Monday, June 16, 2008

Watership Down by Richard Adams


Author: Richard Adams
ISBN: 9780140306019
Genre:
Fiction
Pages: 480
Format:
Paperback
Publisher:
Penguin Books






"Fiver could sense danger. Something terrible was going to happen to the warren - he felt sure of it. So did his brother Hazel, for Fiver's sixth sense was never wrong. They had to leave immediately, and they had to persuade the other rabbits to join them. And so begins a long and perilous journey of a small band of rabbits in search of a safe home. Fiver's vision finally leads them to Watership Down, but here they face their most difficult challenge of all...Published in 1972, "Watership Down" is an epic journey, a stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival against the odds."


I first heard about Watership Down when I was a child when it was shown on TV. I grew up loving this movie, and kept it so close to my heart ever since. As I loved the movie so much, I discovered the book and so purchased it.

My expectations of the book were that it would be wonderful and I was hoping that it would have me gripped throughout the book.... But sadly it is not the case, it just did not keep me gripped. Usually when I find a book a chore to get through I stop reading it, so this book can't be that bad, as it had something that made me want to keep picking it up to read. It started off well but half way into the book is when I began to get bored with it, and I did rush through the last 50 pages because I just wanted to be finished with the book, not because I was enjoying it but because I wanted to end it. I also felt it was 180 pages too long. That was my main issue with the book, the story just seemed to be drawn out too much, and I kind of got fed up reading about rabbits.

However on a positive note, reading it, I learned about Rabbits behaviour and how they live, and also the chapters with the stories of Frith and El-ahrairah were brilliant. I really did enjoy those.

I most probably won't read this book again, but instead I'll watch the dvd.

I give it 6/10.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

LOTR's - The Fellowship of the Rings by J R R Tolkien


Author: J R R Tolkien
ISBN: 978-0-261-10320-7
Genre:
Fantasy
Pages: 386
Format:
Hardback
Publisher:
Harper Collins







This book was bought for me by my eldest son last Christmas, it's the 50th Anniversary edition and is complete with all three books in this huge and heavy hardback. At first I kept seeing the size of it and thought, I'm never going to get through that with it being way over 1000 pages long. It is a book I have wanted for a long time, and my son knew this. It was actually number 1 on my book list to get all three. Well my dear son made sure I had them all and I can tell you it was a shock at Christmas as I had no idea he had bought me it! It was a wonderful surprise.

Anyway, after picking the book up and beginning the first part The Fellowship Of The Rings, I became quickly hooked on it. Having seen the movies I knew what to expect, but having read the first part the book it's so much better as I was introduced to Tom Bombadil, who I had no idea existed in LOTR's. Tom Bombadil is one of my favourite characters of the book.

I have totally enjoyed this first part to the trilogy, and didn't know I loved fantasy so much. Well this book has me hooked. Now all I've got to do is get through the next two parts (The Two Towers & The Return of the King) and I can't wait!

10/10 from me!