I picked it up because it was within reach (on the bookcase) and because it's one of my sister's favorite books. I clearly remember her carrying around an old, battered copy when we still lived at home together, and then later, when she was well into her 20's, if memory serves. She's one of those strange bibliophiles who likes to read books over and over. (BTW Sister, I don't get it. If you know the plot, the conflict and resolution, just what is the point? Especially when there are so many books in the world?) In fairness, I don't know if she still does this. I'll have to ask her.
I ... don't know what I expected. I didn't know what to expect, and that was part of the draw. The book details the secret lives of rabbits, in particular, two brothers named Hazel and Fiver, and their decision to leave the warren they've known all their lives based on Fiver's sixth sense. After coming upon a sign that men put up near their home, Fiver becomes convinced the rabbits are in danger and must leave. But leaving home is no small thing for a rabbit. They are in constant danger without a burrow to hide in, and at risk of exhaustion and tharn, a state in which they are frozen with fear. Along the way, they encounter various incarnations of The Thousand (for rabbits are said to have 1,000 predators), a group of alien rabbits who don't silfay (nibble grass) and who sing and recite poetry, and a warren of militaristic rabbits who run their group like a concentration camp.
Though slow at times, the book was entertaining, and I grew engrossed with the conflict during the last 100 pages or so. I also fancied the idea of rabbit religion, myths, and proverbs. The stories within the stories gave the books depth that I found authentic. I think I expected much more death, which was both a relief and a disappointment, perhaps because although I prefer a happy ending, the fact that all the main characters survived seemed unrealistic. The only thing that grew especially tiresome was the author's descriptions of the foliage, which, since I am no rabbit nor botanist, I was not especially interested in.
The best part is that I found myself picking up the rabbit's language, even though I had no idea how to pronounce some of it. For instance, yesterday I told my husband, "Why are there so many hrududu (vehicles) on the road today?" (Then I spent half an hour practicing pronouncing the word. Try it; it's fun.) And then I yelled at the dogs, "Get in here you damned elil (enemies)!" I'll use hrair, which means more than four (because rabbits can only count to four). And Frith is the sun, personified as God. Now I can say Frithdamnit and not offend my mother.
I marked two quotes in this book:
"'There's great evil in this world.' 'It comes from men,' said Holly. 'All other elil do what they have to do and Frith moves them as he moves us. They live on the earth and they need food. Men will never rest till they've spoiled the earth and destroyed the animals.'" - Pg. 163
"Strawberry tried all he could to help me. He spoke very well about the decency and comradeship natural to animals. 'Animals don't behave like men,' he said. 'If they have to fight, they fight. If they have to kill, they kill. But they don't sit down and set their wits to work to devise ways of spoiling other creatures' lives and hurting them. They have dignity and animality." Pg. 249
I think the author would rather be a rabbit himself. He doesn't think much of men, and I have to agree. Why can't we behave with dignity and animality?
J. L. Dodd
P.S. I had a moment of synchronicity while I was reading this book. I'll need to discuss that later on. I'm not sure if it's done with me.
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