Book Review: Bambi's Children

Bambi's Children
Felix Salten, (1939)

And now we get to the sequel of my all time favourite book, Bambi a Life in the Woods. And seeing as it is my favourite book of all time, it of course put a lot of pressure on the sequel. The sequel being better than the original was not to be expected, but I was just hoping for it to, at the very least, be a worthy follow-up to the original. And.... it was. 

The sequel, more or less, picks up where the original left off. Faline is now raising two fawns named Geno & Gurri. Bambi himself decides to go against what his father taught him and becomes involved in his offspring's lives. His children grow up and experience life, face the challenges it presents, and above all, survive. Just like their father before them.

If this book sounds like a rehash of the original, only following Bambi's fawns this time around, it basically is. But there's plenty of new characters, new situations and stakes, and even a tone completely different from the original to be fresh. This book has a much lighter tone than the original, it's more of a feel-good entertaining story than a dark, depressing commentary on various issues like oppression,  man's impact on nature, and so on and so forth. Not to mention there's nothing in Bambi's Children that is nearly as profound as the conversation between the leaves (though, Salten does try to replicate that with several conversations between trees that only Geno can hear during his sleep). 

I'm sure a lot of people would absolutely abhor this change of tone, but honestly, I have no problem with it at all. After the really depressing original, it was good to have a feel-good closure. Besides, it's loaded with likable and interesting characters. Old characters like Friend Hare and the Screech Owl return. There's also new characters like the Great Horned Owl that's a prisoner of man (and probably one of the most compelling characters in the novel), two male Deer called Nello and Membo that are adopted by Faline, a bitter fox named One-Eye, a whole new family of deer that are close friends with Faline, Geno and Gurri (and at times throughout the story, bitter enemies), and a Socialist Squirrel. The two new main characters are also great, likable characters. Geno is very close to his father in character as he's a nervous, no-nonsense guy who's wise. Gurri is like a great mix between Bambi's wisdom, and Faline's curiosity and outgoing attitude. Bambi himself is awesome in this book. He's the leader of the herd now, he saves Geno from a wolf-dog, he saves Gurri from a pen when she was captured by man, and he even charges and fucks up a boy whose about to shoot Geno!

And speaking of Man, he's still very much a threat and the animals don't like him any better than they did in the original (and they still call him "He"). But Salten makes an interesting decision this time around to also show things from man's point of view. But again, here it kind of works. Because it's actually kind of interesting seeing things through their point of view and seeing how they contrast with the animal's point of view. Not to mention the gamekeeper is a fucking badass! I'd be willing to let this slide just for that even if it kinda worked against the book (which it thankfully doesn't).

And despite what I said earlier about the book not having as strong themes as the original, it still has quite a few scenes that are food for thought. There's a funny little argument between the Socialist Squirrel and the deer about nuts belonging to all squirrels. And then there's the Great Horned Owl who calls out crows and magpies as hypocrites when they claim him to be guilty of atrocities that they themselves are guilty of. And he talks about how he'd rather die fighting than live his life as a prisoner. Some actually very thought-provoking stuff. And even the several conversations between the trees are heavy in themes (though still not as profound as the leaves from the first book).

If I had any problems with the book, it's that the animals seemed a little too humanized when compared to the original. Also it introduced a lot of things like Bambi being the leader of the herd and these protocols that weren't around in the first book that messes with continuity a bit. But those don't get in the way at all. Bambi's Children is a great, entertaining follow-up to Bambi a Life in the Woods. If you love the first one, and you don't mind a lighter tone, you'll love this one.

You know, it's a real shame this book wasn't made into a movie. I mean come on! Disney had a movie sequel gift wrapped to them, and it wouldn't have been another pointless sequel as there's a book to justify its existence, but instead they went with.....

Oh, Fuck you Disney!!!

