Reading 1001 discussion

3. Are the main characters dynamic—changing or maturing by the end of the book? Do they learn about themselves, how the world works and their role in it?

Because the period of time is very short, (3 months?) we don't see much change but this is the first book in a Roman clef set in a series of books, the character are dynamic, changing over the book(s).

Quite a bit happens in those few months, though. The basketball coach's declining health symbolizes that the old era of Rabbit's life is gone, even though Rabbit is too stubborn to let go of what my son calls "Guy Who Peaked in High School Syndrome."
Janice certainly changes, becoming a mother for the second time, and the tragedy that occurs is an abrupt change for everyone, it seems, except Harry, who, at the end of the book, is running again.
He also gets his girlfriend pregnant, leaving her with a very adult decision to make, and forever changing her, since he can't seem to get his head out of his past.

"Guy who peaked in high school syndrome"...this made me laugh. There are more than a few of these people who exist.

The changes in the characters are slight. Usually in a novel we are accustomed to the character changing in a big way. Everything in this book unfolds more slowly.

Hopefully Janice will let this dud go. I'm all for saving a marriage but not at the expense of your own mental health.

Rabbit does not change despite the experiences of the book. He remains the impulsive, self-centred egoist he was at the start. The female characters are much more sympathetic,but do not change, except, perhaps for Janice's mother who has a better opinion of Rabbit towards the end. This, presumably, will alter again after what happens at the end.