Seniors #4 journal: Due Oct. 18--John Updike, The Born Writer
Your first assigned short story, The Lucid Eye in Silver Town, is a partially autobiographical account of its author, the young John Updike. Jay, the young boy in the story, is from some "hick town" in PA, as his father says in his sad, self-deprecating manner; Updike himself hailed from Shillington, a small town close to Reading, PA. Before he passed away in January 2009 at the age of 76, Updike was still reading and writing as much as ever.
Once a young man frustrated with a stalled career as a cartoonist, he tried his hand at fiction. His description of his first effort to write should encourage those of you who are intimidated or insecure in your own ability: "It's like sort of a horse you don't know is there, but if you jump on the back there is something under you that begins to move and gallop. So it's clearly a wonderful imaginary world that you enter when you begin to write fiction."
Updike went on to achieve the rare daily double of both popular and literary success, his novels read equally on airplanes and in college classrooms. His greatest gift was his ability to make us care about everyday people doing everyday things, a trait that makes him particularly American, this celebration of the common man.
Visit this web page and read the Updike interview.
The entire interview?
Well, read as much or as little as you need to in order to respond to this prompt:
Respond to any one or some of Updike's interview answers in this interview. He talks about a variety of subjects: his childhood, his experience with teachers, his early appreciation of reading, his writing theories, teaching a creative writing class, the reality of the American Dream, etc. You may merely respond in a agree/disagree--like/dislike manner OR relate his (and your) responses to "The Lucid Eye in Silver Town."
This represents one exercise in the "critical" side of the course. You might not find this journal or Updike's interview particularly exciting, but I'm hoping that you at least find it insightful. Let's face it. When was the last time you read serious musings on fiction from a serious writer of fiction? Maybe never?
Remember, write an minimum of 25 blog lines or 200 words.
posted by JTF @ 7:33 PM
74 comments
74 Comments:
I love John Updike's response to "What did your dad teach?" His response showed how much admiration he has for his father. In The Lucid Eye in Silver Town, Jay's dad was very nurturing and empowering, but he also had very low self-esteem. The father called many of his relatives intelligent or "go-getter," but he never referred to himself as either of those things. That made me feel that Mr. August was not typically bright, but when I read that he was a math teacher, my respect for him grew. Math is a hard subject for many people, and I understand how difficult it is to teach to those that do not pick it up easily. I also like his comment on how he liked being taught by his father because it allowed him to learn what he does for a living. He understands what his father goes through everyday, and this gives him an advantage over his peers. If his dad was a brain surgeon, James would have found it more difficult to connect with him. He is a part of his everyday work, and that allows him to have more bonding-time than most kids have with their working dads.
CJV Purple
Apparently John Updike had a stuttering problem when he was younger. This problem he says may be resulted from having too many words in his head, from basic fright, or grew up hearing too many wonderful voices from his mom and grandfather. I like the fact that he had a stuttering problem because it disproves the idea that writers are wonderful orators. I admire that his lack of ability to speak correctly may have led him down the path to write, which was an easier way to get his ideas out of his head. John Updike also says writing makes the world more real to you. I agree because he says it makes us more human. It makes us feel connected to people we would never meet or care to meet but when writing it we feel as if we have met them and we are intrigued by it. I agree that we feel a sense of connection with our characters which leads to a feeling of being more human. Lastly, he says he writes to get himself on paper, to find more about who he is. I agree with his analogy because in “The Lucid Eye in Silver Town,” we can see a younger version of him through the story. Through the story we learn about him when he was younger such as him excelling in school and what he learned from his uncle and father. The story shows how his opinion on money changed as he met his uncle. Lastly, maybe the fact that he had a speech problem led him to express his feelings on paper through his stories.
John Updike had a rather corrupt childhood. He was raised in the 1930’s, during the midst of the great depression. His parents were quite poor, and he was the only child in the family. Updike was by no means athletic or popular in school, but he was very smart. At age thirteen Updike moved from Shillington to Plowville. Changing schools while a kid is always very hard on the child to make new friends and fit in with the others. Every kid just wants the world to stay still while they are growing up. However, Updike had the opportunity to go to school with his father, because his father worked at the school. He had the opportunity to see a lot of more of his father than most boys do. He was able to see what it was like to be an American man, struggling each and every day for money, and facing problems over and over again. I feel that this was good for Updike, because it taught him how to make it in the world, and become a well-respected and creative individual. Later down the road, Updike later wrote a novel called “The Centaur”, which was about all the adventures and hardships he and his father had faced.
I liked what Updike said about just writing about what you know. We’ve all had to write a paper on something we don’t know anything about. It’s harder to write about and the piece turns out kind of bland and boring. I think it’s easier to be creative when you know what you’re talking about, because the juices just flow. This also ties into what he said about writing about every day ordinary people, because that is what we are, and that is what we know most about! I think it’s easier to read about every day people that we can relate to. It sheds light on how we should handle everyday situations or, how not to handle them. It’s kind of nice to read something that’s not about a “spectacular unreal” person, because it’s been done before and it’s harder to relate to. I also thought it was cool that his most recently published works are actually from many years ago when he first started writing. You can learn about what it was like to be a real, average person in that time period, just like in A&P where you get to read about an average teen in the 60’s. It is interesting to compare what life was like then to what it is like now, finding there are not just differences but a lot of similarities.
