by John Updike
First published 2006
Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom sits in 1989 watching his world crumble. At fifty-six, his body betrays him with a failing heart and extra weight he cannot shed. His Toyota dealership bleeds money while his family falls apart around him. His son Nelson has destroyed himself with cocaine, leaving behind only addiction and broken pride. Janice, his wife of decades, suddenly wants to join the workforce and build her own life. Meanwhile, Pru, Nelson's wife, sends Harry signals that make his pulse quicken in ways his damaged heart cannot handle. Harry knows he should resist these dangerous attractions, but time runs short and temptation grows stronger. His body reminds him daily that death approaches, yet his desires burn as fierce as ever. The man who spent his youth running from responsibility now faces choices that will define his final chapter.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, adult-fiction, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, midlife-crisis
Setting: Toyota Dealership
Period: 1989
ebook · Penguin
Content warnings: addiction, depression, mental-illness