Author Archives: johnupdikesociety

Updike Society announces 2023 conference site

Posted on October 6, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

Traditionally, the John Updike Society announces the site of their next biennial conference at the closing membership meeting of the current conference, and that “reveal” is done with a PowerPoint presentation. And here it is:

Posted in 7th Biennial JUS Conference | 1 Comment

Updike Society honors two Daves and two Jims

Posted on October 6, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

At the 6th Biennial John Updike Society Conference in Reading and Shillington, Pa., four members were surprised with awards in appreciation for their longtime service. The board members for this 501c3 nonprofit organization voted unanimously to honor David W. Ruoff … Continue reading →

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Postponed Updike Society conference finally in the books

Posted on October 6, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

Forty-seven members donned masks to see each other again at the 6th John Updike Society Conference in Reading and Shillington, Pa. from Sept. 30-Oct. 3—a conference that had been scheduled for 2020 but postponed because of COVID-19. With pandemic numbers … Continue reading →

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New Berks County signs honor Updike, Rabbit

Posted on September 24, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

It’s only a tiny stream that begins in Shillington, cuts through Cumru Township for a short piece, then continues through adjacent Kenhorst. There it empties into the Angelica Creek. But now that tiny stream has a name and a sign … Continue reading →

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Latest John Updike Review spotlights Labor-in-Vain tennis court

Posted on August 7, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

John Updike Society members who attended the second biennial conference in Boston got to tour Updike’s Labor-in-Vain house and see the tennis court that John and Mary Updike used for recreation. The recently published John Updike Review (Vol. 8, No. … Continue reading →

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Time to register for the 6th Biennial John Updike Society Conference

Posted on July 29, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

COVID-19 scuttled the 2020 conference, but while the situation remains fluid the John Updike Society board has decided to move forward with the conference, which will be scaled back to a 2.5 day event with no long day trip, held … Continue reading →

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Writer questions literary Cancel Culture

Posted on July 26, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

In recent years, males who have taken advantage of women have been toppled amid cries of “toxic masculinity,” and Confederate statues and monuments have been removed because of “cancel culture.” But in his Spectator essay “Read Ray Bradbury before he’s … Continue reading →

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Updike makes a Five Great Books reading list

Posted on July 20, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

In a Husteust.com article that begins with a quote from Game of Thrones‘ Tyrion Lannister (“A mind needs books as a sword needs a sharpening stone”), “Five books you should read this year” are recommended: The Road, by Cormac McCarthyLife … Continue reading →

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U and F

Posted on July 14, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

Anything goes these days when it comes to online journalism, partly because so much of what passes for news is opinion posted by untrained non-professionals, but also partly because times have changed. Just not The Times. Though a recently posted … Continue reading →

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Book explores Updike and others as religious writers

Posted on July 5, 2021 by johnupdikesociety

Books published during the COVID quarantine tend not to be on anyone’s radar, but one of them just came to our attention: Listening for God: Malamud, O’Connor, Updike & Morrison, by Peter C. Brown (Mercer University Press, 2020). Of course, … Continue reading →

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