A born-again computer whiz kid bent on proving the existence of God on his computer meets a middle-aged divinity professor, Roger Lambert, who'd ju...
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Feb 25, 2009
brian
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roger’s version concerns a young scientist who believes he can prove the existence of god on his computer. as he puts it,
“…these numbers are the basic physical constants (of the universe), these are the terms of creation...”
recurring patterns in these numbers, the glue of the universe, prove something beyond the mere physical, Dale explains, in hope of receiving a grant from professor of hereticism, Roger Lambert. as laughable as it sounds, his arguments are made convin More...
“…these numbers are the basic physical constants (of the universe), these are the terms of creation...”
recurring patterns in these numbers, the glue of the universe, prove something beyond the mere physical, Dale explains, in hope of receiving a grant from professor of hereticism, Roger Lambert. as laughable as it sounds, his arguments are made convin More...
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Nov 07, 2008
Erik
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I tire of atheists in fiction. I think atheism is valid and even necessary for ultimate true belief, but in fiction it makes for dull reading. There's nothing interesting about not believing. Far more interesting is someone who believes and wrestles with his own sins and the world's dilemmas. This book does that, and Updike is no theological lightweight, which is why, theologically, it's a good read.
But it's also a good story. Sometimes he gets real bogged down in details an More...
But it's also a good story. Sometimes he gets real bogged down in details an More...
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May 11, 2009
Greg of A2
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This is a book that I read once for fun and a second time to write a college paper for a religion course. Each reading gave me new thoughts on the religious debates between the two main characters (a divinity Professor and a computer science student). It's understandable that Updike would be capable of handling the (Karl Barth based) religious argument (religion figures into many of Updike's works) but it's amazing how he's able to handle the computer data arguments within this novel (I'm fairly
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Aug 30, 2007
Robert
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Roger's Version starts out with both barrels blazing, presenting two opposing sides (each persuading and well-constructed in its own right) of a God-vs-science argument between Roger, a jaded divinity professor, and Dale, a brash young grant candidate at his university. However, the book begins to bog down as outside forces in the characters' lives begin to chip away at Dale's once-unassailable beliefs and Roger's self-assured perceptions of moral superiority.
Like a lot of Updike's work, More...
Like a lot of Updike's work, More...
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Oct 07, 2011
Joshua
rated it:
Updike was hugely influenced by Karl Barth and even he admitted he used his novels to illustrate his (and Kierkegaards) ideas.
In this book you have a Barthian professor talking to a student who is trying to prove the existance of God through computer science etc.
Updike can be found in this back and forth argument on the professors side, Who, as with Barth, finds the students whole argument ridiculous.
But......The world is not Gloomy and Godless and dreary. Through Ups Gl More...
In this book you have a Barthian professor talking to a student who is trying to prove the existance of God through computer science etc.
Updike can be found in this back and forth argument on the professors side, Who, as with Barth, finds the students whole argument ridiculous.
But......The world is not Gloomy and Godless and dreary. Through Ups Gl More...
Mar 12, 2008
John
rated it: 
This is one of the few books I didn't complete. I found the story somewhat disgusting.
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Jul 21, 2009
Stewart
rated it:
This 1986 novel from John Updike is not as strong an effort as his Rabbit quartet but had several interesting aspects. I thought there was too much computer jargon and early Christianity scholarship thrown in, and much too much speechifying (there are quotation paragraphs that stretch for a page). But there is the usual Updike attention to detail and, as the title implies, a question of how reliable is Roger Lambert's version of events. He imagines in great detail an alleged affair his wife, Est
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Dec 10, 2009
Gina
rated it: 
Updike died a few months ago amidst ecomiums so high, it gave me the guilts that I had read only one Rabbit book and several short stories. So when I happened upon this title, Roger's View, in a library book sale, I bought it.
Two interesting but not contrary ideas came swimming to the surface of my consciousness as I progressed in the novel. Undoubtedly the man could create unforgettable characters and most mundane/miraculous situations into which to place them. The players in this st More...
Two interesting but not contrary ideas came swimming to the surface of my consciousness as I progressed in the novel. Undoubtedly the man could create unforgettable characters and most mundane/miraculous situations into which to place them. The players in this st More...
Jun 05, 2010
Lars
rated it:
I don't usually take the time to write reviews but feel I should qualify my rating a little bit. As with all of Updike's novels, there are moments (which may be understating it a bit) of absolutely brilliant writing like:
"From infancy on, Edna had had a particular carnal pungence, a scented sponginess to her flesh; when, she a bumptious thirteen and I a recessive fourteen and condemned to spend all of August with my father and my vapid stepmother (whose name, Veronica, seemed More...
"From infancy on, Edna had had a particular carnal pungence, a scented sponginess to her flesh; when, she a bumptious thirteen and I a recessive fourteen and condemned to spend all of August with my father and my vapid stepmother (whose name, Veronica, seemed More...
Jun 06, 2008
Robert
rated it:
Roger's Version starts out with both barrels blazing, presenting two opposing sides (each persuading and well-constructed in its own right) of a God-vs-science argument between Roger, a jaded divinity professor, and Dale, a brash young grant candidate at his university. However, the book begins to bog down as outside forces in the characters' lives begin to chip away at Dale's once-unassailable beliefs and Roger's self-assured perceptions of moral superiority.
Like a lot of Updike's work, More...
Like a lot of Updike's work, More...
