In a Reading Eagle column titled “My 2 cents: ‘Rabbit’ series a four-part bummer,” columnist Andrew Wagaman makes it clear that he’s no fan of the tetralogy. But he also clears up some matters that have had locals festering for decades now.
“Updike created a crude, misogynistic narcissist whose belief in his own immortality gradually sours. The downfall is at times hilarious but also excruciating. Any hope for redemption—a son, a bank account—serves only as a prop for more pratfalls. His dying words, ‘It isn’t so bad.'”
“After my first column, I heard from some that I should quit the series because Updike basically spits on Berks County, where he was born. While Updike sets most of the series in Berks and describes it vividly, he’s really skewering the entire nation, at least its hubris and excess.
“Thought-provoking? Yes. A four-part bummer? Absolutely. Finishing it isn’t so bad.”
Addendum: Society member and John Updike Childhood Home patron Bruce Moyer submitted the following humorous pastiche in response:
Bouvier sickened by Updike book!
After his first bite, he heard from some that he should quit because Updike’s books
are less than tasteful. As he continued to devour it, against all those “learned” men
who had advised against doing so, he did become sickened. However, his opinion,
as noted was, “Finishing it isn’t so bad.”
This moron thinks humanity is not a bummer?
Bouvier sickened by Updike book!
After his first bite , he heard from others that he should quit because Updike’s books are less than tasteful.
As he continued to devour it , against the comments by other dogs who had advised against doing so; he did become sickened.
However, his opinion as noted was; “Finishing it isn’t so bad.”
There’s bad, there’s worse, and there’s this (young) guy!