John Updike was known for being a great novelist, poet, and short story writer. He has achieved great success by winning the Pulitzer Prize twice for fiction. He did an interview to give people a better understanding of his life and how he views different aspects of writing, reading, and public speaking. John Updike’s interview was very interesting. It gave background on his early years and how he became a successful writer during the late twentieth century. One topic that appealed to me was when Updike talked about teachers. It was somewhat significant that Updike’s father was his teacher for middle school. This gave Updike a different type of appreciation toward teachers. He didn’t listen to his friend’s perception of teachers being the enemy. He recognized that teachers were just there to help. Since Updike’s father was a teacher, it gave Updike an ease on what his father’s job was. He actually knew what his father did as oppose to other kids that weren’t even sure what their dad’s jobs were. I believe that Updike’s final words on this topic were ironic, because he never really wanted to become a teacher but he did. In Updike’s interview, I also like how Updike talks about his stuttering problem. Many people would not have responded the same way Updike did. He goes about it in a cool and positive manner. Updike makes a joke out of it in a way. Another topic that I thought was important is how Updike talks about self understanding. In Updike’s best fiction books such as the Rabbit, Updike uses a part of himself in the books. This is essential because it helps Updike create other characters for fiction stories by referring back to himself in some instances. I agree with the way Updike answered these questions. I believe he was open and was specific with every topic he talked about. In a way I feel like Updike was grounded. He answered each question with an intelligent response. Updike’s responses always had some type of meaning in the interview.
John Updike’s interview made him become very human to me. I liked when John Updike talked about his stuttering problem. It showed that he was a real person and overcame a challenge. Even though he has a stutter, reading and writing are the subjects he loved so he didn’t let his speech problem get in his way. He said he never stopped trying to speak correctly which shows he has a determined personality and persevered to do what he loves. Another thing I like is Updike generally sticks to the “write what you know” saying. Even though his topics may seem boring- American middle class, he still generally sticks with what he knows and makes stories about things he has “verified with his own eyes.” And he manages to keep them interesting and not boring. I liked his quote “your attempt is always to write about the world you know, but also to somehow get out of it, if only by a little jump or a trick.” This shows he likes to stay in his comfort zone of stories about his childhood or the American dream, but he also stretches out and does some work on futuristic places or different countries like Brazil. He invents other lives with his imagination which shows he’s a good writer.
After reading through Updike’s interview, I found that one of his answers in particular appealed to me. I thought it was interesting that some of the first books he came to love were mysteries, but instead he writes about the every-day life of ordinary people. I like this aspect of Updike’s life because I too absolutely love mystery books. However, I have found that all of his stories about the every-day life of ordinary people are particularly interesting. I like the aspect of versatility in his life. I can relate to Updike when he says, “…I was willing to be entertained by others, but I didn't want to write entertainments myself.” I consider myself to be the same way when I am assigned creative writing assignments in class sometimes. As I’m trying to write a creative paper, I get stuck frequently. I find that I have all these thoughts in my head and I just don’t know how to put them on paper. However, when it comes to reading my peers’ creative papers, I find that I am completely engaged in their stories. I favor being entertained by others, instead of doing the entertaining myself. I like when Updike says, “Your attempt is always to write about the world you know, but also to somehow get out of it, if by only a jump or a trick.” I agree with this statement completely. If all you write about is what you know, your writing can become monotonous and dull. You need to keep your reader interested by breaking out of the world that you know and expanding your imagination. I love how Updike writes about what he knows, while also getting the reader’s attention by throwing in lines that make you think. For example, in his story, “A Lucid Eye in Silver Town,” Jays mother remarks, “I hate the Augusts.” Because this line was at the beginning of the story, it made me think. It wasn't until you finished the story that you realize why the mother made that remark. An aspect like this made Updike’s story well-written and a pleasure to read.
I agree with John Updike when he answers the question about whether his drawing and art abilities had an influence on his writing. I think that since he has a background of art that he is able to really picture the characters and settings and scenes the way that he wants them to be seen. He can really help a reader depict a character, setting, or scene with the words that he chooses to use. He has an artistic mind which helps him describe what he really wants his readers to understand and picture. In a way I think that it makes his writing better because it really makes the reader use their imagination. He wants his readers to be able to picture what he is talking about. He also wants his readers to picture things in their own perspective. I agree that if he went into too much detail it can actually make it harder for a reader to picture what he is imagining; therefore, John Updike uses the right amount of description to help his readers focus on that image. John Updike has the advantage of being able to do this so well because of his background of drawing and art. I think that this is why people can actually enjoy reading his writings because Updike is talented at describing his characters, settings, and scenes.
In response to Updike’s response to the question, “Were there teachers who encouraged your writing at any point?” I would have to agree with his statement that teachers are not your enemy, and I would agree that most fellow students have the logic of “I did poorly, so the teacher was not doing their job.” Updike’s less then enthusiastic response to teaching makes sense because not everyone is cut out for teaching. In fact, someone once asked me to teach them how to program. I declined, because I do not think I’m up to the challenge of teaching. When he says that writing makes the worlds feel more real to him and the reader, I can’t help but agree. Writing organizes your thoughts and reading lets you see things in a new light. A book is a tome that holds the thoughts and ideas of the writer. It helps the imagination of the reader as well!
The interviewer asked John Updike whether or not he read a lot on his farm growing up. Updike's answer, obviously, was yes. He explained that he grew up in a household where reading was common. Although this answer was probably one of the shortest he gave, it was the one I enjoyed the most. These days children are gradually reading less and less. English is probably the most popular disliked subject among high school students (in my experience, at least). However, I believe it is one of the most important. Subjects like math and science are vital if one's career path calls for them. No matter what, one will have to know how to write well in life. Good writing comes from consistent reading. Just look at John Updike! He spent his childhood reading books and he is now a famous author. Growing up, I also read a lot. I have always found writing particularly easy and it is something that I enjoy. On the other hand, my sister has probably read a total of five books in her life. She is the worst speller I have ever met and struggles with reading or writing homework almost every night. It was nice to hear that someone else also loves to read- because I don't know many people that do. I wish more children- or even adults and teens- would read more often. It is an amazing way to learn and explore new creative ideas. Updike said, "It's [reading] a world that a child can control." He couldn't be more right. Books create new worlds and add excitement to life's mundane moments.
