Book Review: Rabbit, Run

[bedsitter23]

Rabbit, Run by John Updike

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


First, a word about Goodreads’ recommendations.

They are fantastic. I am never impressed with music algorithm sites or the infamous Amazon suggestions, but GR is uncanny. It nearly always seems that they know of a book I have bought or a writer a friend has recommended right as it happened. Top notch!

In any case, I am too old for this to happen much anymore but I was at a bookstore with an armful of books and the clerk got to talking and suggested I might like John Updike.

So here we are; and he is one of the great American writers, of course.

It is hard to review Rabbit Run. Updike is good with words but he over describes everything when I am someone who appreciates minimalism. Not my thing.

The other main point is that Rabbit Angstrom is a jerk. The protagonist is an a-hole and worse.

Yet he is not a Hubert Selby Jr book. He is not depraved or a monster. He’s just a d-bag. I am not particularly drawn to him. Indeed, post- # metoo he seems particularly disgusting. (I do know he’s become a type of character celebrated in certain pockets.)

Still, we all know Rabbit- he was the high school sports star who has had trouble adjusting since. In modern day, the Rabbits I know, are all to a man, Trump supporters who spend hours upon hours online. It’s an interesting phenomenon to be sure. More boring than boorish.

Updike does tell a great American story though. Certain scenes are fascinating, almost breathtaking (in a particularly different sense of the word). At times, it is repetitive, and never (to me, anyway) is Rabbit fully sympathetic.

It feels very true. It is as true of an American story as has been told? I suppose. It just isn’t my thing. I doubt that I would be tempted to try Updike again.



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