Sunday, January 26, 2014

Rabbit, Run & Rabbit Redux & Rabbit is Rich & Rabbit at Rest by John Updike



Set in the 1960’s, this story is about life, love and losses.  It is about trying to live the American Dream – to be comfortable and to raise a family and be respectable citizens.
 
Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom is a runner.  He ran from a marriage, then ran back to it, then ran again. 

What I found interesting about the 1st book is that some subjects mentioned were really considered taboo in that era, but the author pulls no punches.  (After writing this, I read the author’s commentary at the end of book 2 and he mentions that the original printing had a lot edited out.  In later years, he was allowed to print the book the way he originally wrote it).

Rabbit appears immature – he tells his girlfriend if she doesn’t answer a question, he will leave and not come back and he does just that.  On the other hand, he was on his way to the hospital to see his wife and newborn baby.  Perhaps he used that as an excuse, hoping his girlfriend wouldn’t say anything.

The second book is Rabbit Redux.  Here we find Rabbit, 10 years later, back with his wife who he now suspects is having an affair.  What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

Book three, Rabbit is Rich, has Rabbit running his deceased father-in-law auto dealership. 

Rabbit at Rest is the final book and has the same drama as the first three books. Rabbit and Janice bought a condo in Florida and they spend the summer months there.  Nelson and Pru visit with their two children.  Nelson is still edgy and jumpy with his father – same as in books two and three. He has his own demons that he is dealing with.

I should not be surprised that the series ends the same way it began – with Rabbit on a basketball court.

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