Updike's Rabbit Angstrom novels had an incredibly profound impact on me.

As I reached the conclusion of the final book in the series, I gently set it down and was overcome with a wave of emotions that brought me to tears.

So deeply moved was I that I felt compelled to pen a letter to Updike himself, expressing my profound gratitude and the powerful effect his works had on me.

To my great surprise and delight, he took the time to write back.

His response was not only a validation of my feelings but also a connection that made me feel even more deeply attached to his literary universe.

It was a moment I will cherish forever, a connection between an author and a reader that transcended the boundaries of the written word.

Updike's Rabbit Angstrom novels will always hold a special place in my heart, and that letter exchange will remain a precious memory.

I'd read one Updike book before. It was a slim masterpiece titled "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu," which said farewell to Ted Williams. I highly recommend it for the end of every baseball season.

I had always wanted to read Updike's Rabbit Angstrom books, although I had only the vaguest idea of what they were about. So, I bought the tetrology, which had all four books in one, at Changing Hands' New Year's sale on January 1.

I started reading it on vacation on July 4 in Big Sur and finished it at home today. I loved the books, but Rabbit wasn't an easy character to love. The story is about a very American man and his family, spanning the second half of the 20th century. It contains all the anxieties, lusts (the language in the first book, written in 1960, will surprise you), hopes, and despair.

Rabbit isn't a role model for anyone, but he is a model of many of us. The second book might be the most uneven, taking a long and strange trip through the 60s. But throughout, the description of Rabbit's inner life and the life around him is truly remarkable. It makes you think about the human condition and the changes that occurred during that time period.

Updike's best novels are truly remarkable works that deserve to be read with great attention.

Before one becomes cynical, it is essential to experience these novels for maximum impact.

Just like a significant portion of Updike's longer writings, the emphasis on how everything poetically affects all the senses is truly captivating.

However, at times, it makes one wish that he had taken Strunk and White's "Elements of Style" more seriously.

The rich and detailed descriptions in his novels can sometimes be overwhelming, but they also add to the depth and beauty of his works.

Overall, Updike's best novels offer a unique and unforgettable reading experience that is not to be missed.

The finest chronicle of American life from the 60's - 90's is truly a remarkable piece of work.

It was penned by a master stylist and a fine observer of details, John Updike. The saga of Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom is simply captivating. He may seem like a bit of a dufus at times, but the way he thinks and expresses himself with the eloquence that Updike bestows upon him is truly something special.

This work has rightfully won TWO Pulitzers, a testament to its quality and significance. Updike has often been compared to Mozart due to the delicate care he puts into his writing. Every word, every sentence, seems to be meticulously crafted.

Sadly, John Updike has passed away, but his work will live on forever. RIP, John! His contributions to American literature will always be remembered and cherished.

My review of the last book in this series:

It's truly a remarkable improvement compared to the other three. While the first three books were indeed good, this final installment takes the story to a whole new level. However, one aspect that I couldn't overlook was Rabbit's character. He never really seems to grow up. Despite the passage of time, he remains a youth at heart. But that's something you can accept as long as you're aware of who he is. What really bothered me about Rabbit was his habit of calling his wife a mutt. He didn't do it to her face, but rather to himself. As time went on, it became clear that this was how he was starting to view her. He didn't show her the respect she deserved until the very end. It's a pity, really, because it makes him seem like a bad husband. Overall, though, the book had its strengths and weaknesses, but it was still an enjoyable read.

I highly suggest reading the collection.

It is essential to read it in order to avoid losing too much time between the separate novels. I vividly remember reading the history of young Rabbit from his youth to his old age during the worst summer of my life.

The account of Rabbit's failures as a husband, father, businessman, friend, and lover truly served as a reality check for me.

Perhaps due to the fact that there are four novels, Updike has ample time to develop all the characters that impact the life of Rabbit Angstrom.

Particularly fascinating are the evolving characters of Rabbit's wife. She starts off as insecure, dim-witted, and foolish, while he is selfish and arrogant, relying on his limited potential as a small-time local basketball star. Their son, too, endures multiple traumas in his life.

There have been numerous attempts at creating the great American novel, and Updike's portrayal of the everyday man as a hero brings him close to achieving the status of authoring the Great American Novel.

I am truly grateful to Updike for presenting me with Harry Angstrom. From the moment I was introduced to him, I couldn't help but fall deeply in love with him and his ordinary yet rather pathetic life. The prose that Updike employs is simply exquisite. It is rich and poetic, painting a vivid and detailed picture of Harry's world.

Updike has an extraordinary talent for creating characters that are incredibly real. Harry Angstrom is a prime example. He is a character with such complexity, human depth, and banal beauty. Through his actions, thoughts, and relationships, we are able to see the full spectrum of his personality. He is not a perfect character, but that is what makes him so relatable and endearing.

