Rabbit, Run Audiobook

" Rabbit, Run was a very good book in my opinion. I really liked the fact that Rabbit Armstrong, the main character, is believable in all the situations that go on in his life. There are some aspects of the book that are a little bit confusing, but not enough to prevent you from reading the book. A good example of this would be the beginning when Rabbit starts driving his car and rather then pick up his son when he sees how much fun he is having at his parents house and how much more of a family it looks like, he starts driving down towards the South. It's confusing because his motives aren't very practical, but when he returns to visit his coach and have lunch with a couple of girls and his old coach, the situation comes back to reality and the confusion of the driving scene disappears. If I had to interpret the scene I would say that it is mostly about Rabbit trying to run away from his problems at home with his good for nothing wife and seeing if he can live a new life without any prior attachments. Overall, this book is a mix of happy and sad moments for Rabbit and I definitely recommend reading it. "

" we all read them one at a time...............back to back an amzing experience. "

" My attitude towards this book is in the midst of a serious case of mental revisionism: as I read it wasn't like I was particularly captivated by the novel. I liked Updike's punchy prose, but the characters struck me as flat, and it didn't seem like their actions were rooted in any sort of logic (i.e., I would never have been able to guess how a character would act or think). That said, there are a few moments in this book that are incredibly strong: a few chapters take a first-person stream-of-consciousness viewpoint of a main character, and those chapters are brilliant. One in particular comes at the book's climax, capturing the mind of Rabbit's wife as she goes on a depressed bender while she is supposed to look after her newborn child. It is a haunting self-destruction that is one of the best-written moments of prose I have ever read. Thus, the book was well worth reading just for those moments, even if it wasn't particularly interesting to me overall. "

" Good book. It is not the page-turner that Roth's early books are nor can it compare to Updike's mind-blowing last book in the Rabbit series. Nevertheless it is an important piece of literature for its time and it debuncts the myth that of the perfect family that supposedly existed during the early 1960s. "

" Unlike the part two in the series, Rabbit Redux, this opening novel in the trilogy is not easy to read. Updike knows that he is on to something really good and he aims to reach perfection. Nonetheless, it's a beautifully poignant rendition of the uniquely American tale of fall from not so high heights. It's 'Married with Children' without the laughs. Star athlete at high school finds the games of the world outside the confines of the basketball court don't come to him so easily. He tries to regain the old highs but is not cruel enough to break his ties to his family. Not sure about what he really wants, he goes back and forth searching aimlessly. "

" Follow Rabbit as he unintentionally makes a series of poor life choices. He is conflicted, although I would argue not conflicted enough, about most of his choices. His indecision and minimization made me physically uncomfortable for large portions of the book. The writing is excellent. I appreciated the depiction of Brewer, PA. Despite being written 52 years ago, I think it's still a pretty accurate depiction of the areas of Pennsylvania where my mother grew up. I will definitely read the other books in the Rabbit series. "

" It was probably a mistake to take this one on vacation--it was a huge downer. I gave up about half-way through, despite my desire to read this as an important work of fiction. It was just way too depressing. "

" The writing is undoubtedly very sophisticated - perhaps overly mannered - and the subject - a failing marriage - was gloomy. My first Updike - not my last, but I won't rush to read the next one. "

" Hated hated hated this book. DNF. "

" In evocatief en beeldend taalgebruik kent Updike zijn gelijke niet. Maar echte mensen denken in mijn ervaring toch iets helderder dan Harry 'Rabbit' Angstrom. "

" If you don't appreciated the story (no happy endings, or beginnings for that matter), you can appreciate Updike's writing. It is remarkable. "

" I really wanted to like this book. The main character was just too unlikeable. I like characters with flaws but Rabbit is an egocentric ass. It was obvious the author wanted us to relate to or at least pity Rabbit. Made me wonder if I would like John Updike (sorry, but it's true). "

" if i were a woman, i probably would have hated this book. in any event, i enjoyed the drift through unnameable angst. "

" Couldn't go there. Not worth finishing for me. "

" Damn. Makes me want to read the next one. "

" Love Updike "

" Rabbit is such a jerk, and yet, so typical of how I remember men of my father's generation. I know he's been hailed as an antihero. I don't see him as that as much as I see him as someone who life assaults and who keeps on making bad choices. "

" Hard to argue against Updike's greatness - this book is a staple of a time and place and having not read it in context, I think the impact may have been lost on me. That said, important book, great style. "

" Enjoyed this book for the story, I was much too young at the tine to really "get" it. "

" I put off reading Updike for a decade and now I see why. "

" Read a long time ago. I'm not sure what to say about it now. I was very impressed by Updike at the time. Did he have to name him ANGSTrom? A bit obvious... Date read is a guess. "

" Blew my mind in places, I have the four novel set and haven't gotten through the second one. I can imagine how amazing this book was at the time of publication. Anyone who hasn't read the poems Updike published in the New Yorker about dying... should read them right now. "

" I stole this book from my mother when I was 11. She kept it hid because of the racy parts. Ever since I have been an Updike fan and followed Rabbit through the years. I am quite fond of him;somewhat like a favorite relative. "

" I know it's supposed to be groundbreaking for its era, but it doesn't make the characters any more sympathetic. A rather unpleasant read. "

" this is shockingly sexist! like, i am finding myself repeatedly shocked! "

" It is finished. It is begun. Next up: Rabbit Redux "

" Terrific snapshot of 1959 America, via small town Pennsylvania. Great writing. "