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I truly relished this book.

Updike's prose is nothing short of brilliant. It is like a beautiful tapestry, intricately woven with words that flow effortlessly and paint vivid pictures in the reader's mind.

He has masterfully crafted credible, round characters. These characters are so well-developed that you can't help but form strong opinions about them. Depending on the events that unfold, you might find yourself despising a character one moment and then loving them the next.

The story is set within a meaningful and believable socio-cultural milieu. It provides a fascinating glimpse into a particular time and place, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative.

Moreover, it delves deep into profound themes such as aging, fatherhood, and death. These themes are explored with such sensitivity and insight that they resonate long after you've turned the last page.

I wholeheartedly and strongly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates great literature. It is a literary gem that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

This piece is predominantly about death. There is also a bit of discussion regarding the other foolish things that Rabbit does upon turning 56. However, the main focus remains on death.

Collectively, the four books offer complex character analyses of three primary individuals - Harry, Janice, and their son Nelson. Observing such intricately detailed characters over a span of four decades of shared history is truly a delight. Yet, Updike doesn't make it a breeze. Rabbit is by far the worst human being ever, and even Janice and Nelson aren't always easy to empathize with. Updike's writing is simply sublime. He demonstrates that sympathy and disgust for a character need not be mutually exclusive; one feeling doesn't necessarily rule out the other. Even though the books can be challenging to read at times (owing to Rabbit's extremely repulsive nature), they are compulsively readable, except for a rather flabby section in the middle of the second book.

This book doesn't quite reach the heights of "Rabbit is Rich," which features poignant reflections on middle age and the meaning (or lack thereof) of life. Nevertheless, it comes in a close second in my ranking. Rabbit fades away, rendered redundant at home due to Janice's newfound independence and at work as Nelson takes over. But he remains the same, making the same mistakes, being just as self-absorbed, and becoming self-destructive at this late stage of life, while also being intent on destroying others. That void in his life was never filled, and it's clear that he has run out of time.

The penultimate scene harks back to the first scene of the first book, neatly rounding off the quartet of books. I'll miss these characters, their frailties, desperations, and bad choices. Additionally, all the humor, as I might have neglected to mention how funny these books truly are.

A remarkable achievement has been accomplished. It could be a grand slam, a feat that is highly coveted and represents the pinnacle of success in a particular field. Or perhaps it's a triple double, an outstanding accomplishment that showcases extraordinary skills and capabilities.

Both a grand slam and a triple double are rare and remarkable achievements that deserve recognition and celebration. They are the result of hard work, dedication, and a pursuit of excellence.

Whether it's in sports, business, or any other area of life, achieving a grand slam or a triple double is no easy task. It requires focus, determination, and the ability to perform at a high level under pressure.

When someone achieves a grand slam or a triple double, it not only brings personal satisfaction but also inspires others to strive for greatness. It serves as a reminder that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.

So, let's celebrate these remarkable achievements and continue to strive for excellence in all that we do.

I have truly relished re-reading Updike's Rabbit series throughout the past year. I initially perused Rabbit, Run during high school (roughly 10 years subsequent to its publication); Rabbit Redux in college; and Rabbit is Rich and Rabbit at Rest the moment I could obtain them. However, Harry Angstrom is approximately 20 years older than I am. Now that he and I are of the same age (that is, his age in Rabbit at Rest), I comprehend him in a distinct manner.

All the books, especially the final two, are exquisitely written. I am unable to conceive of another character in American literature whose life has been so comprehensively and considerately chronicled. I was also startled by certain uncanny parallels between the late 1980s, the era of Rabbit at Rest, and the 2010s. Here is Rabbit waiting to collect his son at the airport, shortly after the Lockerbie bombing:

Everything falling apart, airplanes, bridges, eight years under Reagan of nobody minding the store, making money out of nothing, running up debt, trusting in God.

This passage seems to resonate with the current times, highlighting the sense of instability and uncertainty that pervades society. It makes one wonder if history has a tendency to repeat itself in certain ways.

Updike received a lifetime achievement award from the judges of Britain's Bad Sex in Fiction. This award "celebrates" the tasteless or ridiculous sexual passages in modern literature. I firmly believe that this is a well-deserved recognition.

Undoubtedly, Updike is an incredibly fluid writer and a sharp observer of contemporary life in the United States. His works have always been a source of both fascination and repulsion for me. In this particular book, I found myself experiencing a range of emotions, from being amazed by his writing skills to being annoyed by some of the content.

It is interesting to note that while Updike's writing is often lauded for its elegance and depth, his inclusion of certain sexual passages has drawn criticism. However, it is precisely these passages that have earned him this unique award. Whether we like it or not, they are an integral part of his literary style and contribute to the overall impact of his works.

