Mr. John Updike (1932-2009)

From theparisreview.org

The Art of Fiction No. 43
John Updike
Issue 45, Winter 1968

INTERVIEWER
You seem to shun literary society. Why?

UPDIKE
I don’t, do I? Here I am, talking to you. In leaving New York in 1957, I did leave without regret the literary demimonde of agents and would-be’s and with-it nonparticipants; this world seemed unnutritious and interfering. Hemingway described literary New York as a bottle full of tapeworms trying to feed on each other. When I write, I aim in my mind not toward New York but toward a vague spot a little to the east of Kansas. I think of the books on library shelves, without their jackets, years old, and a countryish teenaged boy finding them, and having them speak to him.

Sports Illustrated had a tribute couple of weeks ago.
Sad no one’s mentioned him here.
An early favorite, you will be missed.

Again, I have to admit to never having read a particular author’s work.
Before, it was Donald Westlake/Richard Stark, which I recently rectified, now it’s John Updike. Where will my reading list end?
It’s a shame to hear of anyone passing though. What do you reccomend, Scrum?

Well, you could start with his Pulitzer Prize winner, Rabbit is Rich, but that is the third or fourth in a series.  I started with the final book in the Rabbit series, Rabbit at Rest, which chronicles Harry Angstrom and his nutty family in his retirement years.  A magazine exceprt when it was published got me hooked.  The rest, as they say, is history. 

If you like Golf you could start with his collection of short stories on that blasted game, Golf Dreams, which is excellent.
Another collection of short stories, Lessons of Love, is also quite good.
John Updike novels you might have heard of:  The Witches of Eastwick, Couples, A Month of Sundays
A recent effort, Terrorist, seemed sub-standard, but had its flashes of brilliance.

You really can’t go wrong with any choice.  You’ll either like his style right away or you won’t.

Thanks, Scrum.
I think I’ll go for Rabbit, Run at first, then if it appeals, read the others in order.

Don’t miss Bech

tried Beck from a library copy.  Couldn’t get into it enough, fast enough, to warrant a purchase.
There are two or three Beck books.  Beck is Back is one, and I recall hearing something about a third, more recent Beck.
Beck seemed like a departure of sorts for Updike.  I’ll have to revisit the old chap sometime.

originally short stories for the new yorker
demand for sequels etc
3 now in one book
compendium
bech takes pot luck
yummy