Reviewing a Scene 2: The Gabriels at Home
The other day, I wrote about a scene in The Witches of Eastwick where our three wicked ladies are seduced by a devilish new man in town. Read that here. Today, is a follow-up with what is the best scene in the novel so far. And it doesn’t include the leads. The scene that closes … Continue reading
Upbraiding Updike for Wordy “Witches”
“And oh yes,” Jane Smart said in her hasty yet purposeful way, each s seemed the black tip of a just-extinguished match held in playful hurt, as children do, against the skin. “Sukie said a man has bought the Lenox mansion.” John Updike loves the English language. He loves the way words feel when they … Continue reading
New Book Selected! The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike
We have a new book. We’ll start reading The Witches of Eastwick on December 1. About Witches of Eastwick: 1984 novel by John Updike. 320 pp What it’s about After Rabbit, Run, The Witches of Eastwick is arguably John Updike’s second most famous novel. It tells the story of three divorced women living in Rhode Island. They are witches, … Continue reading
High Tech, Low Life
John Updike (who we might be reading next with his famous Witches of Eastwick) once wrote some simple rules for reviewing a book. The first is the most important, really the only rule a critic needs: Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he … Continue reading
Letters Republic 