character walks, half-dead, up to the group of main characters wailing "Zorn!", the Lapine word for a total catastrophe (the conlanging is another thing I love about this book), and then discussing in gruesome detail the aforementioned disaster. And the actual plot goes something like this: there are two young rabbits, Hazel and Fiver (who happen to be brothers). Fiver has a vision that their warren is going to be destroyed, and so the two of them gather up a group of young outskirters similar to themselves in order to start their own warren. Hilarity Adventure ensues. (Grey, I'm looking at you )
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Post by Grey on Dec 10, 2012 18:44:57 GMT -6
And here's lookin' at you, kid.
Ehehehehe.
But yes, I am an enormous fan of this books (although I have not yet had the chance to read Tales of Watership Down, which is a small sort of sequel). In many ways, Watership Down has influenced my own writing and how I view anthropomorphism. It's brutal and realistic wherever possible, and Adams made a fascinating little language as well which is fun to write and to read (but to date, I find it just about impossible to speak with any kind of fluency).
I would think that this story (both the book and the film) have really had an impact on me as a person/writer, and I'm pleased for it too.
I could talk about it all day, ehehehe.
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Post by cloudbat on Dec 21, 2012 13:19:43 GMT -6
I received Watership Down as an unexpected present two years ago and dang. One of the best books I've ever read.
I love the mythology, I love the honest-to-goodness raw animal natures shown in the book. I love the creepy warren with the traps and the tales of the Prince with a Thousand Enemies.
I cannot think of a single thing about that book I dislike.
Even the treatment of the females is perfectly rabbit-like. It's not degrading because it's real. Many animals treat their females as breeding stock, and most xenofiction skates right over that.
Watership Down doesn't. And I thank it for that.
I also thank it for its intelligent but also within the bounds of belief characters.
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Post by mistytail on Dec 21, 2012 14:08:31 GMT -6
Yes, yes, yes oh my goodness. Watership Down is so amazing. I love the book so much and I wish I could find my copy again so I could reread it.
I have to say, I also really enjoyed the 3 season cartoon they made out of it. I think it strays greatly from canon, but at the same time, it's still visually striking and really entertaining - and season 3 is surprisingly dark. As in you have rabbits fighting to the death in a pit while other rabbits slam their feet and chant "War! War! War! War!" over and over. It was actually never aired in some countries because it was deemed too creepy for young children.
The 1978 film is probably my least favorite adaptation not because it's a poor adaptation of the book, because it's not. It's honestly the single closest novel-to-film adaptation I've ever seen. I think that's the movie's weak point, though. So many elements of the book can only be appreciated in the written form, and the movie just can't capture that. Still, it's entertaining if you've read the book.
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vbfdoee
Young Warrior
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Posts: 158
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Post by vbfdoee on Dec 21, 2012 18:24:49 GMT -6
The creepy parts are definitely my favorite (frithrah i need to read this book again)
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Post by railroadcrossing on Apr 7, 2013 21:11:58 GMT -6
I recently picked this book up from the library on you guys' recommendation, I'm excited to start reading it tomorrow.
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Cobalt
New Member
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Post by Cobalt on Apr 8, 2013 22:06:34 GMT -6
Remembers that I've recently started reading it as well. I'm about a third of the way through and it is brilliant.
Also I keep imagining the narration in the same voice I imagine Grey speaks in.
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Post by railroadcrossing on Apr 9, 2013 18:49:27 GMT -6
I got through the first chapter and I enjoy it so far, I keep getting sidetracked when I have free time haha.
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Post by Grey on Apr 11, 2013 8:48:27 GMT -6
Now I'm curious. What voice do you think I speak in? Ehehehe.
I mean, I'm flattered, because Watership Down is definitely one of my favourite styles of writing. So thank you for that.
It's really good to hear that everyone's enjoying it.
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