Author Archives: johnupdikesociety

Son of a Dentist! An old interview with John Updike surfaces

Posted on April 12, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

John Updike famously hated giving interviews, but when his Ipswich dentist had his drill in his mouth and asked, “My son would like to interview you for his school paper. Would that be okay?” it’s tough to say no. Impossible, … Continue reading →

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Times writer argues on behalf of great male literary figures

Posted on April 9, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

In a piece that appeared in yesterday’s Sunday Times [London], Claire Lowdon asked the question, “Should we stop reading the work of Saul Bellow, John Updike and Philip Roth?” Then she provided an answer: “Let’s judge the great male literary … Continue reading →

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Maverick Philosopher on Updike’s Seven Stanzas at Easter

Posted on April 4, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

This time of year John Updike’s poem “Seven Stanzas at Easter” is often reprinted and just as often pondered. The most recent to tackle the poem is the Maverick Philosopher, who is listed among The Times of London’s 100 Best … Continue reading →

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Posted on March 27, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

Hear Updike Society member Yoav Fromer (author of The Moderate Imagination: The Political Though of John Updike and the Decline of New Deal Liberalism) in conversation with history professor Michael Kazin, whose most recent book was named an Editor’s Choice … Continue reading →

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Updike was a kinder, gentler reviewer, even when he wasn’t

Posted on March 19, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

Yesterday, on John Updike’s 89th birthday, Literary Hub published an article by Walker Caplan that noted how Updike, “with one notable exception, was an incredibly kind reviewer.” Those familiar with Updike’s work are probably wondering which one that might be: … Continue reading →

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Little French Bridal Shop author recalls moment with Updike

Posted on March 8, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

In a Q&A with The Nerd Daily, Jennifer Dupee, author of the debut novel The Little French Bridal Shop, was asked, “Was there a moment in your writing career where you thought, ‘Okay, now I am officially a REAL writer?’ … Continue reading →

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In Memoriam: Harlan L. Boyer

Posted on March 7, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

We are saddened to report that Harlan L. Boyer, who graduated from Shillington High School in 1950 and was a classmate of John Updike’s, died on Monday, March 1, 2021. He was 88. Boyer, whose father was Updike’s art teacher … Continue reading →

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Roth letters reveal a complex relationship with Updike

Posted on February 5, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

In his May 21, 2020 article on “The Philip Roth Archive,” Jesse Tisch described  “A fan’s obsessive rummage through the letters and papers of the writer who died two years ago today” that “reveals a playful, funny, brilliant man.”  The … Continue reading →

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Rabbit is one of 25 books that inspired writers to write

Posted on February 4, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

Round-up stories are popular features, and for an article that appeared in Nylon Kristin Iversen rounded up 25 writers and asked them what book inspired them to want to be a writer. “For me,” responded Siobhan Vivian, author of Stay … Continue reading →

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Updike recalled in well-known painter-writer’s short story collection

Posted on February 2, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

Born in 1946 in Ressen,Bulgaria, Dimitri Vojnov is a well-known artist (oils, acrylics, pastels, sculptures) living in Germany who is recognized by The Europa Authentica Cultural Organization as a Magister Artis. In 2020, he published a collection of short-short stories … Continue reading →

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