Rabbit Redux

De: John Updike

Narrado por: Arthur Morey

"A triumph."

NEWSDAY

The assumptions and obsessions that control our daily lives are explored in tantalizing detail by master novelist John Updike in this wise, witty, and sexy story. Harry Angstrom--known to all as Rabbit, one of America's most famous literary characters--finds his dreary life shattered by the infidelity of his wife, Janice. How he resolves or further complicates his problems makes for a novel of the first order.©1996 John Updike; (P)2008 Random House

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A masterpiece . . . Updike owns a rare verbal genius, a gifted intelligence and a sense of tragedy made bearable by wit.”—Time

“An awesomely accomplished writer . . . For God’s sake, read the book. It may even—will probably change your life.”—Anatole Broyard

“A superb performance, all grace and dazzle . . . a brilliant portrait of middle America.”—Life

Bring on more Rabbit!

I became totally engrossed in this wonderful book.
It tells the story of Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom who's now in his late thirties and has long since stopped running away from his marriage and other responsibilities. He shirks responsibility in another kind of way by being passive about everything around him. When Rabbit's wife has an affair she challenges him to make a stand and fight to get her back. Not only does he fail her in this but he then gets mixed up in what turns out to be a disastrous chain of events. With his wife gone he agrees to take in a young run away who becomes his lover, and she in turn brings in Skeeter, her black radical, dope shooting friend. Rabbit finds himself in the middle of a chaotic world that collapses around him. But despite the sad turn of events, Rabbit is somewhat transformed by his experiences with Skeeter, hence the Latin title word "redux" meaning restored,and life for Rabbit goes on.
The characters (with the exception perhaps of the too political Skeeter) are very convincing, and Rabbit himself is such an ordinary man who could well be our own neighbor. Another part of Updike's brilliance lies in his perceptive analysis of emotional interactions and in the language that is so rich in astute detail.
The narrator also enriched the whole Rabbit experience by acting out the different characters with distinct voices and he really brought this audiobook to life in my mind's eye.
It's probably best to listen to this Rabbit series in the correct order starting with 'Rabbit, Run' if you want to understand the characters and their backgrounds fully. But it's not an absolute must - so if you fancy this one first, go for it. I just can't get enough of Rabbit and don't want the series to end!

The worst of the series

This one is Updike ripping on the 1960s. Reading is choppy at times.
Sex, drugs, and some rather ridiculous characters and situations.

Brilliant reading

This is an outstanding reading of one of the most important American novels - I recommend it highly.

Beautiful

Beautifully written and narrated. Updike is a treasure, and the Rabbit Angstrom series is essential listening. Get this and then read some Frederick Douglass. #Midlife #ComingOfAge #The60s #Tagsgiving #Sweepstakes

Rabbit (and Arthur Morey) return

Pitch perfect narration of this audiobook combines with the potent authorial voice Updike brings to his too-close-for-comfort examination of Harry 'Rabbit' Angstrom to make this the rare sequel that is at least its predecessor's equal.

My only complaint (though it's kind of a medium, or maybe even big, one) is the appearance late in the novel of Rabbit's sister Mim. Not sure why I didn't buy it, but it felt wrong.