**Early Stories**

John Updike, a literary giant of the 20th century American literature, requires little introduction. In this extensive collection, most of the stories are concise, not exceeding a dozen or so pages. However, Updike manages to convey a wealth of ideas and emotions with remarkable efficiency. As a result, many scenes are established within just a few paragraphs.

There are authors who write more dramatically, like Tennessee Williams, or those who evoke more visceral responses in readers, such as Faulkner. There are also futurists like Bradbury who are more imaginative. But no one surpasses Updike in crystallizing thoughts and choosing the perfect words to sketch stories about seemingly ordinary events in life.

Here are some of the short stories in this collection that I particularly enjoyed:
1. **“Pigeon Feathers”** - A story about a boy, David, and his family's move to a farm in Pennsylvania. David, with his orderly mind, grapples with understanding life, death, and religion. When his mother asks him to shoot a family of pigeons that are causing a mess in the barn, he does so but feels conflicted. Through this event and his readings, he arrives at a secular view of the world. This story feels autobiographical and is filled with nostalgia.
2. **“Friends from Philadelphia”** - The theme of this story is class struggle. A sixteen-year-old boy needs to buy a bottle of wine for his parents' dinner party with guests arriving from Philadelphia that night. Unable to purchase it at the liquor store, he asks a neighbor girl's father to buy it for him. The man, sensitive about his blue-collar background, agrees but wants to show off his new car first.
3. **“The Christian Roommates”** - Two boys from very different Christian backgrounds become roommates at Harvard during their freshman year. The story, at times pretentious, offers a fascinating look at the early '50s Ivy League scene. The country boy (possibly Updike) arrives at Harvard and tries to navigate this new world of the privileged few, leaving him conflicted with both disdain and jealousy.
4. **“How to Love America and Leave It at the Same Time”** - This story showcases Updike's descriptive writing skills. A man on vacation with his family after a long day of driving checks into a motel. He sizes up the clerk and observes seemingly insignificant details of his surroundings. He relishes the nuances of American life but also laments the fact that the country has lost its mystery and charm. It's a great story about the simultaneous presence of self-confidence and doubt, and the conflicting thoughts that inhabit our minds.
5. **“When Everyone was Pregnant”** - A poignant reflection on a happy moment in a husband's past.
6. **“The Gun Shop”** - An obnoxious fourteen-year-old boy receives a gun for his birthday, but one of the pins breaks soon after. He throws a tantrum, so his father takes him to a gun shop to have it fixed. While the owner works on the gun, another old man tells war stories, some of which are probably not true. The father gets annoyed at the old man's tales. This inter-generational story, true to Updike's literary style, seems more like non-fiction than fiction.
7. **“The Tarbox Police”** - A sketch of the fictional town's police force and some of the secrets they know, as well as many they'd rather not know. It may not have a complex plot, but it's a great piece of writing.
8. **“A&P”** - One of Updike's most famous stories, the scene is vividly drawn and instantly recognizable. The protagonist is a teenage boy working as a clerk at the A&P in a beach town. He notices two teenage girls in bathing suits picking up snacks at the store. When the store manager is rude to the girls for their inappropriate attire, the boy becomes angry.
9. **“The Deacon”** - An insightful story about a new church deacon and his responsibilities, as well as what he might be thinking about while listening to the sermon. It's a wonderful character sketch.
10. **“The Taste of Metal”** - This is perhaps the most hedonistic story in the collection, but it's not overly salacious. There are three characters in the car: Richard, the husband driving; Joan, the wife in the backseat; and Eleanor, the recently separated wife of a bond trader in the passenger seat. Richard and Joan just met Eleanor at a party. No one seems to be behaving appropriately as Richard contemplates kissing a willing Eleanor. Joan comments on Richard's dangerous driving on the icy roads, and we know that drunk driving is never a good idea.

Overall, I rate this collection 4.5 stars.

I have an unwavering love for John Updike's stories. His works are truly a delight to explore. The images he creates within the pages are simply great, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind. It's as if you can see the characters and the settings come to life right before your eyes.

