The Afterlife and Other Stories

Rating:
Summary: good writing unfortunately plagued with misogyny
Review: As someone who generally appreciates good writing, I looked forward to reading this collection. It only left me infuriated. Updike is an amazing writer. He truly knows the art and beauty of the craft. But all of his stories belie his misogyny. Men resent their wives, women are portrayed in one or two negative ways--it ruined the whole book for me. So I switched to Flannery O'Connor instead. Good writing, no misogyny.

Rating:
Summary: I wanted to like John Updike...
Review: I know that John Updike is one of the more outstanding writers of the 20th century, but I just can't get into his style of writing. What I enjoyed most about the short stories in The Afterlife were the conversations between characters. The conversations Updike weaves creates his characters and the plot, in my opinion. I'm not against rambling thoughts and scenery descriptions, but I'll tell you, there were times when I was reading, and I had to go back and re-read sections because I just began to think of other things.

I did like the progression of the story plots. It seems to go from early marriages to older marriages with a mix of divorces and cheating. Family structure and dynamics are the theme in The Afterlife, so if you find that a bit mundane, I would stay away from this book.

Rating:
Summary: I wanted to like John Updike...
Review: I know that John Updike is one of the more outstanding writers of the 20th century, but I just can't get into his style of writing. What I enjoyed most about the short stories in The Afterlife were the conversations between characters. The conversations Updike weaves creates his characters and the plot, in my opinion. I'm not against rambling thoughts and scenery descriptions, but I'll tell you, there were times when I was reading, and I had to go back and re-read sections because I just began to think of other things.

I did like the progression of the story plots. It seems to go from early marriages to older marriages with a mix of divorces and cheating. Family structure and dynamics are the theme in The Afterlife, so if you find that a bit mundane, I would stay away from this book.

Rating:
Summary: My favorite collection of John Updike's stories
Review: The Afterlife and Other Stories by John Updike exemplify the admirable qualities of John Updike as a writer. No matter what your perception of Updike's "take" on the world (and while we're on that subject-let us not confuse the character's feelings and views for those of the author), one is forced to admit that Mr. Updike is a very gifted writer.

There is a lot to admire and be entertained by in The Afterlife and Other Stories. Mr. Updike clearly demonstrates why he is known as one of the greatest prose stylists of the past century. These stories make the things one would typically view as mundane come to spectacularly sparkling life.

The locations of these stories have a personality of their own. Houses and landscapes interact with characters in a ways that, while difficult to describe, are very character-like in their own right. This gives the stories a sense of wonder that is palpably felt throughout the book.

Forces of nature-the blowing of a breeze, a rainstorm, the heat of the day, the light of the moon in the middle of the night-all echo the inner workings and turmoil of the character's souls. This gives the book an almost spiritual intensity...something lacking in much of today's two-dimensional "cookie cutter" writing.

The Afterlife and Other Stories is rich in imagery, meaning, and irony. There are a lot of interesting points and perspectives for the reader to ponder. One cannot read this book without having been challenged, entertained, and moved.

The tales told in The Afterlife and Other Stories taken individually are very entertaining. Taken as a whole, The Afterlife and Other Stories is something very special.

Updike is a powerful writer. I have enjoyed several of his novels. However, I appreciate his short stories deeply. The Afterlife and Other Stories is probably my favorite collection of Mr. Updike's stories. I recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: My favorite collection of John Updike's stories
Review: The Afterlife and Other Stories by John Updike exemplify the admirable qualities of John Updike as a writer. No matter what your perception of Updike's "take" on the world (and while we're on that subject-let us not confuse the character's feelings and views for those of the author), one is forced to admit that Mr. Updike is a very gifted writer.

There is a lot to admire and be entertained by in The Afterlife and Other Stories. Mr. Updike clearly demonstrates why he is known as one of the greatest prose stylists of the past century. These stories make the things one would typically view as mundane come to spectacularly sparkling life.

The locations of these stories have a personality of their own. Houses and landscapes interact with characters in a ways that, while difficult to describe, are very character-like in their own right. This gives the stories a sense of wonder that is palpably felt throughout the book.

Forces of nature-the blowing of a breeze, a rainstorm, the heat of the day, the light of the moon in the middle of the night-all echo the inner workings and turmoil of the character's souls. This gives the book an almost spiritual intensity...something lacking in much of today's two-dimensional "cookie cutter" writing.

The Afterlife and Other Stories is rich in imagery, meaning, and irony. There are a lot of interesting points and perspectives for the reader to ponder. One cannot read this book without having been challenged, entertained, and moved.

The tales told in The Afterlife and Other Stories taken individually are very entertaining. Taken as a whole, The Afterlife and Other Stories is something very special.

Updike is a powerful writer. I have enjoyed several of his novels. However, I appreciate his short stories deeply. The Afterlife and Other Stories is probably my favorite collection of Mr. Updike's stories. I recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Too good to be true
Review: Too good to be true. Updike's work has never been better, which is to say much. I am an intelligent small-town teenager-turned-man and I look up to Updike quite a bit. Also check out everything else he's written, especially "Toward The End Of Time," which unfairly got bad reviews.

Rating:
Summary: Updike is the Man!
Review: Updike is the greatest English prose artist after Colonel Sirin's great North American campaign! To that reader from Seattle: what do you mean you appreciate good writing?...if one's social squabbles get in the way of loving art, then one is a philistine!