Literature at its Finest

In the world of modern American literature, you sometimes get caught up in the legalese of Grisham, the action and adventure of Clancy and Ludlum, or the sinister suspense of Puzo. Somehow, I had a flashback to my college lit class and grabbed a copy of John Updike's "Rabbit, Run" on my last trip to the library. After reading it, I remembered Updike's true literary style. Just one sentence from the novel, made me realize what a true writer is about, one to transport your imagination and senses to the plot. A simple example, "He drives through the thickening night.The road unravels with infuriating slowness....." And this is a single, humble example of Updike's descriptive style.

"Rabbit, Run" details the life of one, Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, who, in his twenties, is going though a life crisis. His marriage is deteriorating, his career revolves around demonstrating a vegetable peeler at five and dime stores, and he tries to capture and hold onto his greatness, which was his high school basketball career. Updike develops Rabbit, into an anti-hero, running away from responsibilities and the facts of his life, doing basically, what he wants to do.

The novel is a tragedy. Rabbit leaves his job, his alcoholic and pregnant wife, his responsibilities, and takes up with a local prostitute, Ruth. Ruth fulfills his needs in certain ways, but Rabbit runs back to his family at the birth of his daughter. This relationship between Ruth and Rabbit is tormented and difficult, with, as revealed later, a pregnancy.

The relationship between Rabbit and his wife, Janice, is even more complex. She has some money in her family, but finds her solace in a bottle, not Rabbit or their son, Nelson. Rabbit runs from their relationship, twice. Updike's description of Janice's final battle with the bottle, leading to the death of their newborn is powerful and beyond realistic.

Updike's style allows you compassion for Rabbit, but at the end of the novel, you dislike him for running away from his life, family, and responsibilities. He makes Rabbit's trials and tribulations, your own. His descriptive prose is beyond worthwhile. Your forget what writing is about in this day and age of "just the facts" and sound bite writing. Sit back, read, and enjoy Updike's awesome writing. Updike has written three sequels to this first novel.