This is the first complete collection I've read from Updike, though I've read his novels and a few of his stories in the past. "A & P"--one of the stories in this collection--was one of the first stories of his I encountered, and although I appreciated the language, it didn't particularly strike me as memorable or so powerful as his reputation would suggest. And, in general, that's where a lot of these stories land for me.

The mid-sized ones of around 10-15 pages are, for me, generally the most powerful and worthwhile ones here. Often centered around a character whose particular fatal flaw becomes clearer and clearer over the course of a story, and ultimately affects the ending of the story, these were the ones that carried me along with the most engagement. In the longest and shortest of the stories, Updike's language shone just as much as always, but I was reading to read. The last few stories in the book felt especially autobiographical and wandering, without the heft of many of the shorter stories.

I may very well read another of his collections and more of his novels, but it will be for language and his intricately built characters, fascinating as they are, as much as a want for story. ( )

My headspace was a little off when I started this collection of short stories to begin with. I was excited to read them because I had finished a handful of other John Steinbeck novels over the past year — yes...John Steinbeck. I grabbed this off my shelf and apparently my brain only registered the "John" part and maybe "famous author" part for the last name. And even though the jacket is covered with rave reviews, Updike at least via this collection is far from a Steinbeck. In fact, he's far from recognizable as the Updike that the reviewers are lauding. Nothing happens in any of these stories. The writing is bland, the characters are bland. The human emotion and reaction....everything is so hollow.

I'll read Rabbit, Run at some point since that's one of his best-known books and I already own it, but I can't say I'm going to jump it to the head of the line anytime soon. This was the fourth work I've read by Updike and by far my least favorite (although none among the other three reached four stars).

Two stars. ( )

Today We've read a story 'Should Wizard Hit Mommy?'. It was written by John Hoyer Updike the motive of this story was to highlight the difference in perspective of a child and the elder one. The main characters of the story are Jo, Jack, Roger Skunk, mother Skunk, owl, and wizard.

As per the story, Jo, the little girl was not happy with the end of the bedtime story told by her father. In that story, Roger Skunk removed the stink of his body with the help of the wizard but his mother forced the wizard to take back his magic from Roger skunk. Roger Skunk always desired to remove the stink of his body so that he could play with other animals. But later on, Roger understood that his stink was actually a book that helps him to get rid of his prey. That was the end of the story according to Jack. But his daughter Jo wanted the end to be like the wizard should hit Mommy.

In our opinion, the end of the story according to Jack, the father, was right as it is giving full justice to the situation in the story. Moreover, Jo is a kid and she is not experienced with the reality of the world. She lives in her fantasies and as a child, she has sympathy towards the little Rodger skunk. But she was unable to understand that the stink of Roger Skunk was the gift of nature for him.

The difference in the perspective of both father and daughter is the obvious result of generation gap which often happens in real life also. Generally, everyone faces this problem of a generation gap on a daily basis. We often neglect the advice of our elders without thinking about their care and perspective towards us.

We suggest everyone read this story and decide whose perspective is more appropriate this story is easily relatable to everyone.

Written by- Mahima Tiwari, M.P.
Jyoti Arora, Punjab.

Not Updike's best collection but glad A&P was included, one of my favorites. ( )

Pigeon Feathers is a collection of short stories about Love’s shadow. By that I mean it is not about Love but about Love’s side effects. Lust, longing, loss. It’s a passionless book about passions.
I haven’t read anything else by John Updike and this doesn’t make me want to. He writes the way I’m afraid I will. Too many words, so carefully arranged to make an impact that you only notice the arrangement and never feel the impact. A gilded cardboard sledgehammer.
I have to admit I haven’t finished it. I won’t abandon it. I’ll put it somewhere I can pick it up when I have a spare minute or two (and we all know where that is) and I will plough through the last four stories. It’s not that it’s a bad book, just that it isn’t a good one. ( )