It's as everyone says it is - Updike is a truly gorgeous writer.

I wasn't, as others have been, offended or put off by the adultery and the copious amounts of sex that are so prominent in Couples. In fact, I found all of the characters to be real and recognizable. Their motivations and actions were ones that I've both had and witnessed throughout my own life and in my relationships with friends and lovers.

As much as I thoroughly enjoyed this book and as much as I admired the rightness of everything mentioned above, I'm a bit at a loss for words when it comes to writing a review. There are some truly great reviews out there, and in particular, I enjoy Julie G's: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... But for some reason, I just can't seem to muster up much to write.

Couples is a fascinating time capsule of style, yet it also offers a timeless rendition of human beings and human relationships. It delves deep into the complex emotions and desires that drive us, and in doing so, it provides a profound and thought-provoking look at the human condition.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in exploring the intricacies of human nature and relationships. It's a masterful work of literature that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

This was my very first encounter with the works of John Updike.

Everyone I told about reading this book said that they had read it during their teenage years, and all they could recall was how "saucy" it was. Indeed, there is a fair amount of literary sex and philandering within its pages.

I truly relished the writing. Updike's remarkable use of language to vividly describe places and people was simply outstanding. However, it is also an extremely dense book. At times, it was so arduous to get through, so overflowing with rich language that I found myself eager to reach the end. Now, I feel a longing for something lighter and shorter.

I did have some difficulties with the fact that every single character was so articulate and emotionally intelligent. But then, I would forgive Updike for this because it enabled his wonderful writing to effortlessly flow through my mind.

The ending was rather peculiar as well. It was just a concise summing up of all ten main characters over the course of two pages, as if even Updike himself had grown tired of them.

It took me quite some time to warm up to this book.

At one point, I almost gave up on it completely.

However, I am extremely glad that I persevered and finished it.

The story itself is engaging and interesting, but what really makes this book stand out is the prose.

It is so much fun to read, filled with vivid descriptions and unique turns of phrase.

In fact, the prose is so enjoyable that it almost overshadows the story.

But that's not a bad thing at all.

It adds an extra layer of depth and charm to the overall reading experience.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good read with great prose.

It may take a little patience to get into, but it is well worth the effort in the end.

Nobody writes about infidelity quite as well as Updike.

Well, Roth sometimes gets close, but in particular, in "Couples," the disintegration of the various couples in the small New England town is described with excruciating realism by John Updike.

Each character is fully fleshed out and is sometimes charming, sometimes infuriating, but always captivating.

The story delves deep into the complex emotions and relationships of these individuals, showing how their actions and choices lead to the breakdown of their marriages and friendships.

Updike's writing is细腻 and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the town and its inhabitants.

After the "Rabbit" series, this was my favorite Updike book, as it explores themes of love, lust, and betrayal in a way that is both thought-provoking and engaging.

It makes you question your own relationships and the choices you make in life.

Overall, "Couples" is a masterful work of literature that is sure to stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

The overall impression of this work is very mixed.

On one hand, there are some passages that are truly brilliant. They are rhapsodic, filled with vivid descriptions and emotions that can deeply touch the reader. Moreover, these passages are also very penetrative, showing a profound understanding and perception of the subject matter.

On the other hand, however, there are also quite a number of monumental lapses in judgement. These flaws may undermine the overall quality and credibility of the work.

In addition, the length of this work is also a matter of concern. It seems rather long, and one might wonder if it would be released today in this form.

Nevertheless, despite its flaws, this work does have a certain heft. It contains some valuable ideas and insights that are worth exploring and considering.

Overall, this work is a complex and controversial one, with both strengths and weaknesses.

Sex is like money; only too much is enough.

