🐰 From the first I have liked a rabbit named Hazel. I thought he'll make a great leader because he trusts Fiver, his younger brother, who prophesied that a catastrophe is about to destroy their warren (Sandleford). Hazel knows that each person.. err.. rabbit, I mean, has his unique strength, and that to succeed in a mission, he has to trust on his instinct and the others' strength. In the critical moment, he trusts Fiver, and they ran away from Sandleford without delay, followed by nine others.
🐰 After running into several dangerous adventures, they came eventually to a perfect down which they picked as their future warren: Watership Down.
🐰 The novel is special because, while Adams wrote convincingly about rabbit's life - indeed, I seemed to see them alive, hopping in front of me all the time - it is, at the same time, a perfect portrayal of human nature. Each rabbit represents different character we often find in our own society.
🐰 I believe any leader-to-be of whatever community needs to read this novel. There are numerous lessons they can learn for their own good. Not only for leaders, the followers can also learn every type of leaderships we commonly find in leaders, to guide us in choosing the right one.
🐰 Other than brave, intelligent, loyal, and visioner, Hazel's respect to other creatures is remarkable. He is one proof that a leader doesn't have to be perfect - nobody is perfect anyway - but he must be insightful, kindhearted, and compassionate.
🐰 Watership Down is a whole novel - adventurous, heartwarming, and inspiring; well written and relatable.
Rating: 5 / 5
I read it many, many years ago, but still remember it fondly :) It was published years before Bernard Werber wrote his novel with ants.
ReplyDeleteIt's so memorable, isn't it? The kind you'd love to reread every now and then without ever being bored.
DeleteThis one is on my CC-2 list. Looking forward to it! :)
ReplyDeleteHope you'd love it as much as I did, Stephen! :)
DeleteSo glad you loved this too. It's one of my childhood favourites, that deserves an adult reread...one day :-)
ReplyDeleteHazel is a very special character character indeed.
I wish I'd read it as a child, but I'd probably appreciate it more reading as an adult. :)
DeleteI'm so glad you got to this wonderful tale. I never read it as a child, but I loved it immediately as an adult reader.
ReplyDeleteNeither did I. Actually I expected it to be a rather childish tale; so glad I was wrong.
DeleteThis was a childhood favorite and I still have my original copy, that same edition!
ReplyDelete