John Updike

[Kirk]

1932-Today. Very sad. R.I.P.

[RandomAnthony]

Wow, didn't know about that...maybe I'll pick up some of his material...thanks for the news, Kirk...

[Gus]

Sad news indeed.

[[deleted user]]

I had to break the news to my ex. He yelled "Shit!" in front of a whole room of second graders.

[Sally, la reina]

Wow, that is terrible news. He was a very talented man.

http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/pa...

[Sarah]

I have never succeeded in reading or liking Updike. In my mind, he was the poster boy for nothing-happens New Yorker fiction, though that may be unfair. I tried the Witches of Eastwick and the first Rabbit book. It's been years, though. Should I try again?

[Kirk]

I would definitely try again, Sarah. His style makes him seem slower than I think he was, if only bc he was big on the poetry of phrase. A good, fun (ie salacious) one to start with is COUPLES, which was a bit scandalous in the late 60s for the way it depicted love in the suburbs. Nobody much reads it anymore cause it feels a little dated, but it's still good. (Check out Erik Simon's review, btw---excellent stuff).

[[deleted user]]

I liked "S." very much. It's on my best-best-best shelf. It's written all in the form of letters from a lady who has joined a cult. Lots of free love and contradictory philosophies. Hilarious, actually.

I hated Rabbit, Run. And A Month of Sundays and Of the Farm.

[Sandi]

I never read any of his books. When I went back to college in 1990, I took a general ed English lit course. One of the first stories we read was "A & P" by John Updike. I loved the story and I loved analyzing it. That class and that story was what led me to major in English lit.

[Meen]

salacious

I love that word.

(Sorry, I have nothing to contribute on a John Updike thread.)

[Shana]

Montambo,
I am going to take you recommendation and try S. I just added it to my to-read list. I read your review on Rabbit, Run and I think I'll pass on that one.