America's great man of letters John Updike (and my personal fave author) has a new novel out, called simply, TERRORIST.

It's a story of a young American youth who gets recruited/seduced into an Islamic terror cell.

It's getting mixed reviews. Many think he should stick to his "strength": careful, Vermeer-like portraits of the East Coast American upper middle-class, yet those who know this prodigious writer (and thinker) know that even his lesser works are still head-and-shoulders better than most of what goes for fiction out there...

I'll get my copy on Monday, June 19th. can't wait!

David

Could be an absorbing, intrigue. Curious to read your comments . . . and to learn just how JU handles, this touchy subject.

I've read some of Updike's essays, but no novels. Would like to...where would be a good place to start? Which is your favorite Updike novel?

and this title for a person who enjoys Updike and aromas/perfume


http://www.betweenthecovers.com/btc/item/84508

more at
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sillage

Wow, this novel does seem like quite a diversion for Updike. Love the Rabbit series.

Thank you sillage! This looks like fun!

The best place to start may be with his short story collections. TRUST ME, LICKS OF LOVE and THE AFTERLIFE.

Updike first came to attention in the late-50's, and had a great run in the 60's, but suddenly, his narrative tone shifted, around 1972. (For the better, I think. A nasty real-life divorce suddenly made his writer's tone less moony and reverent and romantic, and more uncompromising and curmudgeonly-- to my delight.).

So choose a novel written post-1972, I think.

THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK was made into a movie starring Cher and Jack Nicholson, but it is not my favorite Updike novel at all.

I love SEEK MY FACE, S. , TOWARD THE END OF TIME, BRAZIL, and MEMORIES OF THE FORD ADMINISTRATION the best. I also adore his autobiography, SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS, and his appraisal of famous paintings, JUST LOOKING.

The Rabbit and Bech stories are fun and accessible, but not Updike at his most wound-up and astonishing.

Updike angst---self doubt and ego



http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?acti...-BOOKS-06-21-06


sillage

Most interesting.