Updike was asked a lot of questions and he responded to them all very thoroughly. He was talking about his childhood and how he was an only child that lived with both his parents and grandparents. He said, “But yeah, they moderated the effect of my parents. So, instead of an Oedipal triangle, I had a kind of pentagon, which in a way is better, so it was nice.” I thought that was a clever way to talk about the fact that he had his parents and his grandparents to care for him. He also talked about wonderful Reading, Pennsylvania is and how much he loved it. I can agree with what he said here because I have relatives that live there and I always love going to visit them. The drive up is beautiful and filled with lots of scenery. When asked about his stuttering problem as a child, he said that he thinks stuttering shows basic fright. Also, he said he stuttered because he had too many words to get out all at once. I agree with what he said about this. I find that when I get nervous or scared, I begin to stutter. Also, when I have a lot to say sometimes it’s hard to convey all that I’m trying to say and I start to stutter. This tends to happen when I’m presenting to the class and during public speaking. I let my fear take over and control my speech. The one thing that he said about moving as a child is something that I agree with and touches my heart dearly. He said, “I think any move annoys a child a great deal. All a child asks is that the world hold still while he or she grows up, and many of us don't get that wish.” I grew up in Bear on a little cul-de-sac where my sisters and neighbors and I would play kickball, capture the flag, and many other games. My house was on a lot of land, where we would explore out in the woods and creek almost every day. We had an above-ground pool that we swam in for hours on end during the summer. You could say it was the perfect house for a child to grow up in. There was so much room for exploring and things to do outside. In third grade, my mother sold our house and we moved to Newark where I no longer had a huge backyard and creek to play in, no pool to swim in, or neighbors to play games in the cul-de-sac with. Sometimes when I’m in the area, I will drive past my old house and remember all the good times I had growing up there.
A lot of the answers Updike gave in the interview are things I have thought before and completely agree to. John Updike talks about moving from Shillington to Plowville at the age of thirteen towards the beginning of the interview. He mentions that any move annoys a child a great deal. He also says that all a child asks is that the world hold still while he or she grows up, and many of us don’t get that wish. I completely agree with everything he is saying. Yes, change is a fundamental part of life, but we don’t always want to accept that fact as a child. I don’t know what it’s like to move from place to place, but I do know what it’s like to move on and grow up. After becoming close with my friends from middle school, it was hard to leave them and move on to high school. I know I will soon have to feel this way again when I graduate in June. It will be a big change that I will have to become accustomed to things I am not entirely used to. I know I will miss my friends, family, and St. Mark’s. Another part of the article I enjoyed and completely agreed to was when he was asked about his stuttering problem as a child. I never actually had a stuttering problem as a child but sometimes it was hard for me to get out the words I was trying to say. To this day, I have trouble speaking my mind and talking in front of large groups. I often feel shy and uncomfortable which makes my voice sound shaky. I sometimes feel like I am stuttering just to get my point across.
I was not very interested in the John Updike interview. Usually, I discover some very deep or meaningful tidbit about life after hearing about someone else’s life. In this interview, I did not exactly find what I thought I would. He did much of the one thing I figured he would do, reading. He describes going to the library and reading shelves upon shelves of one author. However, the one insightful thing I did learn from this interview is John Updike writes about ordinary people doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way. What better way to understand this than to be an ordinary person doing ordinary things? Updike’s childhood is not out of the ordinary, growing up in a small town, having a school teacher as a father, and living on a farm. However, he has a perspective of life that makes even the most mundane event more interesting. His short stories of a boy visiting his uncle in New York with his father or a teenager working in a supermarket is not the typical scene or story line a writer might choose, but Updike can make it work because chances are he visited a large city with his father or worked in a supermarket and had the creativity to make it a story.
When John Updike was asked, if he had a concept of the American Dream, he replied saying “I still believe in the American Dream. I see it in terms of freedom, and a government that trusts its people to exercise freedom, that this is not a government that allows you to give, that allows you to explore, and doesn't dampen your own creativity – in the broadest sense – with a lot of dictums or dogmas or restraints.” I do agree with what John Updike said in his response to this question. Americans are able to express their creativity without many restraints. In many other countries, people are severely restricted, and sometimes severely punished, in expressing their creativity. I also agree with Updike when he says that “this is still a country where people want to come”, regardless of the “bad press” that the United States may get. A possible reason that people still want to come to this country is that they are coming from one of those countries in which they are not allowed to express their creativity. I highly agree with John Updike’s reply when he was asked if he had a concept of the American Dream, and his concept, of freedom and the ability of people to use that freedom, is one of the best that I have encountered.
After reading and listening to various sections of John Updike’s interview, the subject that stood out to me was the question about the American Dream. I agree with Updike’s remarks about this American Dream. I too believe the American Dream still exists. The American people are discouraged and upset with the position our country- and the world- is currently in. However there is a part in each of us that seeks the success, prosperity, and happiness known as the American Dream. This country is a nation of immigrants. Thousands came to America for a chance at a better living, a chance to start a family with the one they loved, and a chance at a brand new life filled with dreamers and achievers just like themselves. Without these immigrants- these men and women unafraid to take risks-, we would not be here, and this country would not be as great as it is today. Both of my grandparents came to America from Ireland. They came for opportunity, and a chance at a fresh start. They married, worked, raised four children, and led a happy life. Of course there were struggles along the way, but it was their belief in the American Dream that got them through, and encouraged them to keep going in the course of rough times. The people’s belief in the American Dream is so vital to our nation, that without it I fear we would not be able to survive. I agree with John Updike’s remark “it’s a privilege to be an American.” Being an American is not guaranteed. It comes through hard work, dedication, and belief in the American Dream. I believe in the American Dream, and I believe this dream makes us who we are as Americans.
