Plot Summary

Rabbit Is Rich

John Updike
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Rabbit Is Rich

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1981

Book Brief

John Updike

Rabbit Is Rich

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1981
Book Details
Pages

544

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Brewer, Pennsylvania • 1970s

Publication Year

1981

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1100L

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Super Short Summary

Rabbit Is Rich by John Updike follows middle-aged Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, now managing a successful Toyota dealership in the late 1970s. Living with his wife Janice and mother-in-law Bessie, Harry’s life intertwines with past affairs and family turmoil, including a fraught relationship with his son Nelson. As Harry navigates personal and professional challenges, his search for meaning continues amid changing American socio-economic landscapes. Sensitive topics include extramarital relations, substance use, and accidental death.

Contemplative

Melancholic

Bittersweet

Nostalgic

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.1

17,960 ratings

71%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

John Updike's Rabbit Is Rich is acclaimed for its deep character study and rich prose, capturing the complexities of middle age and societal changes in the 1970s. Critics praise its intricate storytelling and vivid depiction of suburban life. However, some readers find the protagonist's flaws unsettling and the narrative occasionally slow. Overall, it's a compelling portrayal of American life.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Rabbit Is Rich?

Fans of deeply introspective and richly detailed novels like Richard Ford's The Sportswriter or Philip Roth's Goodbye, Columbus will relish Rabbit Is Rich. This reader appreciates nuanced character development, suburban settings, and social critique of the late 20th-century American middle class.

4.1

17,960 ratings

71%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

544

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Brewer, Pennsylvania • 1970s

Publication Year

1981

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1100L

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