In all academic study, there is a central question. Every class, every research topic and every theme paper strive to answer a question. In this instance, the topic for discussion is John Updike. But more specifically, we are studying a selection of his novels. These novels have been chosen and are being researched for their value and input into American culture. So, the question we are answering goes as such: “How has the writing of John Updike affected or impacted American culture?” Further, we are considering his impact on American thought and ideals. The topics that Updike commented on, and we will be following more closely, are suburbia, sex and the middle class.

I am Cory Conrad, a Senior English student at OSU and an avid reader. I have enjoyed everything that I have read by Updike and this independent study is a privilege and joy for me. Rather than write a long and tedious thesis paper about Updike, I have chosen to write blog posts to convey what we discuss to a larger audience. Astute readers will notice that the title of this blog comes from the last words Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom says in Rabbit at Rest. Hopefully, like Rabbit’s death, readers will find that this blog is not so bad.

With me in this study, leading as an advisor, mentor and knowledgeable literary man is Professor David G. Myers of The Ohio State University. We will be advancing our knowledge through discussion of the books and tying the stories within together with popular media, other texts and historical analyses so that we can deeper understand who Updike was as a writer, what he was saying and whom he was saying it to.

Thanks for reading and look back soon for more posts.