The first time I read Rabbit Run I was 19 and working overnights, trying anything I could think to keep myself awake. The result of these two things were that I either missed or didn't understand a lot of it. This is a book for grown-ups, which is not to say anything about age necessarily but just that it handles topics and themes that are maybe best dealt with after a little bit of life experience. Also, don't let the cover mislead you: this is not a book about basketball.
Readability: A moderately difficult read. Not dense in terms of the wording but in terms of EMOTIONS. If you don't like emotions, you probably won't like this book. But if you give yourself a chance to get into it the characters are engaging and it moves fairly quickly.
Enjoyability: 5 stars; this book is SO GOOD. It is incredibly well written and heart-string-tugging and leaves you feeling like you just experienced something along with the characters. But don't let's confuse enjoyable with uplifting, because pretty much nothing happens that is. With the exception of the birth of Rabbit's daughter, Rebecca June, and the conversation he has with his wife Janice just afterwards when she is all doped up. Other than those 20 or so pages, though, it's kind of a downer. Don't say I didn't warn you, but read it anyway!
Favorite character: One of the things I like best about this book is that all the characters seem so much like real people. They have strengths but they also have flaws, which makes it hard for any of them to be my favorite. I guess I would say Eccles, the Episcopalian minister who befriends Harry after he leaves his wife. He is so earnest and well-meaning, and takes his responsibility so seriously. I love the descriptions of him interacting with people ("When he does come in, at quarter of 11, it turns out he's been sitting in a drugstore gossiping with some of his teenagers; the idiotic kids tell him everything, all smoking like chimneys, so he comes home titillated silly with "how far" you can "go" on dates and still love Jesus"), and how he talks to his daughters, and that he takes Harry golfing. He's genuine and good, but still struggling enough to seem real. Honorable mention has to go to Nelson, Rabbit and Janice's 2 year old son. He's precious, and probably the one you feel most sorry for because none of it is his fault but he has to deal with all the drama anyway.
Most un-favorite character: Much like the real world, no one in this book is completely demon-izable or without redeeming features. Even the most horrific things that happen occur in a way that you understand what led up to them and WHY. The person I dis-liked the most through most of the book was Harry's mother. She just seems cranky and miserly with her son's affection, first glad because he leaves Janice and then mad at him when he goes back (basically the opposite of everyone else). But she redeems herself at the... end. Can't say when or how - you'll have to read it yourself.
Best Quotes:
"I once did something right. I played first-rate basketball. I really did. And after you're first-rate at something, no matter what, it kind of takes the kick out of being second-rate."
"If you have the guts to be yourself, other people'll pay your price."
