He brought these characters to life in a way that made all of my senses lose come alive! I know that many of the themes in this book, and frankly the series, are/were highly controversial in their day. John Updike is a masterful writer, and his direct and simple style should not be mistaken for anything but genius. I had no idea what to expect with this book, as the title does not give much help-at least at first. All in all, I think it's well worth listening to and am now wondering whether to wait for the audioversion of the sequel 'Rabbit Redux' or just to read the printed version.Ī Masterpiece! Updike Delivers Complexity, Simply The narration was perfecly paced and clear. I became engrossed in the tragic story as it unfolded and found it hard to put down. But I did appreciate the excellent writing with its vivid metaphors, explicit descriptions and convincing characters. However, I'm not sure how much I actually "enjoyed" this novel as it portayed a disturbing picture of man and life and provided no solutions: so beware this is not a happy, "feel good" story. And yet I (and the other characters in the book) couldn't help liking this amoral anti-hero. Rabbit is a selfish coward in all that he does. He refuses to grow up or accept any responsibility and runs away from his pregnant wife in search of some meaning.with disastrous results to all those around him. Ruth and Janice and Eccles are the sort of people with whom Harry would have that sort of relationship.This book centers on Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, ex high school football star who feels trapped in a mediocre marriage. Similarly, Mr Updike’s characters emerge without painstaking description: they are what they do and say.
It is part of this novel’s excellence that its incidents can arouse so much physical disgust without being ultimately disgusting and that the particular domestic tragedy it describes suggests the universal themes of responsibility and fidelity without needing to hammer them. Rabbit feels crowded he goes for a walk, and the walk quickens to a run. Affection lasts for a week or two, then Harry’s demands for intercourse after the birth of the new baby provokes a quarrel Harry goes again, Janice drowns the baby accidentally while she is drunk, and as the book ends, the other woman, Ruth, who is carrying Harry’s child, threatens to get an abortion if he does not divorce Janice and live with her. He deserts his wife, lives with a pick-up for a time, but is reunited with Janice by a parson, Eccles, who understands him and wants to preserve the marriage.
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