Tales From Watership Down (Watership Down #2) by Richard Adams

Tales From Watership Down
Watership Down #2
Richard Adams

Front cover

Date read: 26 April - 2 May 2020
Length: 267 pages
Published: 1996


In the sequel to Watership Down we have some stories of rabbit folklore, that all rabbits grow up learning. There are some stories of El-ahrairah and his trusty friend Rabscuttle, and lastly a few tales of Hazel and his warren after the defeat of General Woundwort.


This is a very nice collection of short stories, I just wish there were more! I think probably most people were looking for more of a novel as the sequel, but I think this was really nice and something a bit different.

I think Hazel is a good leader even if he's not the best fighter. He is empathetic and understands that the needs of the warren come before his own. He regularly is willing to sacrifice himself for his warren.

In the sequel part of the novel Hazel and his rabbits help a hutch rabbit find a new home. There is some resistance to this as hutch rabbit and wild rabbits are not known to mix, but it's a nice thing for them to do.

I like Hyzenthlay too. Her partnership with Hazel works very well and I think Hazel chose well from the rabbits in the warren. She will lead the warren well.


A very nice ending to Watership Down.

Richard Adams

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The Wee Librocubicularist

The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold

The Almost Moon
Alice Sebold

Front cover

Date read: 19 - 25 April
Length: 291 pages
Published: 2007


Helen helps to care for her mother, a woman in her 80s with dementia. On her latest visit, her mother soils herself. This leads Helen down an unexpected path, and the next 24 hours will seal her fate. Told with flashbacks, we learn how her past may have led her to where she is now.


The Almost Moon has a very shocking beginning! I was totally unprepared for what happened and very much taken by surprise.

As I read more of the book I began to realise I don't much like Helen. She is a very strange character and doesn't really seem to have a strong connection with everyone. All her relationships with people are weird. She has two grown up daughters that she doesn't really seem to keep in touch with, an ex husband who she doesn't even know where he lives, yet he's suddenly back in her life, and a best friend, who she doesn't actually seem to care all that much for. Not in a selfish way, almost in a not able to way.

Some things seem obvious that she seems oblivious to, mainly the state of the mental health of her parents, particularly her mother, but though flashbacks it's also revealed that her father was struggling too. In a way I can see how growing up with a mother with mental health issues might just seem normal to her, but even when she was a teenager I would think she would begin to realise what's really going on, yet she seems totally oblivious to it all.

One part I didn't really like was the ending. It was a very unsatisfying ending, it almost seemed rushed. Without saying too much, basically there were three options for Helen at the end. Yet when the end came, there was no real conclusion and it's basically up to us to decide which ending happened. There are clues to point you in the right direction I suppose, but still unsatisfying.


So my real rating for this book is probably between 2 and 3 stars. I went with 3 because some parts were interesting and kept me going, but in general I wasn't really a fan of this book. It's a shame because I read The Lovely Bones, and although it is also about really difficult subject matter, it was a good book! This one, I'm sorry to say, not so much.

Alice Sebold

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The Wee Librocubicularist

Jo's Boys (Little Women #3) by Louisa May Alcott

Jo's Boys
Little Women #3
Louisa May Alcott

Front cover

Date read: 11 - 18 April 2020
Length: 304 pages
Published: 1886


Ten years after Little Men, nearly all the boys have grown up. They're off doing their own things; sailing, being a musician abroad, even going to jail! But they all come back to Plumfield as often as they can.


My favourite boy is Nat. He's so pleasant and eager to do what's right, even to his own detriment. When he gets himself into a sticky situation he finds a way out and works hard for it.

Not surprised Dan went to jail. Although he made some improvement over time, he was always a bit selfish and dismissive of other people. He does what he wants regardless of the consequences, and that's part of what landed him in jail. He was always my least favourite boy.

I felt ready for the series to be finished, and I got the impression Alcott was too. Perhaps she was under pressure from fans or her publisher to keep producing stories, and it amused me to get to the last chapter to find it titled "Positively Last Appearance", as if she was telling everyone there would be no more.


Although I began to feel less connected to the March family as the books went on, I have very much enjoyed reading these stories. It was good to read about Jo's life in more detail, but the first 2 volumes (Little Women and Good Wives, or Little Women Volume II) will always be my favourite.




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The Wee Librocubicularist

Watership Down (Watership Down #1) by Richard Adams

Watership Down
Watership Down #1
Richard Adams

Front cover

Date read: 30 March - 10 April 2020
Length: 478 pages
Published: 1972


When Fiver predicts something terrible will happen to their current warren, a few rabbits decide to embark on a journey of a lifetime; the search for a peaceful place to have their new warren. They face many dangers, including General Woundwort, the leader of Efrafa. Will they come to an agreement, or is this war?


So I first read this book many, many years ago, when I was a child. I'm not even sure if I read the whole thing, so it was pretty much like reading it for the first time again. I've also seen the film, but anyone who knows me knows I'm rubbish at remembering what happens in films, unless it's one I've seen many times or really, really like. Anyway, this book is so good!

On the back of the book it says that Richard Adams wanted to write "a proper grown-up novel for children", and this is that book. I would say he achieved what he set out to do. Although the novel is about rabbits and features other animals as well, it could also have been about humans. The characterisation of the animals is so real, sometimes you forget it's about rabbits.

My favourite rabbits are probably Hazel and Bigwig. At first Hazel seems an unlikely leader, especially since having no experience in the previous warren. However, he soon proves himself to be a fair and methodical leader. He thinks about what is best for the whole warren and not just a few rabbits or himself. Bigwig is loyal and also willing to work for the whole of the warren.

Kehaar is a bird that helps the rabbits to fight General Woundwort, and also helps them to find their new home. The rabbits first meet Kehaar after he is injured, and they help him recover. It is an unlikely friendship, but one that I think does both parties good.

General Woundwort is an idiot, to put it plainly. He is against any type of change, and if any change were to happen, it would have to be his idea only. A few rabbits travel to Efrafa seeking some does and possibly a few bucks for their new warren. Even though Efrafa is overcrowded and this suggestion would favour everyone, General Woundwort refuses to let anyone leave, including the rabbits from Watership Down. Idiot.

The ending wasn't actually as sad as I thought it was going to be, or I remember it being. So when I watched the film I remember having a lump in my throat at the end, but when I was reading the book again, I wasn't that sad. Maybe because I'm older now? I'm not sure.


Watership Down is a very good book, and I highly recommend reading it.




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The Wee Librocubicularist