Throughout John Updike’s interview questions, there is one opinion of his that I do not agree with. I do not agree with his statement, “I think any move annoys a child a great deal. All a child asks is that the world hold still while he or she grows up, and many of us don't get that wish”. I do not agree with this because I do not think that anything annoys children a great deal. Unlike adults, children get upset, but they are usually quick to get over it. As for relocation, a child might fight the move at first, but they will quickly adapt. I also believe that children do not want the world to hold still. We live in a society that is always looking for change and a “hot item”, especially in the field of electronics. If the world held still and did not change, they would not have anything to look forward too.
Even though there was one saying of Updike’s that I did not agree with, there are several that I do agree with. One sentence that I do agree with is, “Stuttering is kind of -- I suppose it shows basic fright”. I agree with what Updike says because it has happened to me before. When someone gives a presentation in front of the class, there are a lot of facts in your mind and a lot of pressure on you to do well in order to get a good grade. Many people stutter when they are very nervous because they have a lot of pressure on them. Another line that I agree with is, “Try to develop actual work habits, and even though you have a busy life, try to reserve an hour say -- or more -- a day to write”. No matter what one is trying to get better at, one needs to practice in order to succeed. In this example, Updike says to put time every day into working on writing skills. This lesson can work for anything, especially sports. If you want to become better at basketball, one needs to spend at least an hour a day in order to succeed, even if they are busy.
Not everyone can write a Twilight or a Lord of the Rings, but maybe you do not need to. John Updike became famous not for his far-reaching or fresh plots, but his ability to write about ordinary life. This could stem from his extensive childhood experiences. He grew up through the Great Depression, in an ordinary neighborhood full of ordinary people. His grandfather was a farmer and his dad a teacher. Perhaps the only unordinary thing about his life was that his mother had a masters degree at a time when most women did not even go to college. All this knowledge and experience he used to write his books. His favorite genre of books was the mystery genre, but he himself could not write it. Updike claimed he just could not tie together the plot well enough, and it felt embarrassing.
In the interview with John Updike he answered a question about moving from Shillington to Plowville at age thirteen. The interviewer asked if it was a traumatic experience. I like that because it is something that mostly any child could relate to. I personally haven’t moved, but I know some people that have. Updike talks about how he commuted to school with his father and he got to spend a lot of time with him, so it wasn’t completely traumatizing. Here’s a line from his answer that basically summed up his moving experience, “But, it was beautiful because I saw what it was like to be an American man. I saw that it's a struggle, not easy to be an American man.” It helped him to see the positives and negatives in life and that’s what happens to some kids when they move. Moving to a different place can give you new experiences and open your eyes about the world. Another question that Updike answered was that writing helps the world feel more real to him. He responded with “And I think the reader, too.” I disagree with Updike when he says that writing makes the world feel more real. For me reading makes the world feel more real. It makes more of an impact on me to read something from someone else’s point of view, than writing about the topic myself.
I agree with Updike's explanation of wanting to become a writer. He says that he was a visual person and tried becoming a cartoonist. Shortly after beginning that, he realized that his true calling was in writing. I, too, enjoy writing fiction. Updike said that he just kind of knew that that's what he was called to do. I feel that as well. It's like something born within you. I never was much for creating visual art in the sense of drawing and painting; however, I've always had an imaginative mind. I pride myself on the fact that I can whip up and interesting story in a matter of minutes. Writing brings Updike joy, as well as me. There really is nothing like it. Reading and writing fiction is like entering an entirely new world, as Updike tries to explain. Updike said that he enrolled in writing courses at Harvard and took the writing profession seriously. I am taking two literary courses this year, and plan to major in English and minor in Creative Writing when I am admitted into college next fall. Updike also speaks of the hardships in the writing career and the difficulty of getting things published. I understand this aspect and am determined to sharpen my skills in order to achieve my dream of becoming a well-known author.
I really enjoy the way Updike speaks of his childhood. I respect how Updike mentioned his father did not feel he had the means to support more than one child; however, but that his childhood was filled with bliss. I am sure that would give his father some satisfaction to hear. I am one of three children so I do not know what it is like to be an only child. I can only imagine it being filled with constant attention, which in my opinion would be great but then become annoying. It seems that Updike respects his grandparents, which I think is wonderful, for their hard work and all they have done to support the family especially during the Depression. It is nice to hear how he compares his family to a pentagon with his grandparents and parents all above him.
When Updike begins talking about his move from Shillington to Plowville at 13, he did not make it over dramatic. My favorite line was when he said, “All a child asks is that the world hold still while he or she grows up…” He was very straight forward saying how of course he didn’t want to move but also, that it was not earth shattering. He mentioned how he became closer with his father and his mother got to go back to where she was from. Updike seems to be the kind of person who can find something positive in any situation and that is something I find respectable.
John Updike said that writing helps the world feel more real to you. I agree with this statement. My parents always told me that they are not rich enough to get me to travel through the world. However, they told me that I can’t only get the great experience from the trips but also from the books. Therefore, I think that reading book is another way to travel the world. For example, sometimes you go to New York when you read “The Lucid Eye in Silver Town”, sometimes you might feel the misery of the war when you read “Old Man at the Bridge”, and sometimes you might be the son or daughter of upper class when you read “Old fashioned story”. Whether a book is fiction or not by reading it you can get the experience or knowledge from the book. You can also get the understanding of others. John Updike also said that he writes to get himself on paper, to find out more about who he is. I also like what he said. Recently, I am writing the personal essay for my college application. I never thought who I am and what I have done for my life. It was hard to write about myself, but when I thought back I found out more about who I am by writing my personal essay.
