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Apparently this book has lots of positive reviews online, which makes me think I'm missing something, because I did not enjoy it. On the one hand, it was cartoonish: a city of animals who behave like people, with differences between species played for laughs; a powerful corporation secretly run by stereotypical gangsters from their basement lair; the heroes easily infiltrating the criminal gang; saving the day with musical cliche. On the other hand, it was gritty: genocide; Serena's suffering in slavery; kidnap, murder and as near as cannibalism; the death of a central character. For me, the dissonance between these two tones was off putting and made the story a bit of a muddle. I found the number of characters in the titular band confusing to start with and a distraction in the long run, diluting any affection I might have felt for them. Fair to say, this was not really my thing.

There was a lot of discussion at the meeting about how much this book reflected the time and life of its author. The near absence of female characters in the book was a particular criticism. The mitigating suggestion that the book may be a representation of the author's wartime experiences in an all-male environment was an interesting one. Both Hazel's colony and Woundwort's are militarized, and Adams expresses a sympathy and admiration for Wounwort that is lacking altogether from his portrayal of Cowslip's creepy civilian colony. There does seem something Nietzschean about Adams' philosophy, if that's not too absurd a claim to make regarding a story about talking bunnies. Hazel's creativity in overcoming adversity and even seeking adversity is idealised, living up to the rabbits' lively myths. He draws his followers into his schemes and inspires them to emulate him. Woundwort's impressive efforts to utterly vanquish all risk from his followers' lives ends by stifling them and making them miserable. Cowslip's abdolute rejection of the vigorous myths and passive acceptance of a comfortable life of slavery render him and his colony contemptible. This is perhaps a book best read as a record of personal experience and ideals.

Whilst there is a lot to admire in this story of rabbits trying to find the promised land, the portrayal of gender relationships between the rabbits is incredibly dated now and and it's really a surprise to learn that the author wrote this originally for his daughters. The female rabbits are treated as nothing more than commodities by the main characters and the terrifying villain General Woundwort (who doesn't seem to care for gender politics as long as you pull your weight) actually comes across as a far more sympathetic character than Hazel or Bigwig or Fiver or the rest.

It has a slight hark back to the halcyon days of olde worlde England which mirrors Tolkein at his worst but to give Adams his due he doesn't conform to Tolkein's idea that everyone is born to their place and kings are born and bred not made (Woundwort is essentially an orphan who rose to power by skill and brutality; Hazel is not from some romantic royal bloodline). He presents a world in which everyone can become a hero, everyone can rise to power... Well... Unless you're female.

This book was a bit disappointing. In some ways it was formulaic, for example in its central love triangle. At the same time it seemed to sprout any number of plot strands that didn't go anywhere. What were all the villagers doing so mysteriously in the middle of the night near the start of the book? Other revealed mysteries, like the old priest's daughter pretending she couldn't speak, didn't actually seem to add much to the story. Overall it felt very pessimistic, the overarching mystery leading only to selfishness, brutality and superstition.

Disjointed bunch of pants ideas that don’t go anywhere. Easy read though!

Funny, gruesome and absurdist adventure to be found within these pages. Don’t let length put you off, it’s a fast, enjoyable read!

This was an a delight to read. It's assortment of more or less amoral characters are described with glee and no lack of love. I didn't care that much about where it was all going, I just relished every bloody page of derangement and havoc.