Light Reading during an Oil Crisis

FieldingMellish · 03-10-2011, 02:00 PM

Recent threads re. oil/middle east etc. reminded me of John Updike's 'Rabbit is Rich', a novel set during the 70s oil crisis, with former high school basketball star Harry 'Rabbit' Angstrom - a racist, sexist, narcissistic, but somewhow sympathetic American 'everyman' character - having married into a Toyota dealership. Lots of good sex, drugs, car talk, and angst. (Actually, no drugs because tis is Updike.) And very relevant for anyone worried about fuel prices and/or the possibility of little, Japanese, fuel--efficient cars supplanting the Americans' beloved petrol guzzlers. Rabbit, the owner/manager of a thriving car dealership, surveys a petrol-anxious America from behind the plate glass windows of his car showroom, ruminating over the nature of existence and his need to find somebody to screw. Who can resist a book where the opening phrase (and metaphor) is:

"RUNNING out of gas,..."

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rabbit-Rich-...9787009&sr=1-1

xenon · 03-11-2011, 01:24 AM

Annoyingly it's one of those where the Kindle edition is more expensive than the paperback. Still, I trust your judgement....

creepy coupe · 03-11-2011, 02:16 AM

Sounds like a read I might enjoy, bung me you paper version, when you're done FM

FieldingMellish · 03-11-2011, 06:04 AM

You can probably buy a set of the Rabbit books. 'Rabbit is Rich' can be read on its own, or as part 3 in a four book series. Amazon probably sell a big all-in-one version.

FieldingMellish · 03-11-2011, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Sounds like a read I might enjoy, bung me you paper version, when you're done FM

Heh. Sorry, no can do. Partly because I don't know where mine is, partly because I like to keep it around and re-read parts now and then.

You can always use Amazon's 'Look Inside' facility to read the start of the book and see if you like it.

creepy coupe · 03-11-2011, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FieldingMellish

Heh. Sorry, no can do. Partly because I don't know where mine is, partly because I like to keep it around and re-read parts now and then.

You can always use Amazon's 'Look Inside' facility to read the start of the book and see if you like it.

WHAT- You mean pay for it?

FieldingMellish · 03-11-2011, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

WHAT- You mean pay for it?

Most libraries will have a copy. Second hand bookshops too.

creepy coupe · 03-11-2011, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenon

Annoyingly it's one of those where the Kindle edition is more expensive than the paperback. Still, I trust your judgement....

I assume the Kindle version doen't have a postage cost though Ian?

xenon · 03-11-2011, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

I assume the Kindle version doen't have a postage cost though Ian?

'tis true.

03-10-2011, 02:00 PM	#1
FieldingMellish Captain 171 Rep 981 Posts Drives: F30 330D M Sport auto Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Manchester iTrader: (0)	Light Reading during an Oil Crisis Recent threads re. oil/middle east etc. reminded me of John Updike's 'Rabbit is Rich', a novel set during the 70s oil crisis, with former high school basketball star Harry 'Rabbit' Angstrom - a racist, sexist, narcissistic, but somewhow sympathetic American 'everyman' character - having married into a Toyota dealership. Lots of good sex, drugs, car talk, and angst. (Actually, no drugs because tis is Updike.) And very relevant for anyone worried about fuel prices and/or the possibility of little, Japanese, fuel--efficient cars supplanting the Americans' beloved petrol guzzlers. Rabbit, the owner/manager of a thriving car dealership, surveys a petrol-anxious America from behind the plate glass windows of his car showroom, ruminating over the nature of existence and his need to find somebody to screw. Who can resist a book where the opening phrase (and metaphor) is: "RUNNING out of gas,..." http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rabbit-Rich-...9787009&sr=1-1
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03-11-2011, 01:24 AM	#2
xenon Major General 1397 Rep 8,083 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	Annoyingly it's one of those where the Kindle edition is more expensive than the paperback. Still, I trust your judgement.... __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
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03-11-2011, 02:16 AM	#3
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1867 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	Sounds like a read I might enjoy, bung me you paper version, when you're done FM
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03-11-2011, 06:04 AM	#4
FieldingMellish Captain 171 Rep 981 Posts Drives: F30 330D M Sport auto Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Manchester iTrader: (0)	You can probably buy a set of the Rabbit books. 'Rabbit is Rich' can be read on its own, or as part 3 in a four book series. Amazon probably sell a big all-in-one version.
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