In the beginning John Updike’s interview he talks all about he became the man he was, and the writer he is. I, of course, love how he appreciated moving as a young kid because I can relate to a move. I like that he talks about how a teacher made things click for him, that teacher made everything makes sense for him. I also have had experiences with a teacher that just made it so obvious that it was the subject that I love. Although my favorite subject is not English, I do completely understand the feeling. I have also love writing and I agree that writing reveals to yourself who you are. Writing is a way to clear your mind and write what you have on your mind onto paper. Sometimes writing can be a bother, when it’s forced, but when you just write to clear your mind it can be liberating. It is easier to write things out and get them out of your head then to keep it all bottled up in your head. Also, writing can help you sort out what you have in your head. I completely agree with all he had to say in what I read. I like the style that John Updike writes.
John Updike’s comments during his interview about his father teaching him sparked thought of my life. When he says, “ A lot of kids never know what their father does and can’t understand it.” That completely describes my life. My dad has been working everyday of the five day week for as long as I have been born, but I could never ever explain or even begin to think about what he does. Having his father as teacher must have been nice in a way because I barely see my dad. If I were to even begin describing my dad’s job it would go something like this, “ He is in charge of a lot of people and sits at a desk.” John Updike not only saw his dad in action, but his dad’s actions were on him. I have always wanted to have a teacher as a mom, especially when my friend’s mom would be my teacher because they always got to help set up things just like John did. I think it is funny John did not enjoy teaching as much as his father because it works either way I feel. There are some family when every boy becomes a police officer and then there are others where they says things like, “ I would never want to be my mother.”
I enjoy the way Updike responds to all of the interview questions in an extremely sincere way, each answer seems to have thought put into them; each answer comes with an interesting story. My favorite thing Updike says during the entire interview is “A thing that society never could have too much of, laughter”, he says this when he is talking about how he should have been a humorist, and I completely agree with this statement. Updike gives a lot of good advice to writers in his the interview. I like when he says ‘Sometimes writers need no training”, I think he is right when he says this because some people are just natural born writers, they can think of magical and interesting things in their mind and put it on paper without any struggle at all; where as some people have to sit and think hard about what other people would actually enjoy reading. Another part of the interview that I agree with is the closing when Updike talks about the French boy describing the way people dress in America; the boy say’s “They are not afraid”. I like this statement because it does show that America is a free land, and everyone is on their own in living their life the way the want to live it. I enjoyed reading this interview with John Updike, every story he told interested me because it had insight into what it might have been to be him as a child and what it was like back then, life seemed so much simpler.
Updike's view on the American dream was dead on. I loved that he called the American dream " the dream in action." I completely agree that we are lucky to have certain unalienable rights. A country that "doesn't dampen your creativity" and allows you to express yourself is a great blessing. This expression could be through arts, writing, sports, jobs and home life. Updike truly does grasp the concept of what makes the American dream so special and unique. The government of the United States is what makes ours dreams achievable. Not many people realize and appreciate this. While other people are suffering under their brutal governments we are living the dream. Updike tells us how "American's are not afraid" and he's right, it's because we can live out our dream. He gave a really great depiction of the well known American dream. We are all lucky to live in a country as great as the United States, where we can be ourselves and live out dreams.
John Updike's interview definitely relates to how he shaped the main character in, "The Lucid Eye in Silver Town". You can see this when John Updike talks about his earlier interest in the visual arts, or in other words, paintings. Jay, the main character in the story, also exhibits a taste for paintings, particularly ones from Johanes Vermeer. Updike cleverly chose Johanes Vermeer to be Jay's favorite painter since all of Johanes Vermeer's paintings focus on the ordinary, not prosperous, people of society. This focus pertaining to the ordinary is one of John Updike's main focuses as a writer. Judging from the direct correlation between John Updike as a teenager and Jay, it can be concluded that Jay is meant to be a representation of Updike back when he was a teenager. Overall, this connection between Updike and Jay is one of the many unique ways Updike conveyed his work's primary focus, the ordinary.
I like the part of John Updike's interview when he talks about his eighth grade English teacher and the impact she has had on him. I like this because in eighth grade, my teacher Mrs. Beattie, really made me like English. I didn't necessarily like her as a person, but I liked her method of teaching. She made me pay attention to the little things in sentence structure and just sentences in general. She would always say that when you correct the little things in sentences, those corrections would always make the biggest difference. Another thing she would let us do was work with a partner. This helped me because I could learn from my mistakes and I could also learn from my partner's mistakes. Mrs. Beattie definitely made me more interested in English and she is one of the reasons why I want to teach English when I am older.
Reading John Updike’s interview gave me more of an insight to his childhood and his passion for writing. In his interview, he answers a question about moving from his hometown of Shillington, PA to Plowville, PA. He describes how moving wasn’t the worst thing in the world but the move wasn’t too far, he just had to commute. I particularly like his line, “…All a child asks is that the world hold still while he or she grows up, and many of us don't get that wish…” This part of his interview stands out to me because it’s so true. No one ever wants anything drastic to change. Mostly all of us want things to remain the same while we’re growing up. Our homes, schools, parent’s relationships, pets, and friends- we normally want them to stay consistent. He says, “I wasn't especially popular or athletic or anything, but I was smart -- "schmart" as they used to say.”- This makes him so relatable to thousands of kids around the world. Everyone isn’t the “Homecoming Queen” or the “Varsity Quarterback” or even the class “Nerd.” There are people that live in-between loserville and the great city of popularity; there are “in-betweeners”. It’s nice to know that someone who has been successful in life wasn’t “all that” as a kid. He says how the move forced him to commute with his father and the troubles of gas money and car problems. “…it was beautiful because I saw what it was like to be an American man. I saw that it's a struggle, not easy to be an American man.” I agree with this quote because as a child, I didn’t realize how difficult someone really has to work to get a salary that can support not only yourself, but your family as well. It wasn’t until I was older and spontaneously went to help my Dad with work on the weekends that I realized how hard and demanding his job was but he has done it every day for the past 33 years to support his family. John Updike’s interview helped me realize that he wasn’t just some old man who has written some famous works of literature. He was just like any other kid while he was growing up- he learned lessons from events like moving, and the values of hard work and the real world struggles.
