Rabbit, Run - John Updike

Rabbit, Run is a dark and tightly controlled story about a washed-up basketball star, Rabbit, and his destructive yet sympathetic urge to find something better than mediocrity in his middle age. A powerfully human tale in compelling prose about disappointment and yearning, and the painful disparity between youth's bright dreams and pathetic, sordid reality. The kind of story that makes ones own domestic life seem heavenly.

Ironweed

Dad recommended Ironweed, by William Kennedy, to me a while ago, and I finally got around to reading it.

I really enjoyed reading it, although it was very grim. I especially loved the fact that the main character, a violent bum, is literally haunted by the ghosts of his past... spooky and intriguing. The voice of the novel is engaging, and the variety of narrative styles is unique. An interesting picture of poverty and alcoholism in 1938.

I would recommend it!