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Erik Simon's Reviews > Couples
Couples
by John Updike
by John Updike
I love this painful book. I'm an Updike fan. He's a real pro with everything he writes, and as with all pros who do have bad outings, he does have some clunkers (Brazil, Ford Administration). But COUPLES is not one of them. The book is not the sexual romp that the blurbs and jacket copy pronounce, although there is some sex, as there always is (sometimes too much so) in Updike. But there's also the beautiful language, the very real characters, and what I admire most about this book is Updike's ability to poignantly depict the evanescent nature of all those friendships with other couples, friendships that seem so vital and permanent but can so easily fade with barely a whimper.
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Erik
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rated it 5 stars
May 27, 2008 07:36pm
Thanks, Trace (Erik writes, wondering if she loathes being called Trace. So much to consider, so much anxiety, in the goodreads milieu).
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Very cool that you like this book, Erik! It's weird how there was a time when this was JU's most famous---I think people assume it's dated since it's a late-60s book, but your review does a nice job of suggesting the themes are timeless. You've made me want to reread it! Out of curiosity, do you like The Centaur?
I do like The Centaur. I also greatly like The Witches of Eastwick, Rabbit is Rich, and In the Beauty of the Lilies, which is an odd book. I'm not the biggest fan of Rabbit, Run--it does seem dated, to your point about Couples. And I think his short story "Separating," is the single greatest story ever written about divorce. It had me in tears. Interestingly, his next book due out is The Widows of Eastwick. Thanks for the Updike conversation, Kirk. I'm curious to hear what you think about his other books. The thing about Updike is that even when he's bad, I'm never sorry I read him; I never feel like I wasted my time. There's always something, e.g., I didn't think much of his novel Toward the End of Time, but that opening paragraph captures perfectly the magic of each year's first snowfall.
There's a John Updike short story in the May 26th NEW YORKER. It's got all his themes and trademarks. He is definitely a force to be reckoned with.I once tuned into a reading he was doing on the radio. I kept thinking, "Whoever this is, he's awfully good." I patted myself on the back when they said his name afterwards.
One of my favorite Updike sentences: "Ruthie flew, and flying, she was free"---from RR (which is dated indeed).Erik, as I mentioned in my email, I'm a fan of THE COUP, which somebody on GR said is Updike's only out of print book, which strikes me as near criminal---it's a very unusual book. I also like THE POORHOUSE FAIR just because for a debut novel it's so atypical. I liked OF THE FARM, too, and A MONTH OF SUNDAYS. Not so much S. I've had a hard time keeping up with him since after the final Rabbit book, honestly. I liked GERTRUDE AND CLAUDIUS for the sheer audacity of the effort, though it was a slog to get through.
Robert: I have a 1st edition of THE CENTAUR, too! Very cool. My prized possession, though, is a ratty ole paperback of RABBIT REDUX that I stole from my mom c. 1980---one of my first favorite books.
Frederick: I'll have to check that story out---I have a stack of NYers to get to. (Damn job!).
Tracy: Hey stranger! We haven't said hi in a while. I hope you're doing well!
It's fun to know there are a lot of Updike fans here. And just to confess, I'm a card-carrying member of Up with Sentence People.
As I read all this banter this morning, I'm almost sorry that last night I turned off my computer and actually went to read a book.
That's the danger of GoodReads, Erik. Resistance is futile.BTW, congrats on your book! I'm getting a copy.
So are you a Husker fan, Kirk? Confess. And incidentally, you've convinced me to head to the Strand in NYC and scare up a copy of THE COUP.
I was definitely a Husker fan when I was a kid, Erik; I was born in Lincoln while my dad was in grad school there, so I have a sentimental attachment, though I haven't been there in 40 years. Of course, living in Bama, I have to be a SEC fan or else the culture police come after me and send me to Bear Bryant Rehab... You must be from there originally, too, huh? A Cornhusker in NYC!Please do check out THE COUP---there's a great parody of Henry Kissinger in it.
Today I went to the used book shop in my local library and, for one dollar a book, got these:THE COUP (the finding of which, one day after learning of its rarity, was a coup of sorts)
RABBIT AT REST
and
BECH IS BACK.
I actually saw a copy of COUPLES for sale, too, but held off. I wonder if Updike has copies of all his own books. Certainly, many of his characters would have copies of COUPLES.
I saw him speak once a few years back and he talked about having a bookshelf (a case, I'm sure; he was being modest) of his work in his study. He told a story about Joseph Heller claiming he didn't keep his own books in his house because it seemed egotistical, but JU then went on to laugh that some days it also intimidated him to have fifty years of work looking over his shoulder.
Updike is nice because he'll actually talk about having his own books on his shelf. For a literary figure he certainly seems to have a sense of proportion.I should correct the impression that I bought a book called BECH IS BACK. I had a sneaking feeling I was wrong as I drifted to sleep last night. This morning I checked. It's BECH AT BAY.