Moreover, his creative style is one of a kind. He has this unique way of telling stories that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. His use of language, the pacing of the narrative, and the development of the plot are all masterfully done. Each story feels like a work of art, carefully crafted and polished to perfection.

John Updike's stories have a charm and a magic that is hard to resist. They offer a glimpse into different worlds and experiences, and they have the power to touch the reader's heart and soul. Whether you're a fan of short stories or not, I highly recommend giving his works a try. You won't be disappointed.

Wonderful! Updike is an outstanding wordsmith.

He has an extraordinary ability to truly capture those precious moments that shape a life.

These moments have the power to make us pause, to make us remember the past, to feel regret for our mistakes, to long for something better, and to experience the depth of love.

Although he may sometimes be a bit self-indulgent in his writing, I am willing to overlook this flaw because of all his other great qualities.

His works are a testament to his talent and his deep understanding of the human condition.

Reading his books is like taking a journey through the lives of his characters, experiencing their joys and sorrows, and learning from their experiences.

Overall, I highly recommend Updike's works to anyone who appreciates great literature.

I absolutely loved this book.

It was an extraordinary experience, as if I was actually living John Updike's life together with him for a span of twenty years.

Even though it is classified as fiction, a significant number of the stories within it are clearly autobiographical in nature.

I have a deep appreciation for his sense of humor and his unique writing style.

Some of these stories are truly outstanding, and the fact that they are all so concise makes it a highly enjoyable read.

Each story offers a glimpse into different aspects of life, filled with vivid characters and engaging情节.

It's a book that can be easily picked up and put down, yet it leaves a lasting impression.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-written, thought-provoking stories.

Early Americana Updike

John Updike's works often explore the early Americana. His vivid descriptions transport readers back in time, allowing them to experience the unique charm and essence of that era.

Updike's writing style is细腻 and engaging, painting a detailed picture of the people, places, and events. Through his words, we can see the small towns, the simple lifestyles, and the values that were cherished during that time.

His works not only provide a historical perspective but also offer insights into the human condition. We can witness the struggles, joys, and sorrows of the characters, and gain a deeper understanding of what it meant to live in early America.

Whether it's the rural landscapes, the family dynamics, or the social norms, Updike's exploration of early Americana is both captivating and thought-provoking. It enriches our knowledge of the past and reminds us of the importance of preserving our cultural heritage.

It is quite unusual for me to award 5 stars to an anthology.

Typically, there are a fair number of stories within an anthology that don't quite hit the mark for my personal taste.

However, this particular anthology is filled with pretty solid writing from start to finish.

Now, is it absolutely perfect? Well, no. But it is darn close.

The authors have done a remarkable job of crafting engaging and well-written stories that kept me hooked throughout.

Each story has its own unique charm and style, yet they all come together to form a cohesive and enjoyable collection.

I found myself constantly looking forward to the next story, eager to see what new surprises and delights it would bring.

This anthology is definitely one that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves good writing and great stories.

It's a real gem that is sure to please even the most discerning of readers.

Overall, I was extremely impressed with this anthology and I can't wait to see what else the authors have in store for us in the future.

Much is made of Updike being a very'male' author, and not unjustifiably. He writes of a particular era, a specific place in life, and a certain point of view. But, isn't that the essence of 'fiction'? One doesn't have to be a whaler to read Melville or a matador to read Hemingway. Just as these great authors transport us to worlds beyond our own, Updike does the same.

There are many stories within his works, little snapshots of daily life. Just like in real life, not everything seems memorable as it is happening. Today might simply be a moment spent at the A & P, a walk in the city, or the task of dislodging a car from a snowy driveway. Yet, these are the very things that a life is composed of, the places where we can catch a glimpse of the magic in the everyday. Updike is an unparalleled reporter of these big little things. He has the remarkable ability to make the ordinary extraordinary, to find beauty and significance in the simplest of moments. His writing allows us to see the world through a new lens and appreciate the hidden wonders that surround us every day.

