The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques

[Jennifer]

Fiona wrote: "I used to love these as a kid but I haven't read any past The Long Patrol. I guess I kinda grew out of them.

But they're such a lovely, well written series. I love how the abbey life seems to re..."

I understand where you're coming from about the moles.
What I never understood is how the badgers and the mice lived in the same building together and everything was the right size for them all, considering how big the difference is in their real life sizes.

[Jennifer]

Fiona wrote: "Or how the badgers didn't eat the mice, as I believe they would given the chance?"

Good point, badgers are carnivores.
I was also always slightly put out by the fact that they made ferrets and rats evil as it just helps to perpetuate stereotypes.

[April]

Eulalia!!! I loved Redwall, honestly, I still do really enjoy the books, to me they are a comfort read. Others have chick-lit, I have Redwall.

[Jennifer]

I'll reread all the ones I've got at some point in the summer - I still have most of the books from my childhood stored in boxes under the bed.

[Josie]

I loved Redwall too, until I'd read a certain amount, and realised they all tend to take the same formula... the animals are living peacefully in Redwall Abbey (usually preparing for a feast, where they will eat damson cream and 'tater' pie and fruit cheese) but what they don't know is that a fleet of evil, murderous searats is heading their way... the battle starts, and the Redwall animals are outnumbered... two or three fairly main characters will die nobly... the battle continues, all seems lost but wait, what's that?! It's the shrews! And the Long Patrol! And a badger! They're saved!!!

[Miranda]

Haha, so true Josie! And it used to annoy me the way it was always "everybeast" instead of "everyone" - I mean, 'one' is not a human-specific term!

[Renee]

I still love them :)

[Cassie]

I thought the moles were the cutest, though I wouldn't want to read the books out loud because of them. I'm not a big fan of vernacular, but I do like the different modes of speaking in the Redwall series.

I thought the good vs. evil being portrayed by animal species was fine. In a way, it speaks (to me) of subjectivity of morality.

Mattimeo is still my favorite book, though I haven't read all of them. I might go check a few out from the library. I think I remember the food the most though - never have been able to read a Redwall book without getting hungry.