I like the response to the question “When did you first get the idea of being a writer?” I find the answer interesting because he tells us that his mother attempted to be a writer. I can relate to this because my mother also spent some years of her life trying to be a writer. She went through the same process as John Updike’s mother. She would send out her stories to different publishers hoping for a break through. She almost got a break through when a book involving Longwood gardens and secret agents was almost published but she fell short. So as small as it is I feel I have made a connection to John Updike. I also like the fact that his inspiration came from his own home in the form of his mother. I share this small connection with John Updike also. I am interested in writing because my mother was one, of course I’m no “Born Writer” like John Updike but I enjoy writing and the creativity and quiet concentration that go into it. The part I don’t like is when he mentions his love for art. I have never had a major interest in art even when my mother was also a painter and would make me go to painting classes that I can barely remember for I was very young. I’ve always seen art as bland and dull. It is hard for me to be interested in something I am not good at. I cannot paint or draw, everything I do artistically from my hands is mediocre. I do not wish to be a writer when I am older but I do see it as a possible hobby.
RMitchell green
I agree completely with John Updike's view of the American dream. You really started to see this American dream a lot during World War II. People were proud to be Americans, where they were free to express who they are and where their creativity wasn't limited by the government. This is a country where you are not restrained by anybody and can pursue whatever dream you have, which is something you really can't say in any other country. I found it interesting how John Updike thought this is still a country that is not only working towards a dream, but actually is the dream in action. I also agree about how even though America takes a lot of criticism from foreign countries, it's still the place where everyone wants to come and live a free life. John Updike's example of the 16 year old French boy is a great way to show how people in America are able to express themselves. It was a great analogy of his way of saying that it's a country without a government we need be afraid of. I like John Updike's advice that it is a privilege to be an American and I also hope that Americans will continue to strive for the American dream.
After listening to the part of the interview with John Updike responds to the statement “The move from Shillington to Plow Ville at 13 must have been somewhat traumatic.” In his response he says that he has references the move in a few places in his writing. I think one reference is in the "The Lucid Eye in Silver Town." In this story the boy goes on a journey with his father just as John did every day with his father in commuting to school. I think that the reason the boy went to New York with his father in the story is because it related to John commuting to school with his father every day and getting to know each other more than most children get to know their fathers. The relationship between the child and son in the story and Jon and his father seem to be related in that the characters in the story seem to really know each other and the father knows how the boy is and understands when he acts out. I believe that John would have had a relationship like this with his father in bonding so much on the long rides to school every day. He also talks about seeing what it is like to be an American man and in the lucid eye the boy sees what it is like to be an American man in the form of seeing his uncle in the big city. In my opinion he seems like an American man to me in a different way than the boy has seen his father, being a small town religious man. I do agree with him that any move does annoy a child. I know that I would never want to move towns ever right now or in my younger years. Going to the same school would help. I would have liked a bonding experience like that with one of my parents at some point but I would have rather not moved in the first place. It probably would have been more traumatic to me than it had been with John Updike.
I enjoyed reading John Updike’s answer about his stuttering. I could relate to him because as I child, I had a stutter as well. His answer described perfectly what my issue was and what I was going through. My sister was always interrupted me whenever I tried to talk, and that was what began my stuttering. My family was told to bend down and look into my eyes when I was talking. This helped me realize I didn’t need to speak so fast in order to get out what I was trying to say. I feel like I can really relate to John Updike in this way. I liked how he didn’t give up trying to speak even though he had a stutter. That really makes me admire him for his confidence. I also really enjoyed the part of his answer how he said he likes writing because you don’t have to speak. This really hit home because that is one of the reasons why I like painting and drawing. I get to express my thoughts and emotions without speaking. Overall, I liked his answer to this question because he turned a negative thing into something situation. He turned his stuttering into writing.
I like how John Updike talks about how he makes everyday occurrences adventurous. This would make people more satisfied with they’re ordinary lives. Any author can make an out-of-the-ordinary and thrilling event exciting and interesting to read about. John Updike is very talented because he can make ordinary and unexciting events interesting to read about. This is very amazing because many people would not even bother reading books or stories about every day things. He makes a simple trip to New York seem like an adventure in A Lucid Eye in Silvertown . When the boy gets something in his eye it seems like a catastrophe. He is right when he says we see a lot and feel a lot in our everyday lives. It may be the same sights or feelings every day, but they should be meaningful to us. Our days aren’t all completely identical. There are things that happen that make each and every day different. We should acknowledge these things. Good or bad events and how we deal with them define who we are; big or small. Small things may even be most important to who we are because there are a lot of little things we have to deal with every day. When we can take care of the little, everyday things, the big things will take care of themselves. The little things we do everyday give us the strength to deal with big things. Our lives can be adventurous and fun if we look at it in that way. John Updike is a good author because he can look at everyday occurrences and make them adventurous.