Great great stories!

I have yet to read the rabbit novels, but I do love Updike's short fiction.

His works are usually about things that are pretty simple, such as the daily life of ordinary people, their emotions, and their relationships.

However, the way he writes is so excellent that you don't care about the simplicity of the subject matter.

Updike has a unique ability to make the ordinary seem extraordinary and to capture the essence of human nature in his stories.

His writing is细腻 and vivid, and he uses language in a way that makes you feel as if you are right there with the characters, experiencing their joys and sorrows.

Whether it's a story about a failed marriage, a lost friendship, or a moment of self-discovery, Updike's short fiction always manages to touch the reader's heart and leave a lasting impression.

I can't wait to explore more of his works and see what other great stories he has to offer.

John Updike was an incredibly talented writer.

His descriptions were so vivid that they painted detailed pictures in the reader's mind, and he was truly a master narrator of human nature.

However, I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with this particular book.

Although I hate to give it only three stars, the format in which his work was presented made it quite difficult to read.

The book was organized by the setting of the story, such as childhood, married life, and so on.

While it was interesting to see the recurring characters and themes, it also became a bit repetitive, to the point where it was almost boring.

I still love John Updike's writing, but this layout just didn't work for me.

Perhaps if it had been presented in a different way, I would have given it a higher rating.

Nevertheless, I will continue to read his other works and look forward to being amazed by his talent once again.

No doubt, he is the greatest American short-story writer ever. I have never read prose that is written so poetically. His works are like precious gems, shining with unique literary charm.

Each sentence he pens seems to be carefully crafted, as if he is a master painter using words as his brush to create vivid and enchanting pictures in the readers' minds. The rhythm and flow of his prose are like a beautiful symphony, captivating the audience from the very first note.

His stories often explore the depths of human nature, revealing the hidden emotions and desires that lie within us all. Through his powerful and evocative writing, he makes us feel as if we are experiencing the events and emotions of the characters firsthand.

In conclusion, his short stories are a true masterpiece of American literature, and I am truly honored to have had the opportunity to read them.

This is a remarkable collection that consists of over a hundred short works. These works have been published in renowned magazines like the New Yorker and others.

Most of these stories are truly excellent. Some of them are not just good but super good, captivating the readers from the very beginning. However, there are also some that I found to be a bit too self-reflexive. It was as if the story was so busy looking at itself in the mirror that it forgot the presence of the reader in the room. I even felt compelled to turn my head and cough, as if I was getting a physical examination.

Updike writes in a voice that is similar, yet in a distant way, to the voice I discover in Steven Millhauser's short stories. I constantly had the urge to pick up Millhauser's works and read them side by side with Updike's. But I resisted this urge, perhaps feeling or fearing that the unique qualities of each voice would be lost if they were placed too closely together.

When Updike is at his best, his influence can be as vast as eclipsing entire continents. And when I found myself immersed in such a story, I simply let go. I fell deeply in love with the story, losing all sense of consequence as I was carried away by the narrative.

I am eagerly looking forward to reading more of Updike's works in the near future.

In no particular order, these are some of the stories in the collection: Transaction, The Family Meadow, The Witnesses, You'll never know, dear, Wife-Wooing, The Morning, During the Jurassic.

I just like having this book in the bookcase.

It may seem like a simple preference, but there's something special about seeing that particular volume among the others.

Maybe it's the way it looks on the shelf, with its unique cover and spine.

Or perhaps it's the memories associated with it, the times I've spent reading it or the place where I acquired it.

(Sarah: Updike is shite.) However, not everyone may share my enthusiasm for this book.

Sarah, for example, has a rather different opinion.

She thinks that Updike is shite.

But that's the beauty of literature, everyone has their own tastes and perspectives.

And while Sarah's view may not align with mine, it doesn't take away from the fact that I still enjoy having this book in my bookcase.

It remains a part of my collection, a source of pleasure and inspiration.