Author Archives: susan

Updike gives us characters that he understands–if not agreeing with their choices–and allows us that same insight.  As I’ve shown in a previous example, we follow Rabbit’s motivations by knowing his thought processes, his dreams, his desires.  He becomes a … Continue reading →

The timing of the reading of this section, where Rabbit goes to work part-time as a gardener, couldn’t have been better for me.  It echos the gardener’s love of the earth and growing things, the whole idea of rethinking life … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Along the lines of psychological realism, Updike has some more character insight that comes closer to stream of consciousness: Holding a three wood, absorbed in its heavy reddish head and grass-stained face and white stripe prettily along the edge, he … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’m not sure that I quite understand the definition of psychological realism–in many places it appears to have more to do with the interaction of the reader rather than characterization–yet it’s the first thing I thought of in Updike’s depth … Continue reading → Continue reading →

At the side of her neck where it shades into her shoulder there is a shallow white hollow where his attention curls and rests.  (p. 69) Alliteration: shades into her shoulder and shallow white hollow. Beautiful, soft, smooth. Personification: where … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Backtracking here for a moment because this stuck in my mind.  Updike sets us up with a wonderful metaphor as Rabbit looks into his past, but the setting is wonderfully done; Rabbit goes to his mother’s house to pick up … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Updike appears to depend heavily on imagery to set both tone of setting and character: Growing sleepy, Rabbit stops before midnight at a roadside cafe for coffee.  Somehow, though he can’t put his finger on the difference, he is unlike … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Updike uses an omniscient third person point of view which naturally gives us good insight into a character.  As a matter of fact, everything seems to be about character here, and I like that.  It appears that this will be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Um.  Don’t think I’ve ever read Updike before and I’m finding him quite likeable in his language use and style. The frame houses climb the hill like a single staircase.  The space of six feet or so that each double … Continue reading → Continue reading →

What can I say?  I haven’t read it yet. Continue reading →