I started reading this book because most of everything else was packed, and I was on a reading spree. This book is good and thick so I figured it would take me awhile to get through, at least until I'd have the joys of unpacking to occupy my. It took longer than I had anticipated, due mostly to the fact that I really need to get glasses, but I did eventually finish, lol.
I had seen the movie when I was a kid (and can't believe my parents would let us watch such a movie at that age...) and so I already kinda knew what was going to happen, although I could only vaguely remember pieces from the movie. I didn't expect to like that book more than a bit. It was, after all, just a way to fill up empty hours waiting to move, plus the fact that I own it, should probably be able to say I've read it.
It was Much better than I expected. I could even say I enjoyed it. You do get kind of involved with the story and characters, but not as much as I have with other characters in other books. But that may be because the characters are rabbits.. who knows, lol. I thought Keehar was amusing, lol. "Pig Vig" lol
When I reached the end of the book, and mentally went back to the beginning, through all that the rabbits went through, and it really felt like kind of a journey... I'm not sure I can explain it rightly.. but it was like a long journey, and you could mentally see all they went through, and how they had changed and grown from where they were at the start of the book.
I read online various reviews of the book, that go on about the anti-feminist quality to the book.
Blah Blah Blah.
I'm sorry, but in my opinion it's Just a story about a group of rabbits trying to survive. The fact that it's a group of male rabbits, and does are looked upon, for the most part, as nothing more, really, than baby bearers and warren diggers... I can see how that would offend some overly touchy people, but it IS just a story folks, chillax. The females Do get given roles that are More than this, in the story. Hyzenthlay for example. There IS more to them, but they are, in my opinion, just peripheral characters to the story. The main focus is the original group of rabbits.
The need for females in order to keep their warren alive is a major part of the story in my opinion. it's what everything builds too, all the smaller struggles they had, escaping from their original warren, and then from the Warren of the Shining Wire, they were just... they get you attatched to the characters, get you involved with them, so you want them to succeed against the Efrafan rabbits too. Not sitting there, thinking, oh ho hum, lets get on with this already.
I sort of liked the weaving in of the folk tales about El-ahrairah... the timing for them made me annoyed at times.. when they're in the midst of some sort of action, I don't want to jump tracks to something else, but after about halfway through the book I did try to look after the story to see where the El-ahrairah story would be somewhat incorporated into the Actual sotry.
Overall I guess it was a good book, and if you're up for it, definately give it a read. Not sure if I'll ever read it again, but you never know. It's not one I'll AVOID reading, but not something light you can just decide to pick up and breeze through either.
And as far as the movie goes (which I did find and watch again after I read the book)..... best avoided. But if you feel you must, well.. I don't know.. if you watch Before you read you'll kind of know what to expect (but in a way not, because the movie is almost totally messed up compared to the book.. but isn't that usually the case sadly? Especially with older ones..) and that could take some of the suspense out of the book.. but then again, if you watch it after, if you're like me, all you'll be able to think of is where it's WRONG, lol. they only skim through stuff, you don't get as involved with the characters.. just watching the movie alone, you'd be wondering Why they listen to Hazel at all, since it's Obviously Bigwig doing everything and being everything. There is SO much cut out.. so much altered... is best to just not watch at all, lol.
Ah well.
That's my opinion.
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