John Updike
John Updike
I attended a John Updike reading many years ago not long before he died. I think he is one of the great writers of my generation. How he did not win the Nobel Prize for Literature is beyond me. Maybe his writing was not political enough.
Later there was a book signing. I always try to take advantage of those opportunities to see if I can get a few words in with the author hoping to generate a brief conversation. Sometimes it works, sometimes I am met with bored stares, and sometimes it turns out like this one with Mr. Updike.
A movie camera behind the author filmed everyone meeting the author. Perhaps the videos were used in some documentary or other. I always wonder if my few moments were ever saved.
I started by handing him a book to be signed and saying, "Hello, Mr. Updike. I am a big fan of your writing. I just read a passage to my English class from Rabbit Run about a description of a highway with a billboard on the side of the road as an example of great writing."
His response surprised me. He shouted at me: "THAT'S COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL YOU KNOW!"
I couldn't speak at first, but I knew I had to think fast to get in my opinion of the whole matter. Somehow I succeeded to say just the right thing: "I put you on the map with these kids. They don't discuss the latest John Updike book at the local trailer park you know."
He pretty much ignored me by looking at the next person in line. I appeared to be just a minor irritation to him. He might as well have said, "Be gone with you!"
I wish I could have stayed and added more. Here is what I wanted to say: "There is no way I could purchase a book with so much explicit sex for a high school class. I told the kids that. If I was one of my students, I would have made it my goal to find the book, buy it, and read it."
All I could do was move on. He wanted nothing further to do with me. I did not think much of him as a person, but I still loved his writing. I have always questioned some of the terrible choices the Nobel Prize committee has made in literature. John Updike deserved one because he is an incredible writer.
I attended a John Updike reading many years ago not long before he died. I think he is one of the great writers of my generation. How he did not win the Nobel Prize for Literature is beyond me. Maybe his writing was not political enough.
Later there was a book signing. I always try to take advantage of those opportunities to see if I can get a few words in with the author hoping to generate a brief conversation. Sometimes it works, sometimes I am met with bored stares, and sometimes it turns out like this one with Mr. Updike.
A movie camera behind the author filmed everyone meeting the author. Perhaps the videos were used in some documentary or other. I always wonder if my few moments were ever saved.
I started by handing him a book to be signed and saying, "Hello, Mr. Updike. I am a big fan of your writing. I just read a passage to my English class from Rabbit Run about a description of a highway with a billboard on the side of the road as an example of great writing."
His response surprised me. He shouted at me: "THAT'S COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL YOU KNOW!"
I couldn't speak at first, but I knew I had to think fast to get in my opinion of the whole matter. Somehow I succeeded to say just the right thing: "I put you on the map with these kids. They don't discuss the latest John Updike book at the local trailer park you know."
He pretty much ignored me by looking at the next person in line. I appeared to be just a minor irritation to him. He might as well have said, "Be gone with you!"
I wish I could have stayed and added more. Here is what I wanted to say: "There is no way I could purchase a book with so much explicit sex for a high school class. I told the kids that. If I was one of my students, I would have made it my goal to find the book, buy it, and read it."
All I could do was move on. He wanted nothing further to do with me. I did not think much of him as a person, but I still loved his writing. I have always questioned some of the terrible choices the Nobel Prize committee has made in literature. John Updike deserved one because he is an incredible writer.
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message 1:
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M.E.
(new)
Mar 06, 2019 12:36PM
Wouldn't that be considered a "fair use" exception to copyright laws?
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Not really sure if he was right or not. It would seem to me just reading a passage in class should not be a problem.
Such a graceful writer. And apparently an ungraceful person.
I am sure he must have dealt with real examples of people stealing his work. Plus it must get tiring sitting there signing books and dealing with mundane comments. But that is part of the job. I did just spend my money on him.
"Despite the fact that he loves books and owns a bookstore, A.J. does not particularly care for writers. He finds them to be unkempt, narcissistic, silly, and generally unpleasant people. He tries to avoid meeting the ones who’ve written books he loves for fear that they will ruin their books for him."Zevin, Gabrielle. The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry: A Novel (p. 37). Algonquin Books. Kindle Edition.
It's always disconcerting to realize that our heroes are human. I certainly would never think of reading and discussing a passage as copyright violation. I would like to think that any author would be honored, but alas, reality intrudes and tells me that is not always the case. I know I would be honored-feel free to distribute and discuss any of my essays or poems, Jimmy!
So many teachers just make photocopies for handouts, he probably thought you meant all the class had to take turns reading....I never took to his writing. Maybe he appeals more to men.