Overall, I believe that Updike's win of this award is a testament to his ability to push the boundaries of literature and explore the human experience in all its complexity.

The last volume of the story of Rabbit, both melancholy and funny. Reading all of them, at least for me, means that Rabbit, his clumsy wife and that idiot son of his have now become flesh and blood people, more real than the members of my actual family.

I lived in the house on Jackson Road and the one in Penn Park, together with him and Janice; I sold Toyotas beside him, I played golf with him, I traveled in the passenger seat all the way to Florida. And I sat by his bedside. Poor Rabbit! The hero of our daily life, an ordinary man, but not without qualities.

I was deeply moved.

It's as if Rabbit has truly entered my world and become an important part of it. His joys, sorrows, and the ordinary yet extraordinary events in his life have all touched my heart. The story of Rabbit seems to be a mirror reflecting the various aspects of our own lives, making us think and feel.

As I turned the pages of the last volume, I couldn't help but feel a sense of loss. Rabbit's story was coming to an end, but his image would remain in my mind forever. He was not a perfect person, but that's what made him so real and lovable.

I'll come up with some thoughts in a little bit.

The best of the Rabbit books. Rabbit Remembered is next.

This statement piques my curiosity. I wonder what makes these Rabbit books so special. Are they filled with engaging stories, memorable characters, or valuable life lessons?

Perhaps the author has a unique way of presenting the world through the eyes of a rabbit, making it both relatable and enchanting for readers of all ages.

I can't wait to explore Rabbit Remembered and discover what it has in store.

Maybe it will offer a deeper understanding of the Rabbit's journey and the lessons it has learned along the way.

With a rating of 4.5 ⭐️, it seems that this book has left a lasting impression on many readers.

I'm excited to see if it will have the same impact on me.

Despite confronting his mortality, Harry (“Rabbit”) Angstrom remains nearly as much of a schmuck as ever in this final installment of the Rabbit series. The book is beautifully written, much like anything Updike penned, and rightfully deserved the Pulitzer it won.

Harry, now fifty-seven and spending half the year in Florida, deliberately ignores the tightness in his chest and the pains shooting up his arm. Instead, he consumes a revolting combination of heart-unhealthy foods, the likes of which I've never seen in literature. His heart attack, which occurs while his son's family is visiting, comes as no surprise. However, the circumstances are surprisingly tense as he is far out in the Gulf of Mexico on a sunfish boat alone with his nine-year-old granddaughter, the only positive character in the novel. Turns out, Harry is a decent grandfather, and his concern for little Judy's safety helps him make it back to shore despite the pain. He is, unfortunately, a considerably less decent father to his son Nelson, who is now addicted to cocaine, self-medicating to cope with his lifelong issues, many of which can be attributed to lousy parenting.

Published in 1990 and set in 1988 and ’89, the novel works hard to represent its era, the cusp of the G. W. Bush era. Harry is constantly reading newspapers, watching news, and hearing news headlines on the radio. This, while perhaps not the most plausible character detail, is useful for setting the scene. Aside from the cocaine/crack crisis, it's a less interesting era than the late ‘70s of the previous novel. Nevertheless, there are some astute observations, many related to aging and mortality. For example, “Life is a hill that gets steeper the more you climb.”

With Harry facing the deaths of friends and contemplating his own, he spends a lot of time revisiting his past. He visits his old neighborhoods, mentally comparing the places of memory to their present conditions, mourning the closed businesses, and listening to the songs of his youth on the radio. The novel also contains some lush, gorgeous descriptions of neighborhoods and landscapes, a hallmark of Updike's best writing.

SPOILER PARAGRAPH: It's typical of Rabbit that while he has considerably less sex in this book than in the previous ones, the exception caps a lifetime of bad sexual decisions. He sleeps with his own daughter-in-law on the day Nelson departs for detox, engaging in reverse Oedipal behavior at its lowest. No wonder Nelson is so messed up. I also liked the way Updike kills off this character. The book has three sections: FL (Florida), PA (Pennsylvania), and MI. I initially thought MI would be Michigan, but it actually stands for Myocardial infarction, which Harry brings on by playing basketball, the sport at which he excelled in high school. After a lifetime of reliving his glory days in the four novels, it's fitting that he would have an MI during a spontaneous pickup game. But the man is happy at last, so it's a bittersweet ending.

One last great quote: after his angioplasty, Harry observes, “Ever since they invaded his arteries with dyes and balloons, he has aches and pains in remote and random joints, as if his blood is no longer purely his own. Once you break the cap on a ginger-ale bottle, there is never again as much fizz.” This novel, the fourth in the series, still has all the fizz. It's a great read that offers insights into life, love, and loss.

Harry feels remorse for his corpulence. According to the kindest scales, he weighs 104 kilos and a bit. At fifty-five, this extra weight has wrapped around him, forming layer upon layer, added one by one for each passing decade.

