LICKS OF LOVE Short Stories and a Sequel “Rabbit Remembered”

In these 12 stories and a novella, John Updike continues his exploration of the American malaise. Characters wander aimlessly through joyless liaisons. We re-meet Henry Bech and Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom. We find ourselves in the familiar landscapes of earlier Updike works, waiting for something new to happen. Nothing much does. Michael Pritchard’s narration is without artifice. It insists on attention. The simplicity of his performance is perfect for the text. We hear echoes of other times and places in his voice. He allows us to experience the passions and pathos of each character, whether caught in memory or brought into sharp contemporary focus. Updike’s knife still cuts, but the wounds are not as deep. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 01]