Book Salon: Our readers on John Updike's last novel
On January 27, 2009, the US writer John Updike died. In his latest novel, we meet "The Witches of Eastwick" again - "The Widows of Eastwick." Five of our readers have already learned what happened to the witches of Eastwick before the book's April 4 release date. They were fortunate enough to be invited to the Chroniques Du VasteMonde Book Salon. How they liked The Widows of Eastwick, read on the following pages. And in the end you are asked: who wrote the best review? Vote!
You would also like to immerse yourself in the world of The Widows of Eastwick? Read an excerpt from the novel. To the reading sample
Witchcraft and age spots - Review by reader Alexandra Naumann
"A great tribute to old ladies"
John Updike lets the witches return: More than 30 years after Sukie, Jane and Alexandra left the scene of their misdeeds and ecstasies, they are back in the quiet town of Eastwick on the east coast of the United States. All are now widowed and travel to Canada, Egypt and three to China. But then they make the fateful decision to spend a summer together in Eastwick - in the converted former apartments of her former lover Darryl van Horne, whose young wife once used a charm to kill her.
Here the book gains more and more verve and tensionEastwick, however, clearly provokes the mistrust and contempt of the inhabitants who remember her. As Jane dies trying to rebuild the "witches of power" of the three witches, it's clear that one of her former acquaintances is about to break her neck ... With his detailed, wonderful pictorial prose Updike describes humorously and lovingly the journeys and the everyday life of his witchesin which they struggle with the problems of aging, with their nipples and illnesses and the fear of death. Because this is what this book is all about: three women, old, alone and wrinkled, who gain new strength, creativity and courage through the resurgence of their friendship. Alexandra Naumann
What the novel is for: The book is a great tribute to old ladies - Miss Marple fans should definitely read it.
My favorite phrase: "Only if we've given it all up - our beautiful cars, our neat houses, our well-dressed kids and their excellent grades, our club memberships, our sexual conquests, our bank accounts, everything we give power to, to define ourselves - suppose we renounced all this or it was snatched from us: are we no longer ourselves? "
Reflections on aging - Review by reader Elfi Wieland-Flaig
"The book is rich, but never heavy."
Nice that Updike lets the three witches of Eastwick return again. They grew thirty years older, more melancholy, had children, grandchildren, became widows. From loneliness they revive their old friendship.
At the beginning of the book, they travel together Through Canada, Africa and China, they yearn, remember and enjoy the freedom of old age.
They decide to take a trip back in time to Eastwick. Updike describes the aging melancholy of the three witches, who often react with anger and utter astonishment at the current Eastwick. The boredom of suburban life almost drives her crazy. The encounter with the past is disappointing in the end. Alexandra's daughter puts it soberly, "I think you need less Eastwick, not anymore, you and your friends, you thought a return would make you younger, but of course it does not have that, the magic you hoped for is failed to materialize. "
The novel is calmer, more deliberate, but not boring. Updike fascinates with his powers of observation, his reflections on aging and as a chronicler of the American middle class, who humorously describes everyday life. The book is rich, but never heavy. Elfi Wieland-Flaig
My favorite phrase: "All mourn over the death of God, I am much more grieved by the death of sin." Without sin, human beings are no longer human, they are only soulless flocks. "
Frauenfreundschaft - Review by reader Manuela Müller
"A beautiful book about women's friendship under the weight of old age"
A good thirty years have passed since Alexandra, Sukie, and Jane acted as the witches of Eastwick. Each has since lived their own lives and only when all three become widows, the contact between them again properly. With occasional phone calls at some point the idea comes up to travel together. Slowly, the desire for small, harmless sorceries flickers up again.But when they return to Eastwick for a summer to revive their coven, they catch up with the past. Because there you can still remember them ... In true tapeworm sentences, but wonderfully vividly described in flowery language, John Updike brings the witches of Eastwick back to life. With all their quirks and quirks you can imagine them as the old ladies next door. You do not have to identify with them, especially Jane is a real nuisance to me. But through the sensitively granted insights into her psychic life there is always an understanding in the reader for her actions and passions, as well as the curiosity for the next "coup" of the three.
For me, a beautiful book about women's friendship under the weight of old ageAlways looked at with a small wink that really gets going in the second half of the book.
What the novel is for: For a long lazy spring weekend
My favorite phrase: "No man can love like a woman, they do not have the internal organs for it."
Guilt and sin - Review by reader Andrea Holzwarth
"Successful balancing act between demanding language and readability"
Of course it is an advantage for the "Widows of Eastwick" to read the first part. A basic requirement is by no means! Striking is the successful balancing act between demanding language and readability. We all know the "good" books, which do well in the closet, but require an absolutely fit and alert mind next to tens of liters of coffee to be read. This is not the case here - and that's why this book is particularly suitable for the upcoming beach and open-air season.
After the "homemade" husbands have blessed the time, the three friends Alexandra, Sukie and Jane meet again. They travel to Egypt and China to escape their widowhood, and rediscover their sense of togetherness there. Finally, they return to Eastwick, the place of their crimes. Of course, each of the women has a different view of the past and more or less guilt.
"The Widows of Eastwick" deals, among other things, with guilt and the perspective of aging women on their past - and from the question whether after 40 years such a direct confrontation with the committed sins is necessary. In addition, there is a lot of geography, the only moments when the book is a bit lengthy. Andrea Holzwarth
My favorite phrase: "Your younger self is damaged by guilt, as by water pouring into a sealed cabin, the events of that time confused but indisputable, her frantic desire to undo what has happened, rejected, her soul forever trapped in guilt Fetus in formaldehyde. "
John Updike - a women's understanding? - Review by reader Friederike Flügel
"Absolutely worth reading"
To say it in advance: I liked the book a lot and is absolutely worth reading, I can only recommend it. The translator has done a good job, but I will read the book again in the original, e.g. The word "fumble" in the text is so common, nowadays no one uses it anymore, neither old nor young, in context it does not seem so, in any case to me.
Very nice and interesting I found the travel descriptions to China and Egypt with the historical backgrounds and interactions of women during their journeys together. Wonderful the wink of Mao! Also the return to Eastwick after many years, very exciting and enlightening, all the changes and developments of the people and the infrastructure, great. I was particularly touched by the encounter of Alexandra and her daughter after a long time.
Only in the deep soul of older women Updike in my opinion, not descended (even 62), even a genius writer like him can not do that. Friederike Wings
For what the novel is suitable: For all who want to know what has become of the witches, a great reading pleasure!
My favorite phrase: "What a curious test nature exposes us day after day, when we hang the awareness and deliver us to dreams, in who knows what attacks and embarrassments threaten!" (Page 113)
