About book My Father's Tears: And Other Stories (2010)
MY FATHER’S TEARS, and other stories. (2009). John Updike. ****.John Updike passed away in 2009 so I have to assume that this would have been his last collection of short stories. He was a masterful short story writer. He didn’t employ any tricks; he was not an O’Henry or an Ambrose Bierce. He was more like a man you might sit down next to on a train and strike up a conversation with. His characters soon begin telling you their life story as encapsulated in a short event, and you listen. This collection brings together a group of tales about ordinary people who let you into their minds and hearts. There’s more than the usual percentage of nostalgia here, but that happens to most of us. These last stories let you know a lot about Updike’s process of thinking and are well worth reading. Recommended. This collection is Updike's last and I have to say that it is merely good. With the exception of "The Walk with Elizanne" (which is one of the most touching stories I've read in a while) these stories are not among Updike's best. Even his take on 9/11 (The Varieties of Religious Experience) falls short of expectations. Nonetheless, I miss this prolific "man of letters"...it gives you pause when you read that the copyright belongs to "The Estate of John Updike."SUPPLEMENTAL REVIEW:After reading this book on vacation in May, I decided to begin listening to the Audiobook while driving to and from work. Hearing these stories read aloud, I have gained a new appreciation for the book. These stories, which reflect Updike's last creative glance back at his own life, are worth savoring through a second reading.
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Some excellent stories--others just so-so. The title story is particularly good.
—beccc22
One of the all-time best modern writers. Ever.
—jpernick1
