books
April 3, 2026
Unconventional Novels About Conventional People
In some great books, readers watch a character become disillusioned with their dreams of joyful conformity.
TL;DR
- The article contrasts recent books about aging revolutionaries with a parallel literary theme: the disillusionment of conformists.
- John Updike's Rabbit Angstrom is presented as an example of a character whose pursuit of conventional middle-class success leads to a decline and disillusionment.
- Jordy Rosenberg's novel *Night Night Fawn* is highlighted for its fresh take on the conformist narrative through the character of Barbara, who resents her child and harbors retrograde dreams of status.
- Both the rebel and conformist narratives, despite their different trajectories, often offer readers a sense of pathos and the realization that desired outcomes may not be achieved.
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