Updike is truly a genius of a novelist. His ability to bring characters to life and make us care about them is second to none. The Rabbit series is a testament to his talent and creativity. I will always cherish the time I spent with Harry Angstrom and the lessons I learned from his life.

Research has revealed an interesting finding that men think about sex every four minutes.

Harry Angstrom, the so-called 'hero' in John Updike's remarkable series of four Rabbit books, indeed adheres to this pattern. Each novel in the series is set ten years apart, and in the final one, Rabbit at Rest, when he is in his late 50s, he still can't help but fantasize about every female he encounters.

As a woman, I must admit that at times it was rather difficult for me to accept this aspect. However, the books are written with such brilliance and artistry that I am willing to overlook it and forgive all.

My only criticism, perhaps due to my English background, is that I would have preferred to see the lengthy descriptions of car journeys edited down. These descriptions, although detailed, sometimes seemed to slow down the pace of the story and could have been condensed without sacrificing the overall quality of the narrative.

Nevertheless, despite this minor flaw, John Updike's Rabbit series remains a literary masterpiece that offers deep insights into the human condition and the complex nature of relationships.

Rabbit, Run by John Updike is a novel that may have a profound impact on its readers.

Some years ago, the reviewer rated it three stars out of five. However, upon rereading it about a week ago, they found it enchanting. This shows that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, as paraphrased from Plato.

The novel's main character, Harry Angstrom, is complex. He can be seen as both a hero and an antihero. He is responsible for some tragedies in his life, yet he is also likeable.

Harry's actions, such as running away and having affairs, are a result of his confusion and dissatisfaction with his life. He is a father and husband, but he seems undecided about his responsibilities.

The novel explores themes such as happiness, marriage, and human nature. It shows how our perceptions of these things can change over time.

Overall, Rabbit, Run is a well-written and thought-provoking novel that makes for an entertaining read. It is no wonder that it has been so well received and has won several awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes for Literature.

As the reviewer continues to read the trilogy, they look forward to sharing their thoughts on the other volumes.

After a rather uninteresting two years of study, I made a promise to myself. I would indulge in an extravagance - a big novel, for no particular reason. Something that I had been intending to read for about ten years or so, and something American this time. (Since I live in a colony, most of the novels I've read have been British.) The last American novels I read were more than twenty years ago, Moby Dick and Lolita (is Lolita really American?). I chose the Rabbit Tetralogy.

Individually, the books are enjoyable and even immersive. But reading them in a continuous and uninterrupted sequence enhanced and deepened the effect. The cumulative impact of the fourth book was far more lasting than that of the preceding three. I'm not sure if I have a better understanding of the American WASP psyche now, but it feels like I do.

I know some people don't find Rabbit Angstrom or any of the other characters likable, but I did (Rabbit, that is - I disliked his son a great deal). What's not to like about someone trying to figure out his life during four of the most interesting American decades that I've vicariously experienced? I enjoyed watching his early skepticism develop into a pleasantly bitter taste. I loved the integrity of his inner voice that remained unwavering for forty years. At the end of this experience, I mourned for Rabbit Angstrom and those four now-lost decades.

Here's the thing about John Updike and the Rabbit series - he doesn't write a bad word. His writing is so precise, so nuanced, and so beautiful that it's a pleasure to read. Each sentence is a work of art, and the overall effect is truly remarkable. The Rabbit Tetralogy is a masterpiece of American literature, and I'm so glad I finally took the time to read it.

This one is really tough.

Updike is indeed direct, clear, and realistic in his writing. He has a certain style that allows him to be self-indulgent in a way that few other authors could manage to get away with. He truly deserves the reputation of being a master of the mundane. However, that's precisely where the problem lies. Everything presented in this work is so extremely mundane that it veers perilously close to being boring.

There are definitely some passages of fine prose, but there is far too much of it. I could have done without having quite so much of the focus being on Harry's internal and external sexual life. In some places, it was important and relevant, but in others, it just felt like more of the same thing, seemingly for no particular reason.

Overall, I'm glad that I read it, but at the same time, I'm also glad that I've finally finished it. It was an experience that had its highs and lows, but now that it's over, I can move on to other literary works.

While any given chapter of this series may initially seem somewhat slow, mundane, and even uneventful, upon closer inspection, the whole proves to be far greater than the sum of its parts. The author has crafted an impressive portrait of an entire life, spanning from near-youth to death. This is achieved through the use of vivid, poetic prose that brings the story to life. The character voices are spot-on, adding depth and authenticity to each individual. Moreover, the powerful examination of a changing country serves as a backdrop to the changing man, highlighting the profound impact that society has on an individual's journey. Overall, this series is a masterful work that invites readers to immerse themselves in a world of complex characters and thought-provoking themes.