Mar 05, 2009
Apallant
rated it:
Can't say that I am an Updike fan. This book had wonderful challenging dialog about the differences between science and religion and their relationship to God. That was the highlight of the book. Updikes characters were not ones you care much about. I also found that I lost the thread of the story and had to work to keep going on because I didn't care that much. Clearly Updike is really intelligent and has an amazing command of the language. It was just too much for me.
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Dec 06, 2011
Lyndon't
rated it:
I like the concept that's why I sailed through to finishing the book. The idea of faith versus science is I think something that should be a concern for everyone who cares to know the truth. This is what the novel tries to play with between a divinity professor and a computer science graduate student.
However, after finishing the book, although I really enjoyed it, I had the feeling of it-could've-been better.
Still, it was a worthwhile read though, even if it falls short More...
However, after finishing the book, although I really enjoyed it, I had the feeling of it-could've-been better.
Still, it was a worthwhile read though, even if it falls short More...
Jul 27, 2011
John
rated it: 
A perfect companion to Richard Powers' novel Galatea 2.0, this Updike novel smashes faith and science in the large hadron collider and adds a hearty dose of sex, temptation and existentialism. Part crash course on heretics, part man's search for meaning Updike again crystalizes a moment in our colective American consciousness.
Dec 28, 2009
Charles
rated it:
Extremely strong book with acrobatic feats of logic discussing philosophical questions of epistemology, while delving into Miltonic discussions of predestination and free will. Smart theology and subversive eroticism. Probably one of my favorite Updikes.
Jun 25, 2009
Frank
rated it:
updike once again demonstrates his versatility with this quirky and well researched look at a nerdy fundamentalist engineering student who thinks he can to find god using a computer who just may have cuckolded his crochety religion professor.
Nov 28, 2010
Josephine
rated it:
I read this 20 years ago and remembered liking it - but maybe it was because my then-husband loved it and it was necessary for me to like everything he liked! I tried to reread it and gave up on page 80. Hated it!
Feb 12, 2010
Andy
rated it:
Great text on the synthesis of theology and technology. What do we do when we can imagine that there is no God to explain away so many social ills, while having the power of information within a "Google-second"?
Dec 07, 2009
Julie
rated it:
Computers just entered the clasroom in the late 19-80's and John Updike knew very well that the flopppy disc was closely related to the whereabouts of god. but how?
Jan 23, 2010
Thomas
rated it:
One of my favorite Updike's book. Perhaps he was late middle-age philosophical, but the story resonates with an audience seeking meaning in the 1980s.
Jul 25, 2010
Sandra aka Sleo
rated it:
A speaker at a seminar talked about it at length. Kind of an intellectual exercise on the existence of God.
Nov 25, 2010
Jerry
rated it:
Updike does have a command of the English language, but he is a very sneaky writer as demonstrated with wrapping a graphic sex story in a long winded fog of metaphysical debate to get it past the critics. Add in the possibility of a well concealed conspiracy (Dale/Vera scamming Roger) shrouded in a jumble of everybody using everybody else for his/her/their own ends, and entire paragraphs in Latin and page after page of technical computer jargon, you end up with a very difficult book to read. O
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Jun 18, 2010
Barry
rated it:
Come for the Computer-proves-existence-of-God storyline.
But then Leave for the lack of Computer-proves-existence-of-God and excess of Scarlet Letter re-imaginings and dense overwritten descriptions of every tiny detail that might possibly be in any characters' life/mind and rampant datedness (cans of Michelob, pre-PC(not CPU)era anti-racist satire by 1986 standards which seems uncomfortably racist by todays' )
I'm sure all the theological research that went into this book More...
But then Leave for the lack of Computer-proves-existence-of-God and excess of Scarlet Letter re-imaginings and dense overwritten descriptions of every tiny detail that might possibly be in any characters' life/mind and rampant datedness (cans of Michelob, pre-PC(not CPU)era anti-racist satire by 1986 standards which seems uncomfortably racist by todays' )
I'm sure all the theological research that went into this book More...
Aug 18, 2008
Maxine
rated it:
One of the toughest John Updikes, I've ever read. It took me 6 months to get through. It's rewarding, but difficult beyond belief. Fascinating story, but when you take that long to read something... I need to go back and skim through parts of this. The indelible Updike characters have really stayed with me, which is why I want to go back and skim to see what I slept through after 6 months of getting through this. It's worth it, if you love a challenge, and don't want everything spoon-fed to
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Aug 19, 2008
dave
rated it:
While I wasn't thrilled with the book's story, I was still thoroughly impressed with the writing. The stylistics and the research he must've done are phenomenal. This was my first Updike, except for the first 100 pages of Rabbit, Run. Probably won't be picking up another for awhile, just because I can't really relate yet.
Oct 12, 2011
Keith
rated it:
The central characters from the Scarlet Letter get updated and relocated to a New England college town. This time we get the story from Roger Chillingworth's perspective as he enjoys toying with the religious young man who has compromised himself with Roger's wife.
Sep 09, 2008
Jean-Luc
rated it:
I hadn't thought about the difference between profanity and vulgarity before I read this book. I'm a huge fan of profanity. This book is vulgar. I would not recommend it to anyone.
Mar 20, 2009
Anthony
rated it:
One star isn't to say that this book isn't brilliant. The ideas the book talks about, its ties to Kierkegard and Barth, all excellent. I just can't stand the way Updike writes.
Mar 11, 2008
Deborah
rated it:
Always amazed at Updike's abilities and descriptions. This one however was not my favorite, or perhaps I read it during an unconcentrated time of my life.
Jul 19, 2008
Missa
rated it:
I run hot and cold on Updike's fiction. I could never get through the Rabbit books, but I really liked this one.
