Adam Begley's Updike Biography

I think there are very few times I would willingly carry around a 500 page book in my purse for a full month. I'd rather keep a novella or small paperback with me at all times. But, for the past month or so, Adam Begley's Updike has gone almost everywhere with me.

We've enjoyed breakfast and a few Happy Hours together.

And I can't wait to snag a hardbound copy of this to add to my collection of John Updike books. It is that good that even though I have this lovely review copy, I will purchase one for myself.

This is truly one of my favorite biographies. Of course it helps to be interested in the subject, but I loved the way Begley intertwined Updike's personal life story with the characters in his work. Some of these connections, I knew before reading the book, but the ones I was just discovering were so exciting I found myself remarking out loud. Of course, they were exciting for me, but if you aren't a fan of Updike's work, you probably would have been able to contain yourself like a normal human.

Begley's writing in this was great. And although the writing itself never felt slow or dragging, it was the perfect biography to work through at a slower pace myself.

And I'm so happy they stuck with the proof cover, designed by Leah Carlson-Stanisic on this one. Such a great black image of Updike.

Also, this book is cat approved.

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an Etsy treasury based on Updike's Rabbit, Run

one of my favorite passages by Updike

another nice cover by Leah Carlson-Stanisic

p.s. I'll be doing an interview with Risa Rodil, so study up!