John Updike was inspired by his mother to be a writer. This statement reminded me of The Lucid Eye in Silver Town where young Jay was kind of pushed by his mother to apply himself to art because he had such potential. Updike said that his mother would always send something in the mail that would go up to New York. John Updike may have gotten the idea of going up to New York to go and get the important art book, from his mother always sending things off in big brown envelopes off to big cities like Philadelphia or New York. Updike did have a passion for visual art and was very good at it, which his mother accepted. John Updike’s father was a teacher. In The Lucid Eye in Silver Town, Jay’s father was very intelligent, Jay never realized how smart he was until his dad was explaining things about New York to him. Updike’s father was a math teacher, and he sat in his father’s class for three years, which he was always glad to see his father at work instead of something mysterious that happens in an office in a skyscraper. Updike could have used that idea where he was always curious about what would happen in an office in a skyscraper in The Lucid Eye in Silver Town.
The American Dream deals with freedom and the opportunity for prosperity and success. I somewhat agree with John Updikes view of the American Dream. I do still believe that in this country that you can start from nothing and make something of yourself through hard work and determination. Unlike John Updike I don’t believe that is much of a possibility today. With prices increasing on almost everything we buy, and stricter rules on what can and cannot be done it is dwindling the American dream.There is just a certain stereotype in todays culture that says you have to do this, be this, look like this and you will succeed. That might be fine for some, but it does not work for most. Many peoples ideas can be shot down today just because they do not like how a certain person looks or speaks. Politics is one of the best examples for that. All the smear adds about other candidates and politicians never answering the question given to them. They all just beat around the bush. Another example is that when we are all growing up we are told that we could one day become president. For 99.9% of us that is never going to happen. Most of us do not have the wealth or connections to even stand a chance. I do believe that the country is still working for the American dream. The country is doing things, like tax breaks, welfare, etc, to try and help those make a better life for people who need help to get on there own two feet. In all reality not everyone will reach the American dream. Its a very nice idea to think that you can start from nothing and make something of yourself, but in todays world that opportunity is getting smaller and smaller because of the corruption in government today.
In John Updike’s interview, one of the last questions he’s asked is if he has a concept of the American Dream. In response he says he believed and still believes in the American Dream and that he thinks this country is the dream in action. One of the dictionary definitions of the American Dream is “A life of personal happiness and material comfort traditionally sought by individuals in the U.S.” This got me thinking about what my understanding of the American Dream is and it is a hard concept for me to think about because I never really understood it. Aren’t people all around the world aspiring for the same things as Americans? I feel that the only difference is that success in America has to do more with wealth. I also understand that the American Dream implies that it is there for anyone that is willing to work hard for it. Again, I can’t help but think of people all over the world. Is a hard working citizen in China reaching toward the American Dream or the “Chinese Dream”? Also, who said it was every Americans dream to be wealthy, happy, and secure? I feel that you should aspire to be the best you can be and live a good life. I think that too many people in the U.S. are overly concerned with being what they think the American Dream is, rich and successful. Maybe one day the American Dream will be reinvented and possible for everyone to achieve no matter what their upbringing is.
I really like Updike’s statement “write what you know”. He says that he has tried to write some crime or science fiction novels, but in the end, his favorite genre is everyday life. I think it is a lot easier to write about something you know instead of making it all up. I often wonder how writers come up with the ideas to write novels such as “The Hunger Games” or “Twilight”. I would think that one’s imagination would have to be extremely large to write these novels. Basing fiction on the everyday life of ordinary people makes it a lot more relatable. It can be more realistic compared to other genres in fiction and it is easier for the reader to form a connection with the characters. However, I do admit that it is also very enjoyable to read a book as different as “The Hunger Games” or “Twilight” are. Because our lives are sometimes so ordinary that it is nice to read about something extraordinary. It’s just writing something like this is something that is not only foreign to Updike but also to myself. I also really like the versatility of this quote. This philosophy can be applied to more than just writing. For example, what about a singer trying to sing a love song but has never been in love? Sure, maybe they could pull it off, but compared to someone who actually knows what they sing about, the emotion wouldn’t be as convincing. It really is easier for us to relate to things if we know and understand it. We could write about it, sing about it, or even paint it.
I find it interesting that John Updike grew up reading mystery and crime books but ultimately ended up writing about the people’s normal everyday lives. I also agree that nowadays writers lean towards making an unadventurous circumstance seem adventurous. I know that I would much rather like to read a book in which the character lives a normal life with a small twist over a book about an unreal person like, as John Updike mentions, James Bond. I love when Updike uses the metaphor that reading is like going to a cocktail party. The characters in books a lot of times become so real to you that you start grow a connection to them. Most of the time you experience their emotions with them. I can vividly remember crying my eyes out at the end of Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. The amount of sympathy I had for the main character was pretty ridiculous considering he was not even real. But like John Updike says through reading you have the opportunity to meet people that would never get the chance to meet in real life and you learn about life through their eyes which helps you to truly appreciate things in your own life. John Updike was an amazing writer and I believe that he was able to discover what the true key to writing is.
John Updike’s story Lucid Eye in Silver Town is a reflection of his own childhood in a fictional way. In his interview he talks that a writer should write about what he knows. He reflects the lack of money at the time of the Depression to Jay’s disappointment of his father not bringing more money with him to New York. I agree with Updike’s description through Jay as a reflection of the times. This country is experiencing a similar situation with the unemployment rate, major financial institutions merging and/or closing, and many people going bankrupt. Updike’s and his father spent more time together by commuting back to his home town for school and work. They referred to having adventures. After reflecting on Jay’s adventure to New York, Jay as a young man saw his experience one way, but as an adult reflects on the situation and sees it differently. I really like how the characters are everyday people and their everyday lives can be some type of adventure to fictionally write about. I agree that perception as a child who has not had life experiences are more lucid as an adult and each normal everyday helps to cultivate the clearer understanding and something we can all relate to. Updike enjoyed his childhood and his town and likes to reflect it in his stories whether it is like Jay or the Rabbit he describes in his interview as different than himself as a young man. In essence, I agree his concept of writing what you know and sharing a lesson in each story creates a way for a reader to connect in their own way and make the story their own. I enjoy reading stories that I can connect to because the moral to the story may give me a new view or perspective on something I have never seen before in life. The Lucid Eye in Silver Town showed the different personalities of the mother, father, Jay and Uncle Quin. Showing these different personalities made me think and relate to how I see my own family. John Updike’s own experience with the everyday person and his concept of “writing what you know” help each reader connect to the past and the present, which to me, makes the story more interesting and enjoyable.
