Watership Down (Richard Adams)

Watership Down is my absolute all-time favorite book. Usually when I tell people this, they look at me strangely and say, “But it’s so depressing.” Other people say, “But it’s about rabbits.” My response: This book is not depressing, and what’s wrong with rabbits? Seriously, who doesn’t like bunny rabbits?

In case you’re not familiar with the story, Watership Down follows a small group of rabbits who leave their home warren to escape a great danger that may—or may not—be coming. Led by a young buck named Hazel, the adventurers travel through difficulty, fear and doubt, they lose their way, and eventually they find the perfect home, only to nearly lose it. I don’t think I’ll be spoiling anything by telling you things turn out okay. I say this even though there is a death at the end, and I stubbornly maintain that even death can be an example of “things turning out okay.” If my own ending is as perfect as Hazel’s, I’ll count myself fortunate to have lived a good life.

Why is Watership my favorite book? That’s hard to explain. I first read Watership Down when I was about thirteen. I read most of it while serving after-school detention for skipping school (I hated school). I didn’t recognize the impact it was having on me at the time, but when I finished the book I closed the cover, sat there for a few minutes, then turned back to the first page and started reading it again. Since then, I’ve read Watership Down at least once a year, and every time I finish it I want to turn back to page one and do it all again. I have never felt that way about any other book.

I truly don’t understand why so many people find Watership depressing. For me, Watership is about courage and perseverance; it’s about standing up to do the things you feel compelled to do in life, even though those things are hard; it’s about not settling for what’s easy and comfortable. I read Watership Down whenever I’m facing some difficulty or uncertainty. This is the book that got me through adolescence, through relationships that ended badly, through cancer. When I need a little push to keep me going, this is the book I think of. Honestly, at some point every single day some snippet of Watership Down—a scene, a quote, a stirring moment—floats through my thoughts. The only way this book could be more intertwined in my life would be if I had written it.

How do you know when a book has a hold on you? When you’ve read it thirty-some times and you absolutely can’t wait until you read it again. I can’t wait…