Rabbit is Rich by John Updike
This is the third in Updike's Rabbit trilogy, and the first book i've read by him. I read this back in March, but i've put off reviewing it as i haven't wanted to revisit this:( I really really did not like it, and my notes on it reflect that:P
I found it rambling, crass, superficial, selfish, immature, sexist, racist, homophobic..... It's definitely a product of its time and culture, and gets bogged down in too many details, and an obsession with sex. Perhaps if i'd read the first 2, i'd have better context or understanding of it, but as it was, i just hated it:(
I entertained the thought that perhaps it was trying to be a commentary on that time and culture, but if it's meant to be, it certainly failed me! Most such commentaries i've read have either been much more obvious in their satire, or have offered better alternatives and morals. Rabbit is Rich offers neither of these; in fact, i felt like nothing really happens, and nothing gets resolved. (side note: it could also really benefit from a healthy dose of semi-colons)
Character-wise, I kind of liked the grandmother and Pru, but they're pretty minor characters. I quite liked Ruth, and how she calls Rabbit on his crap, but she doesn't appear until the last 30 pages, and isn't there for long.
All in all, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, and I can't see how someone "should" read this before they die.... if anyone has read/liked this, i'd love to hear your opinion, as i'd like to think there's some redemptive qualities that i'm just missing:P
I found it rambling, crass, superficial, selfish, immature, sexist, racist, homophobic..... It's definitely a product of its time and culture, and gets bogged down in too many details, and an obsession with sex. Perhaps if i'd read the first 2, i'd have better context or understanding of it, but as it was, i just hated it:(
I entertained the thought that perhaps it was trying to be a commentary on that time and culture, but if it's meant to be, it certainly failed me! Most such commentaries i've read have either been much more obvious in their satire, or have offered better alternatives and morals. Rabbit is Rich offers neither of these; in fact, i felt like nothing really happens, and nothing gets resolved. (side note: it could also really benefit from a healthy dose of semi-colons)
Character-wise, I kind of liked the grandmother and Pru, but they're pretty minor characters. I quite liked Ruth, and how she calls Rabbit on his crap, but she doesn't appear until the last 30 pages, and isn't there for long.
All in all, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, and I can't see how someone "should" read this before they die.... if anyone has read/liked this, i'd love to hear your opinion, as i'd like to think there's some redemptive qualities that i'm just missing:P