\\n  This provocative statement sets the tone for the story.\\n

It's 1968, a time when religion is on the wane. Faith is fluttering away like a bird taking flight. Marriage, once seen as a haven, has become a desolate, lonely place. With death lurking in the background, the only comfort seems to be the welcoming arms of a lover. Sex has emerged as the new religion. But it's not just any sex. It has to be with someone who isn't your legally bound partner. Maybe it's the wife of your friend, the pregnant woman down the road, or the town's dentist. It's time for some bed hopping, the old switcheroo. Lascivious activity is either hidden and secretive or agreed upon like a business transaction sealed with a handshake. Adultery has become the new raison d'être, and coitus is the new divinity.

\\n  This premise was truly shocking when Couples was published.\\n

It catapulted Updike onto the cover of Time Magazine. I'm sure it left many people agape at the limp morals of the book's characters.

\\n  Knowing this, I expected a salacious page-turner.\\n

Couples could have easily been titled "Swingers". So why did I find myself struggling through the sex-laden pages?

\\n  First of all, there are simply way too many characters.\\n

This story focuses on ten couples in the fictional town of Tarbox, Massachusetts. That's twenty people. Twenty! And these twenty people have very few distinguishing characteristics. Who is Freddie? And who the hell is Eddie? Who is Carol married to? What are their kids' names? Does it matter? It got to the point where I had to sketch out a map to remind myself who belonged to who, who was screwing who, who had screwed in the past, and so on. As time went on, I questioned whether it was that important to remember. They all seemed like the same soulless person.

\\n  The book is also way too long.\\n

450 pages could have been trimmed down at least by a third. Just when you think everything that could happen has happened, there are still like 100 pages to go. People are still screwing, still complaining, still wandering around aimlessly. There are also scary-long paragraphs describing the New England scenery.

\\n  The apathy is another issue.\\n

There is very little crescendo of emotion, so even when there are "consequences" to the naughty boinking behavior, it doesn't mean much. The reaction is polite, very cerebral, repetitive, and... boring.

\\n  Boring!\\n

How could I be bored when there is talk of phalli and vaginas every 5 - 10 pages? Don't get me wrong. John Updike writes about sex with such lyrical pull that I must bow to the beauty. He writes the dialogue of people laying in the dark together like none other. This is why I opened up this book, and in that sense, I got what I came for. Ahem. But, I have to say, sex isn't all that hot when the people involved are so unaffected and indifferent. And, most importantly, so easily replaced. Especially the women, who are for the most part not in control of the affairs and who seem to pay the biggest price.

\\n  What starts off as a "post pill paradise" - a sexual freedom that the people in this community revel in - devolves.\\n

This isn't a surprise; how could it continue like this? John Updike lived through the sexual revolution, and I think he captured an experience many people tried out. I believed him. He is honest about the vacuous disintegration. He's honest about his struggle between God and faith with our animal compulsions. The church will always be rebuilt though, in his world, and philanderers will have their hands slapped. The phallucy of paradise is upended.

\\n  It's all so silly, isn't it? Adultery. It's so much trouble.\\n

This is the first book I've read by Updike.

At the beginning, it left me perplexed. But as I continued reading, I appreciated it more and more.

By the end, the feeling emerged of an unexpected affinity between him and Dostoevsky. Because for both of them, the theme is what happens if everything is permitted.

It's a sort of Crime and Punishment of sex.

Updike's writing style is unique. He has a way of describing the most ordinary things in a way that makes them seem extraordinary.

The characters in this book are complex and well-developed. You can really get a sense of their inner turmoil and conflicts.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thought-provoking literature.

It's not an easy read, but it's definitely worth the effort.

Overall, I'm very glad I picked up this book and look forward to reading more of Updike's work in the future.

Generally speaking, I have a liking for Updike. His works usually offer deep insights and engaging stories. However, this particular book has truly made me despair for humanity.

You know that feeling when you attend a party and everyone seems a little too gaudy and loud? It's that kind of situation where you end up drinking more than you intended just to cope with the overwhelming atmosphere. And as soon as you can, you make a hasty exit, shutting the door firmly behind you and breathing a sigh of relief. Well, that's exactly how I felt after reading this book.

