Rabbit Is Rich

Irving, writing contemporaneously, has captured the heart of WASPy America at the beginning of the 80s. Our protagonist, Rabbit Angstrom, found himself in previous volumes leaving behind the conventional American dream for hard right turns into adultery and communal living. Now, there is no real development of the character. We’ll into his forties, he is who he is. Thus the novel becomes a travelogue of 1979. The Ayatollah has his hostages, interest rates are double digits, and wife swapping is accepted practice. Throughout the novel, the “greatest generation” worries about the boomers, exemplified by the youngest Angstrom, who just cannot find a place in an evolving America. A time capsule of sorts, the book captures a man who has stumbled on to a fortune, but has neither the wit or wisdom to keep it. Far from being exceptional Rabbit is a blunt object who ends the novel at a crossroads of new beginnings and old mistakes.In comparison to the other books in the series, this one is fairly explicit. Still a good read.

It was a pleasure to revisit John Updike's trilogy on the character nicknamed Rabbit. Rabbit is Rich is the best and final book of the series. It won the Pulitser prize and the National Book Award. One does nor have to read the other two in order to enjoy Rabbit Is Rich. Updike creates characters that are in a sense familiar to us. I rate this book almost on the level of A Prayer for Owen Meany, my favo

Rabbit is Rich is the third installment of the tetralogy written by John Updike, featuring as its protagonist, Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom. This book follows Rabbit Run and Rabbit Redux which follow the life of Angstrom in his hometown of Mt. Judge, near Brewster, Pennsylvania. When we left Rabbit at the conclusion of Rabbit Redux, he had just lost his job as a linotypist, lost his wife to a Greek car salesman and taken up with two 60s era hippies, an interlude that ended in the death of one and the fiery destruction of his home.Rabbit is Rich finds Angstrom roughly ten years later, reconciled with his wife Janice, co-owning and managing the car dealership that he and his wife inherited with the death of his father-in-law. Rabbit is drawing a salary of $500/week and taking profits from the dealership of an additional $15,000/year. Rabbit is rich.The time frame is the late 70s, Jimmy Carter is President, inflation is rampant, gas prices are soaring and a general malaise has fallen over the country, but Rabbit is selling Toyotas like hotcakes. Much of the action centers upon Rabbit's dysfunctional relationship with his college aged son and interaction between he, his wife and their country club friends.While much of the writing is entertaining and very well done, it must be noted that at times, Updike seems to fly off on wild screeds of florid, almost unintelligible prose that leave the reader simply rolling his eyes. Nevertheless, the characters contained in the story are well presented and fleshed out beautifully, even some of the more peripheral players. All in all, this is a fascinating look at life during the late 70s, from the perspective of a middle class, Pennsylvania family, though Rabbit and his circumstances can hardly be viewed as representative. This may be the best of the three "Rabbit" books I've read so far. On to the finale, Rabbit at Rest.

This is the first of Updike's works I have read, but it will most likely not be the last. There is not much of a plot and not much happens, but the characters are worth the read... Updike really delves deep into the psyche of his main characters-- all of them flawed, all of them somehow still searching for meaning and for 'real life.' Harry Angstrom (Rabbit) seems to be the typical antihero, but mostly he's portrayed as a vulnerable, aging man with a lot of dreams and no more possibilities or opportunities to realize those dreams. Janice is one of those modern-day housewives who seems to have no purpose of goals of her own. Nelson, a spoiled kid, who seems to be out to ruin his father, instead ends up ruining himself. All of them, including mother and Pru, seem to be stuck. There is not much glory in Updike's novel. Instead, what the reader gets is a bunch of sad stories about life... a life that most seem to end up living.

Four novels plus a novella give us over 2000 pages (over a 40 year period) about Harry 'Rabbit' Angstrom and those people closest to him. All these characters are definitely flawed (especially Rabbit), but Updike helps us see how human they are. I can't say 'Rabbit Is Rich' is better than the others in the series (though it did win the Pulitzer). I just recommend reading all of them, one after the other. (The novella is included in 'Licks of Love').

