Parallels Between WD and LotR

It strikes me that there are a great many similarities between Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Adams's Watership Down:( I suppose I'd better spoiler-cut this, in case there's anyone who hasn't read either of these yet )

Also, I'm shocked to the bone in retrospect that Papa C. didn't have us read Watership Down as the contemprary British novel instead of HHGttG, given that he had picked "leadership" as the theme for our year. WD is all about different styles of leadership - The Threarah's, Hazel's, the lack of leadership in Cowslip's warren, General Woundwort's, and the secondary leaders' - Bigwig's, Holly's, and Campion's.

Parallels Between WD and LotR

It strikes me that there are a great many similarities between Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Adams's Watership Down:( I suppose I'd better spoiler-cut this, in case there's anyone who hasn't read either of these yet )

Also, I'm shocked to the bone in retrospect that Papa C. didn't have us read Watership Down as the contemprary British novel instead of HHGttG, given that he had picked "leadership" as the theme for our year. WD is all about different styles of leadership - The Threarah's, Hazel's, the lack of leadership in Cowslip's warren, General Woundwort's, and the secondary leaders' - Bigwig's, Holly's, and Campion's.

Film Adaptation: Why does it always suck?

First, a confession. Actually, two, one relevant and one not. The irrelevant one is that yes, I bought a Welsh-language version of "Bright Eyes" off of iTunes, and yes, bassfingers, you can point and laugh. The relevant one is that I saw the animated film of Watership Down long before I read the book; I remember being nothing short of fascinated with Fiver's shamanic journey down the Down, led by the Black Rabbit, to find the wounded Hazel back in my preteen years (we'd taped it off of the television once; by the last time I saw it, the tape was clearly degrading, with skips and snow). I've mentioned the importance of Frith and Inle in my personal development previously. I don't think I read the novel until I was in my first or second year in college, and while I certainly enjoyed it, my mental voices were very much the ones of the film.

( So how would it hold up if I subjected it to the withering criticism I normally turn on film adaptations? Warning, spoilers )

Film Adaptation: Why does it always suck?

First, a confession. Actually, two, one relevant and one not. The irrelevant one is that yes, I bought a Welsh-language version of "Bright Eyes" off of iTunes, and yes, bassfingers, you can point and laugh. The relevant one is that I saw the animated film of Watership Down long before I read the book; I remember being nothing short of fascinated with Fiver's shamanic journey down the Down, led by the Black Rabbit, to find the wounded Hazel back in my preteen years (we'd taped it off of the television once; by the last time I saw it, the tape was clearly degrading, with skips and snow). I've mentioned the importance of Frith and Inle in my personal development previously. I don't think I read the novel until I was in my first or second year in college, and while I certainly enjoyed it, my mental voices were very much the ones of the film.

( So how would it hold up if I subjected it to the withering criticism I normally turn on film adaptations? Warning, spoilers )

And a lemming

( The 6-Question Book Quiz )

And a lemming

( The 6-Question Book Quiz )

I'm Sorry, I'll Lay Off In a Few Days

Blame next_bold_move for this lemming . . .

( It's a Watership Down character quiz; No surprises here )

I'm Sorry, I'll Lay Off In a Few Days

Blame next_bold_move for this lemming . . .

( It's a Watership Down character quiz; No surprises here )