The details

[Crackers]

After reading Watership Down a while ago, I went back and skimmed through it a day or so ago. One of the things I noticed was the details - Or rather, the occasional explosions of paragraphs of plain detail. . . . . And, at other times, practically no details at all. I freely admit I pretty much skimmed over a lot of those chunks of details, but I wouldn't have minded a little of that detail on something a little different; like describing the rabbits a little better, or the Honeycomb, or the first warren that I forgot the name of. The one they escaped from.

And I can't help wondering - Why the occasional flood of details, and then the little trickles? The style? Did I miss some clues that triggered them? Poetic moods?

What are your thoughts on this?

[mistercynical]

Details need to be used sparingly, describing something that is either not that interesting or plainly obvious just hurts the pacing of the book.

On the other hand, Adams uses details in certain areas to create a mood, to paint a picture in your head, to really expand upon the book's universe.

I'm fine with it, in fact I admire the strict minimalism in the lacking-of-details parts and the exquisitely rich high-detail sections of the book. It's among the reasons of why I like the book, and why I'm here.

[Claws]

I gotta be honest... every time I had to sit thru one of those painfully long text walls describing every last piece of grass, I felt extremely tempted to shoot the book and to move onto another thing. I do appreciate details -a lot- but those felt so out of place at times... I could have easily done without all those explanations.

Of course, they pay off for all that was an awesome piece of story... but it was honestly a very high price to pay in order to get it.

[Darkling Nocturnal]

I gotta be honest... every time I had to sit thru one of those painfully long text walls describing every last piece of grass, I felt extremely tempted to shoot the book

You haven't read Tolkien, have you?  

[Claws]

I gotta be honest... every time I had to sit thru one of those painfully long text walls describing every last piece of grass, I felt extremely tempted to shoot the book

You haven't read Tolkien, have you?  

As a matter of fact yes, and it was equally annoying.

[Chipster-roo]

I generally liked these details, because they helped set the mood and all that.  It almost felt like I was right there on the Down with the rabbits.

But I have to admit there are times when I find them annoying.  When I find myself interrupted after reading nothing but a few paragraphs of details, it is rather frustrating.  But most of the time, I like them.

[Naylte]

I like them a lot. Some of them show the setting from a rabbit's perspective extremely well, such as being inside a dark warren and navigating it. It was interesting.

[Darkling Nocturnal]

I like them a lot. Some of them show the setting from a rabbit's perspective extremely well, such as being inside a dark warren and navigating it. It was interesting.

I second that post.

The details created a very good picture in my head, how the respective scene should look like in Adams' vision.