Sometimes, the spirit of Rabbit feels on the verge of fainting from hauling around so much body. Sharp little pains press on his ribs and reach to his left arm. He runs out of breath and mysteriously feels his chest constricted, occupied by a nagging essence. When he was a child and suffered the pains of growth, he worried, and the adults around him laughed it off. Now that he is undeniably an adult, he must laugh it off himself.

However, at this point in his life, Rabbit Angstrom has achieved financial independence and now spends the winters with his wife in their condo in Florida. The management of the Toyota dealership has passed into the hands of his son, and Harry begins to enjoy the pleasures of being a grandfather and retired. He reads history books, plays golf with his Jewish friends (all older than him), and his indolence reaches its fullest extent.

When his son Nelson, along with his wife Pru and the little ones Judy and Roy, come to visit Florida, the harmonious intertwined threads of Harry's life start to tangle, and the ailments of old age begin to fill him with doubts, insecurities, and constant questions about death. His overweight makes him feel guilty every time he eats some candy or food high in sodium and saturated fat. And his chest continues to give him warnings about the danger he faces with his diet and sedentary lifestyle.

Harry spends time with his grandchildren while his son disappears at night with the car. Janice envies the qualities of her daughter-in-law, especially when it comes to cooking. The coexistence between parents and children begins to reveal secrets that distance had kept safe. Problems don't take long to arrive when it is discovered what Nelson is involved in, which has put the company founded by grandfather Springer, Harry's late father-in-law, in crisis. Rabbit has an incident in the sea while sailing with his little granddaughter that will completely change his perspective. Everything heads towards disaster again, order returns to being just an appearance, and Rabbit stumbles upon the same stones as in his youth.

In this final installment of the Rabbit Angstrom saga, we observe the transformation of the characters, not only as a consequence of age but also as a symptom of the painful and traumatic experiences of a whole life together (see: Rabbit, Run; Rabbit Redux; and Rabbit Is Rich). We witness the closing of a story that began when Harry was only 26 years old and his son Nelson (now 32) was just a baby.

John Updike focuses more on the story of his characters in this novel. However, there is also a critique of the media, especially television as an alienating instrument. The progressive digestion of violence through the news, the growing morbid curiosity that feeds the masses, the numbers of dead as if it were a competition for points. We also see a decline in the North American economy as a productive superpower and the fear felt at the arrival of foreign companies with cheap labor that endangers the local market, particularly the automotive one.

The author sometimes goes overboard in his descriptions of the landscape and the city. While these reveal characteristics of Rabbit's personality, they sometimes seem unnecessary in the story. What keeps us reading is how well-written they are and the promise that at any moment we will have the characters interacting again. Metaphors and similes constructed with vivid words round off paragraphs that make us read them twice before continuing: "The freckled thighs have the soft sleekness of bumpers", "A blip on the screen, then no blip on the screen. Those corpses falling like wet melon seeds", etc. The richness of detail in narration gives life to events that if we observed them in daily life, we might consider irrelevant. However, the writer fills them with color and freshness. Reality is approached from countless angles and different filters through the powerful lens of John Updike.

The ending can draw tears from a sensitive reader, especially if he has followed for almost 30 years (in fiction) a character as palpable as Harry C. Angstrom. We once again travel the path that he started the first time he went out for a pack of cigarettes and we see him triumph again —albeit a Pyrrhic victory—, as in his best years of basketball.

This Pulitzer Prize winning novel is the final installment in the Rabbit series, and it truly stands out as the best!

Rabbit, in 1989, still remains an amoral, excessive, sexist, and bigoted individual, leaving a trail of emotional chaos wherever he ventures. Janice and Nelson are by no means likable characters either. However, Updike has masterfully crafted these three individuals in such a way that I can't help but care about them.

Throughout these four books, my curiosity has been piqued regarding their fates. They hold a strange allure for me. The vividly detailed descriptions of Florida retirement beach life, angiograms, golf, sailing, and 1980s historical references are truly superb.

The scene where Rabbit experiences a heart attack while attempting to save his granddaughter from drowning and right a capsized sailboat, described with harrowing and intricate detail, is a prime example of writing at its absolute finest. It is a moment that will surely stay with me long after I've finished reading this remarkable novel.

I started the saga from the end, and although I read it in a disorderly manner, this book seemed very good to me.

I think it is the best one among them. The story is full of excitement and mystery, which kept me engaged from the beginning to the end.

The characters are well-developed and their relationships are complex and interesting. I especially liked the main character, who was brave and determined.

The author's writing style is also very engaging, making it easy for me to imagine the scenes and events in the story.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading adventure and mystery novels. It is a great addition to any bookshelf.