Dark Bluesy planet. Review on Rabbit At Rest - John Updike

One def'n needs a lot of patience to read this book. Moreover if you think Sidney Sheldon represents the zenith of english fiction then it is certainly not meant for you .

Rabbit is the protagonist in this series which consist of the word rabit in all the titles (like rabbit at rest, rabbit is rich, rabbit redux)

That Updike represents the wit and soul of America, there is no doubt. If you are looking for theme then the title itself makes it self explainatory. Everything is laid back with rabbit (nick name of the jewish guy in it) who has retired from life and taking life as it comes. He has reached the stage which is known as the stage of living, which comes after the stage of learning and stage of earning. Rabbit is looking forward to the much earned rest but his Kid who is a modern day yuppie gets him into all sorts of troubles. But don't get the wrong idea here of it being the knuckles-turning-white kind.

The son says Yes To Cocaine and gets into deep crap 'cuz of his sniffing habbits. This eventually drags his whole family into the mire. Rabbit realizes it is time to roll up his sleeves again before the turn hits the fan.

I am glad I read this book for it gave me my favourite quote, '' We are each of us like our little blue planet, hung in black space, upheld by nothing by our mutual assurances, and our loving lies.'' This book leaves a piquant american jewish kosher after- taste.

Incidentally his previous of the series ''Rabbit is rich'' won a pulitzer which makes his no fuddy-duddy. If you think you seriously want to graduate to serious fiction but patience is not yet your hang-out pal then I recommend you go for this one first.

Updike graduated from Harvard. I think this is enough to warrant serious attention to his work.