It's as if the characters and the events described within its pages are a reflection of the worst aspects of humanity. The shallowness, the excess, and the lack of true connection are all laid bare, leaving me with a sense of hopelessness. I had expected something different from Updike, but this book has taken me on a journey that I wasn't quite prepared for.

Boring.

It was such a dull and uninteresting situation that I had to give up.

The lack of excitement and stimulation made it impossible for me to continue.

Every moment felt like a drag, and there was no sign of anything changing for the better.

I tried to push through, but in the end, I just couldn't take it anymore.

Giving up seemed like the only option.

Maybe there will be better opportunities or experiences waiting for me elsewhere.

For now, I'm just glad to be free from the boredom.

I'll look forward to the next adventure and hope it brings more excitement and fulfillment.

This is, without a doubt, the most cynical novel about marriage that I have ever perused. However, it is of utmost importance to situate it within its historical context.

It was published in 1968, yet the story unfolds in 1963. The couples titular to the novel are all relatively youthful, some commencing to raise families, affluent, and adrift in a bucolic suburbia on the outskirts of Boston. Their town boasts puritanical street names such as Divinity, Hope, and Charity. Sexual liberation has descended, and few within this group can withstand its allure. Before long, the mate-swapping commences, propelled by a plethora of insecurities, neuroses, and jealousies. Alongside the adulteries come lies and deceits.

There are no ill-fated, fairy-tale loves in this book; rather, marriage is an inescapable trap from which everyone must flee. No one is truly content, and there is a price to be paid. 'They had been let into God's playroom,' Updike penned, 'and been happy together on the floor all afternoon, but the time had come to return the toys to their boxes and put the chairs against the wall.' Piet, the male component of the novel's primary couple, is a serial and almost subconsciously-driven adulterer; his ultimate destiny (marrying one of the wives with whom he had an affair) appears more cruel than desirable.

Updike is a magnificent stylist, but there is undoubtedly moral condemnation present here. One does not sense that he truly likes any of his characters. He believes that even God would concur with him: at the conclusion of the novel, a bolt of lightning strikes the town's church, and it burns to the ground. Such a book could never be written today; the couples would be far too self-aware and, albeit still morally flawed, not as inclined to soothe their flaws through sex and multiple partners. Today, perhaps, it would be something worse.

I have a profound love for Updike's vivid description and engaging dialogue.

It is truly remarkable how he manages to bring the story to life through his words.

This particular book, which was likely quite scandalous in the late 1960s, offers a rather unique and perhaps somewhat shocking depiction of a town.

In this town, it seems that everyone is involved in adultery and having affairs with one another.

On one hand, it is indeed intriguing to explore such a complex and immoral social fabric.

However, on the other hand, it can also be a bit gross and off-putting.

One aspect that I have noticed about Updike's works is that his endings always seem to peter out for me.

They lack the kind of strong conclusion that I often desire, leaving me with a sense of unfinished business or a lack of resolution.

Nevertheless, despite this minor drawback, I still find his writing to be highly engaging and thought-provoking.

Vaguely intellectual gossip.

It's a curious phenomenon that seems to combine the allure of the intellectual with a more primal fascination.

Take, for example, the case of those who claim to like reading "Mad Men" but only focus on the parts about sex and the fear of death.

This selective consumption of the show reveals an interesting aspect of human nature.

Perhaps it's a way to satisfy our intellectual curiosity while also indulging in our more base desires.

Or maybe it's a reflection of our society's preoccupation with sex and mortality.

Either way, it's a form of entertainment that blurs the lines between the cerebral and the carnal.

It makes us question what it means to be truly intellectual and whether our interests are always as pure as we might like to think.

In the end, this vaguely intellectual gossip serves as a reminder that our desires and interests are complex and often defy easy categorization.