Rabbit, Run (1960)

"Rabbit, Run" is a novel by John Updike that was first published in 1960. It is the first book in the "Rabbit" series, and tells the story of Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, a young man living in Pennsylvania in the late 1950s. The novel follows Rabbit as he tries to escape the constraints of his mundane and unfulfilling life, and grapples with issues of identity, purpose, and meaning.

Rabbit is a former high school basketball star who has settled into a dead-end job and a loveless marriage. Frustrated and unhappy, he embarks on a series of futile attempts to find some sense of purpose and fulfillment, including an affair with a young woman and a failed attempt at starting a new life in the city.

Throughout the novel, Updike uses Rabbit's story to explore themes of alienation, disillusionment, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. The writing is lyrical and evocative, and Updike uses a range of techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and shifting perspectives, to convey the complex and often contradictory inner world of his protagonist.

Overall, "Rabbit, Run" is a powerful and moving novel that offers a poignant and unflinching portrayal of one man's struggle to find his place in the world. It is a testament to Updike's skill as a writer and his ability to capture the complexities of the human experience.

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