Memory Book for John Updike
Share your memories and donate in the name of John Updike

"John Updike was a remarkable man who writes fantastic novels that can make us laugh and make us cry. My thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends. May he Rest In Peace."

Posted by: Oliver Miller - Greenwood, IN   Jun 02, 2009

I DID NOT KNOW MR UPDIKE, EXCEPT THRU THE NEW YORKER MAG; BUT MY CLOSEST FRIEND, REV SPENCER THOMPSON HAS SHARED MANY MEMORIES HE HAS OF HIM. SPENCER WAS HIS NEIGHBOR IN MA, AND WAS EVEN MENTIONED IN ONE OF MR UPDIKES BOOKS, "AS THE YOUNG CLERGYMAN, SPENCE." SPENCER IS NOW RETIRED IN MEXICO.
CINDY GUTMANN, 704 225-9111

Posted by: CINDY GUTMANN - MONROE, NC   Feb 03, 2009

John Updike was a fine author, and a pulitzer prize winner. To Tristan who called him "pedestrian" because his ex-wife loved his book, I would just say, that taking a shot at someone who has passed is unbelievably rude, and it sounds like your issues should not be shared on a condolences website.. Enough said? this man just died, and..oh nevermind, I am sure I am screaming at deaf ears. Take a penny and go purchase some tact..and see a therapist..

Posted by: Jerry Wagner - New York, NY   Jan 28, 2009

We have lost a great writer. May he rest in peace.

Posted by: Jane Miller - Boston, MA   Jan 28, 2009

I drew John UpDikes name out of a hat in AP English. We had to commit to a year of reading the works of that one author. It was 1988 and I had no idea who he was but by the time I had finished Rabbit Run, I was hooked. The way he wrote Rabbit Angstrom explained my otherwise inexplicable father. I owe him a great deal for that insight. In all truth,he taught me about the passions, burdens and sins of the everyman. I will sorely miss his work and hope that his work will reasonate for generations to come. It's a sad day.

Posted by: Shannon - Brighton, MI   Jan 28, 2009

I felt he was "overblown" as the Democrats say of anybody that criticizes their candidates and that Norman Mailer was right as well as the British critics who gave him that award (see obit). I read him in the New Yorker as a young man and found him to be pedestrian; his later novels, ending with that awful "Rabbit is Rich" thing was a favorite of my ex-wife"s; enough said.

Posted by: Tristan Argenti - Sarasota, FL   Jan 28, 2009