A Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ user
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Although I enjoyed his prose, I don't understand why everyone thinks it is the best thing since pizza. Could someone please explain his brilliance to me (with some examples, if possible)?
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Rabbit, Run,
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Richard Craven
Please bear in mind that. so far, I've only read Rabbit, Run, and have only just started on Rabbit Redux, and therefore quite possibly don't have a clue what I'm talking about
High burlesque is writing in a high literary tone with low or mundane or squalid content. Traditional high burlesque tends to be comical; lots of satire is in the form of high burlesque.
On the other hand, to me, Rabbit, Run is a sort of tragic high burlesque. It certainly seems to meet the high burlesque criteria: the language is consciously modernist, at times reminiscent of Joyce (the penchant for female monologue) and Zola (accidental drowning of infant); and the events described are mundane and sometimes squalid - a domestic appliance demonstrator walks out on his drunken, pregnant wife and hooks up with a call-girl. The tragedy lends the whole thing a certain grandeur ... or does it?
Based on my thus far scanty reading, I do indeed think Updike is brilliant.
High burlesque is writing in a high literary tone with low or mundane or squalid content. Traditional high burlesque tends to be comical; lots of satire is in the form of high burlesque.
On the other hand, to me, Rabbit, Run is a sort of tragic high burlesque. It certainly seems to meet the high burlesque criteria: the language is consciously modernist, at times reminiscent of Joyce (the penchant for female monologue) and Zola (accidental drowning of infant); and the events described are mundane and sometimes squalid - a domestic appliance demonstrator walks out on his drunken, pregnant wife and hooks up with a call-girl. The tragedy lends the whole thing a certain grandeur ... or does it?
Based on my thus far scanty reading, I do indeed think Updike is brilliant.
Dan Marsh
The best I can figure is it's a product of its time. After the second world war, our society moved past just living to exist and actually had a chance to think about our lives and whether we were happy or not. This book explores a family's unhappiness, and how they deal with it. The best part is the way Updike uses stream of consciousness to relate what the characters are going through. I appreciate what he was doing, and can only imagine the daring it took to be so forward-thinking at that time; but IMO the book hasn't aged well.
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