Book Review: Watership Down

Watership Down
Richard Adams, 1972

This book was a really lucky find. I had no knowledge of Watership Down at all, until I found out about the movie. I watched the movie and I loved it. I loved the story, I loved the characters, and it was so much different from the movies I grew up on (Disney movies for example). I thought it was a miracle that I came across a movie like it. And the fact it had rabbits, an animal that's usually portrayed as cute, fighting and tearing each other apart made me love it even more. But, there were some things in the movie that weren't really explained all too well. When I found out there was a book it was based on, I went off to get a copy. Watership Down is the first book I've ever read that right after finishing it the first time, I went right back to the beginning to read it again.

The story follows a rabbit named Fiver and his brother Hazel. Fiver has visions of Man coming to destroy their home warren. Hazel and Fiver lead a band of 11 rabbits away from the warren, after failing to convince the Chief Rabbit to leave, to find a new home. They trek across unfamiliar territory, have a run-in with deceptive rabbits,  and find a new home on the slopes of Watership Down. All seems well and good, except for one very big problem: They have no females. If they want to start a new warren, they'll need females. And a very friendly Fascist, Barbaric, Totalitarian warren run by a rather nice fellow named General Woundwort seems to have plenty. You could probably imagine how that turns out.

I already loved this story when I watched the movie. But man, the book goes into so much more detail. And it just builds, and builds up to a variety of satisfying climaxes. Richard Adams really takes his time when it comes to developing his characters, and building up the suspense necessary to have you on edge during moments of intensity. All the characters are so likable as well. Hazel is a natural born leader, he may not have the muscle to be a chief, but he has the wit and charisma of one. He sees the strength in everybody and fits everyone in somewhere. Bigwig is the impatient and impulsive muscle of the group. Or at least he starts out that way, but over the course of the book he becomes wise and a firm supporter of Hazel. Fiver is the voice of reason in the group and of course their guide as he has some kind of weird physic abilities. General Woundwort is the villain, and what a great villain he is. He shows himself to be no pushover being a savage and quite intelligent brute, so much so that many times it seems our main characters actually might not succeed.

The suspense in this book is killer. The way Richard Adams explains the history of Efrafa (Woundwort's warren) or the prosperous Cowslip's warren (the warren full of deceptive rabbits) you really believe that our characters may not win. Cowslip's Warren is described as totally prosperous, the food is good, no disease, no predator's, and Hazel and the gang love it. But Fiver knows something's wrong with it, however none of the others will listen to him because all they see is a paradise. You really feel for Fiver because no one will listen to him. But this leads to the most epic "I told you so" speech I've ever had the pleasure of reading when the others find out something is wrong with the place. And as for the Efrafans, they're accomplishments are explained in such great detail, and their prowess in tracking and just about everything, really makes you think that Bigwig's mission in there is hopeless. Adams makes it a point to show that the characters are in over their heads, and it's just dumb luck that they succeed at all. But the main characters are actually very smart, which adds so much to their likability. Yeah they're in over their heads, and there's huge chances of failure or death, but they make plans and put them into effect with efficiency. They might not be a strong group for muscle, but when it comes to it, intelligence, quick thinking, and above all, teamwork get them out of sticky situations.

The El-ahrairah stories, although complete detours from the plot, add so much to the book as well. They're all very clever and enjoyable stories, and they add another layer to the story to make the world believable as these stories are basically their religion. The rabbits even have their own language called Lapine. All this makes the book so much more interesting because even thought the characters are rabbits that act like rabbits, these elements make them even more relateable and make us root for them much more.

It's often said that Watership Down can be enjoyed on many levels from just mere reading pleasure to a clever social commentary. Me personally, I love it because it has rich characters and atmosphere  with a very interesting high stakes story that I can very easily lose myself in.  This was my favourite book of all time at one point, but it was recently replaced by Bambi a Life in the Woods as my favourite book. It's my second favourite book now. If you haven't read it yet, check it out. This is a book that warrants a read at least once in a lifetime.

