Anyone re-reading Updike in a fit of posthumous respect?

[tigereye]

We are reading Pigeon Feathers - one of his earliest short story collections in my book group and I know that the Shit is going to hit the fan, since we are a highly feminist and intellectually oriented group. Beautiful language, but what a misogynist at times...


I loved his cerebral posture and insecurity when I was much younger... but I can't help but feel a respect for someone who parses emotions and wields the words so well.

:)

[MrModerate]

1. Naaah . . . never could wade through his stuff.

Maybe I just don't resonate correctly or he was an acquired taste, but I could never get past a big "who cares?" about his characters and "so what?" about his plotting.

[tigereye]

2. the older stuff has more compassion in it, I think

[Richardo]

3. I read "Terrorist" a few years ago when it came out...

...that's the only Updike I've ever read. It was OK, but I haven't been compelled to read any more.

[tigereye]

4. we are re-reading some of his short stories- they are worth checking out,

if a little dated. I used to love his stuff, read piles of it, then got irked by his cynicism.

:hi:

[Captain Hilts]

5. His writing never did much for me, but I am not well-versed in reading fiction,

so I, not Updike, might be the problem here.

[BlueIris]

6. "A Month of Sundays" and "In the Beauty of the Lilies" have been on my "To Read" list for a while.

I might make a better effort to get to them now that he's gone.