John Updike collection in ebooks

[Bro Pete]

I heard him in an old interview. He is an insightful man. Makes me curious about some of his short work.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/20...-his-birthday/

[anamardoll]

Heh. I had to read his Rabbit series as an English major undergrad. I personally thought the books were awful and never could understand why he was so highly acclaimed. The books are like bored, dispassionate porn, in my personal opinion, and it was an... interesting experience having to present that to the class.

[Prestidigitweeze]

I can suffer through a bit of sexist and even anti-Semitic sentiment (since I myself am the target of the latter) if I think the writing has enough redeeming qualities. John Hawkes has his style and tone, Pound, his stubborn craft, and Raymond Roussel, his impossible inventions. But in Updike's case, I always feel as if I'm peering through the urethra-like visor of a solipsistic golfer. He overwhelms you with the stench of the country-club-outfitted athletic supporter he's continually pointing at. "Fill it out nicely, don't I? Don't I? Christ, I feel virile (and yet I grow circumspect on public Sundays)."

David Foster Wallace certainly has his faults, but he's corpse-accurate on this particular subject.

You want civilized and mildly salacious without sacrificing wisdom or empathy? I'd say Madame Bovary's a start. Beyond that, I'd take The Blood Oranges and even Sexing the Cherry over anything by Updike. And besides that, Updike's writing makes Norman Mailer look humble.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

I can suffer through a bit of sexist and even anti-Semitic sentiment (since I myself am the target of the latter) if I think the writing has enough redeeming qualities. John Hawkes has his style and tone, Pound, his stubborn craft, and Raymond Roussel, his impossible inventions. But in Updike's case, I always feel as if I'm peering through the urethra-like visor of a solipsistic golfer. He overwhelms you with the stench of the country-club-outfitted athletic supporter he's continually pointing at. "Fill it out nicely, don't I? Don't I? Christ, I feel virile (and yet I grow circumspect on public Sundays)."

David Foster Wallace certainly has his faults, but he's corpse-accurate on this particular subject.

You want civilized and mildly salacious without sacrificing wisdom or empathy? I'd say Madame Bovary's a start. Beyond that, I'd take The Blood Oranges and even Sexing the Cherry over anything by Updike. And besides that, Updike's writing makes Norman Mailer look humble.

I disagree with you totally, but I like the way you write.




Don