Book Review: Bambi A Life in the Woods

   


Bambi A Life in the Woods
Felix Salten, Illustrated by Richard Cowdrey (2013)

I grew up watching Walt Disney's Bambi. I loved it as a child, and today I see it as cinematic perfection. I hold it in high regard. Little did I know that there was a book that the movie was originally based on, and that it was nothing like the movie at all. If you've grown up with the movie and are interested in reading the book, I'd definitely say go for it! But be warned, it's much more cruel and realistically portrays what Deer have to go through in life. Bambi starts out his life well enough, meeting friends, discovering new things, etc. But over the course of the book, his mother begins to push him away (and eventually dies) and the threat of Man (called He in the book) forces him into a life of isolation. Which is also what an old stag Bambi idolizes encourages him to do. 

Honestly, I wasn't sure how this book could keep my interest for 272 pages, but it managed to do just that. In the first two chapters of this book, a mouse was brutally killed, and blue jays yelled obscenities at Bambi. I knew I was going to like this book. And for such an easy read, I got so much out of it. On one hand it was a brilliant, entertaining story that I can get really invested in. On the other it was a very interesting study of a deer's life and the impact Man (called He in the book) has on not just his life, but the rest of the forest as well. The animals practically think of He as an all powerful being that they can't get away from, they think of him as there ultimate god-oppressor. I wouldn't doubt for a minute that real animals would think of man that way if they could. And one of the saddest parts of the book is when Bambi's cousin Gobo is captured by a hunter as a fawn then is released back into the wild. He becomes too trusting of man and is shot, further proving to Bambi that man is cruel and unmerciful. But by the end of the book, Bambi learns that Man is not the all powerful being he thought he was, and that there is another being or power above them and Man. After he finds the corpse of one of course.

This book is probably loaded with all kinds of allegory, but honestly I'm not too observant to notice most of them. But the one's I do notice are the ones that revolve around Man and his influence, and most definitely the eighth chapter, which contains the conversation between the leaves. Which has to one of the best parts of the book, if not the best part. It has nothing to do with the story, it's basically a pointless detour. But, this chapter probably has more depth than the rest of the book combined, and the rest of the book is pretty deep. Who would have guessed a conversation between two leaves at the beginning of winter could carry so much weight? I actually really felt for the leaves. You heard (or read) right, I actually had emotion for a couple of leaves. That's a pretty impressive feat. And this chapter pretty much sums up the book and its themes.

But my favourite part of the book has got to be Bambi's relationship with the old stag. I thought the stag was, for lack of a better term, an asshole at first for scolding Bambi when he was calling his mother. But over the course of the book, he becomes more and more of a presence in Bambi's life. I was never sure what his deal was, but he was so mysterious and interesting and I wanted to learn more about him. And I eagerly awaited the times he appeared. And as he became more of a presence in Bambi's life, and as Bambi began to become more increasingly isolated as everyone around him was slowly starting to die one by one, him and Bambi formed a close bond. It was very touching. As a matter of fact, at the end when the stag goes off to die, I actually nearly teared up! I'm not sure I've ever felt that much emotion from a book before. And it's mainly because I feel really bad for Bambi at that point. He's forced himself into isolation when he clearly wants companionship and company, and the stag is the only company he has left. But the stag had taught him that if you want to preserve yourself, if you want to survive, you must live alone.

It's amazing how much is packed into this 272 page edition of the book. I've heard that the original 1928 English edition is 293 pages long, so the edition I'm reviewing is probably abridged or trimmed down a bit, but if it is, I'm completely satisfied. As much as would love to see what I'm possibly missing, I'm perfectly content with this version. For such an easy read, I got so much from it and adore it. It might have even possibly replaced Watership Down as my #1 favourite novel. I highly recommend this book (and I wish I could get my friend's to read it). But I'd say try to get a hold of a 1928 edition. But if not, this 2013 edition will suffice.