Love it, love it, love it.A Babbitt for the 80s.If you are new to Updike's Rabbit books, do it right and start from the beginning, Rabbit Run (yeah, Eminem can relate to the problems of modern everyman) will get you hooked, Rabbit Redux is not the greatest (the middle, preachy part can practically be skipped) but Rabbit is Rich and Rabbit at Rest are both masterpieces. I've read both of these novels more times over the years than I'd like to admit. Read the first two then savor the last two.There's even a little postscript, addendum, whatever novella that's ok found in Licks of Love short story collection.Updike creates characters you invest in. Characters who, like us all, represent the best and worst of Americans.

I enjoyed the first two books in this series and will eventually read the fourth. Things don't look too bright for Harry Angstrom at the end of the second book but jump forward 10 years we find that Harry has become "rich". The portrait of Harry is so extensive and complete that the character becomes quite believable.I really like the presentation of the environment within which the story takes place. I am about 5 years younger than Harry and so the historical events going on during the novel are ones I am familiar with.

Describing Rabbit's experiences of American life in the late 70's and early 80's, Updike treats us to a giant banquet of a book.(Actually a series of books: I read Rabbit is Rich and then this one, virtually together)Hundreds of pages full of sumptuously meticulous observations which convey so vividly the hero's inner narrative - all the details that in normal life remain undisclosed. Men like Rabbit don't tend to share a lot of their intimate emotions, but, in this glorious novel, they are expertly articulated for our exquisite delight.His irritations, insecurities, deceptions, doubts, preoccupations, perceptions, loves, lusts are all here. As are his likes & dislikes, threats to his ego & boosts to it, successes & failures, sources of pride & causes of worry, aspirations & disappointments, satisfactions & frustrations . Tensions, rivalries, habits, comforts. Secret longings, secret fears, secret memories. The subtle characteristics of his companions, the unique experiences their company brings. The environmental cues which surround him, some inspiring, some depressing, but most in between, mundane yet evocative.Rabbit is certainly rich - his life, like all our lives, is chock full of poignant moments, nuances and insights that we never normally express. We rely on great authors like Updike to reassure us how rich indeed we all are.

We've moved on to the late 1970s and Rabbit is middle-aged, reasonably comfortable and reasonably affluent. He's finally living the true American dream. The dramatic canvass of RABBIT IS RICH is smaller than that of the second in the series, and is a return to the domestic angst of the first. But it's none the less potent for that. Harry Angstrom has finally settled down. He's left his sometimes extreme behaviour behind him. Now he's primarily concerned with the more quotidian aspects of life, worrying as he does about his marriage, his business, his wayward son, and his possible extra-marital fathering of another child. He's still conflicted, although his moral dilemmas are now closer to home. He's still flawed, but now he seems to be gaining some wisdom. Once more this is everyman stuff written in Updike's typically lean, sharp, and insightful prose. Another essential slice of small-town Americana that packs a universal message.

While far from being an expert on this art form, it's obvious this is quality stuff. In England this kind of book is called" literary fiction". The sort of writing equivalent of an "art house" film I suppose. Generally it's a straightforward read with maybe short bits of "stream of consciousness" techniques. Their are, I think, 4 "Rabbit "novels. I have read the middle 2. In that it documents day to day life it could be said to be similar to" soap opera "But it's deeper +more meaningful than any soap opera!

Laugh out loud funny. Updike is one of those author's people recommend but I have always been put off by The Witches of Eastwick. I should've started with the first installment, of this series, but heard the BBC radio version narrated by Toby Jones and bought it immediately.

A subtle and powerful book.Conveys middle-aged angst in immensely readable prose that can be unsentimental, funny, moving.Harry Angstrom reflects the modern condition in a consumerist, self-centred society better than any fictional character I have come across.His alpha-male impulses and ambitions are balanced by the complex realities of family life, friends and business. And above all, sex.Updike builds his character through a mix of daily events and Harry's innermost thoughts in a kind of stream of consciousness, exposing human nature in all its shades and colours.One of the best books I've read in a long, long time.