Public speaking is something that frightens many of us. In the interview, John Updike speaks about his stuttering problems. He says it still affects his today. However, having a microphone actually improved his speech. Weird, huh? Now I have never had a speech impediment, but I used to be terrified of public speaking. I would sweat, shake, and stutter whenever I had to speak in front of a group. So my situation is kind of the reverse of Updike’s, but my solution was the same. John Updike said that he did not sound good when he spoke but he did not stop speaking. This is what really helped him subdue his stuttering. Just like Updike, I too have subdued my fear of public speaking. The way I did this is practice. I would practice in front of a camera and then watch myself. I would point out the mistakes in my posture, speech, etc, and then I would fix them. I would also practice in front of a mirror and watch myself speak. This effort paid off. I am now very comfortable with speaking in front of other. Sure I do get nervous before I speak publicly, but that’s normal. As soon as I get into my grove, public speaking is a walk in the park. I am proud of how much I have improved my public speaking and I understand I have a long way to go before I master the art. Yet, with hard work and perseverance I’m sure I’ll get there one day.
John Updike does appear to be writing about himself to some extent in the story “The Lucid Eye in Silver Town.” For example, like Jay in the story, John was born in a rural town in Pennsylvania. Jay visits his uncle in New York City, while John had an aunt that lived close to New York in Connecticut. In his interview, John Updike even discusses how his stories reflect his upbringing and many of his own life experiences. In his popular series the Rabbit, John writes about many of the current events of the time, like man landing on the moon, drugs, sex, and unrest in the United States during the 1960s.
The interview covered many different topics that were captured as [keys to Success], some that I will highlight now along with my own views and whether I agree or disagree with Updike. Perseverance was one of these keys to success and clearly something that John Updike demonstrated. He grew up with a severe stuttering problem, which he seems to have completely overcome. Courage was another key to success; demonstrated by Updike quitting his job and the New Yorker and moving his young family out of New York City and to New England where he started to write on his own as a freelance writer. For the most part, I agreed with his entire interview. Though, I didn’t blog about it, I particularly liked his thoughts on the American Dream.
Listening to and reading John Updike’s interview it is very clear to me that he lived a very exciting and influenced life. I especially liked the excerpt where he talked about his teachers and the one particular English teacher he remembers. I liked how he said that since he was a teacher’s son he understood that teachers weren’t the enemy. That was important to me. I think that I liked that statement because a lot of kids do actually hate school and see their teachers as people who are just trying to ruin their day or are out to get them. He was different from other kids. Because he was able to appreciate his teachers and understand this he then could make more time to appreciate English and writing. As a kid he showed something most other students didn’t and that was that he liked to read, write, and learn about English. Updike also specifically remembered one English teacher who he really understood. He said he has “tried not to forget those lessons,” that she taught meaning they really left an impact on him. I think that from her teachings he got the bases of his writing skills. I agree that the English language is an intricate tool; it is vital to our literary life. I like that he accepted his teachers and took an interest in the English lessons as a kid and I think that’s what made him be able to take these lessons seriously and continue to use them to be the great writer he was.
I very much enjoyed and agreed with the video in which Updike speaks about setting aside some time to write. I myself write music, not so much lately because I have been very busy with school, working four days a week, trying to attend some concerts when I can, and trying to dice up my time equally between my girlfriend and my friends. I am only seventeen years old but I find that my life now is very stressful and I find myself not having time for much else then what I have listed above. When I finally do have some free time I like to take a nap. Need that sleep when I can get it. Looking back on times where if feel stressed I feel as though some of those times where I felt like I always had to do something weren’t times that I had to do something at all. They were times where I was anticipating having to do something and just counting down the minutes until then. Instead of worrying all the time about all of that stuff that I had to do later I could be more constructive with my time and fill those holes in between working, school and my social life with some song writing time or something of that sort. Updike’s interview made me realize that I need to set some time aside to do what I love even if that is only an hour or so a day.
During Updike's response to the question about who his favorite authors were, he addressed how he came about reading all different types of authors and genres. He attributed it to "random reading, but maybe that's the best kind in a way." I agree with his remarks, because young children should be able to pick and choose who they want to read and the types of genres they want to explore. Adults should give their kids the freedom to read whatever they want. That is truly how children develop the love for reading. Pushing a certain type of genre on to a young child in which they may not like will turn them off to reading completely. The simple fact is that, it is way easier to read what you want to read instead of readings assigned to you. More often then not, people read what is appealing to them! As Updike had the free range to read what pleases him, he started to develop a taste for humor. That's the best scenario for any parent who wants their kids reading more. Let them adapt to books of their own choosing and taste preference. I leave you with a quote from Updike that sums up my argument, It's not forced on you and you get these glimpses, you know, of a wonderful world of books.
At one point in this interview John Updike is asked “What did your dad teach?” He explains how his dad taught junior high math and first year algebra. He talks about how he had his father as a teacher for three years and how his dad treated him in class. I liked how Updike described his dad as treating him the same as any of the other kids in his classes. He did not favor John in any way, nor was he harder on John than any of the other students. I like hearing this because it contradicts the idea that I believe many people have in their heads about teachers who teach their own children. Updike goes on in his response to talk about what it was like to see your father at work and spend so much time with him. I enjoyed reading about his adventures in the car on the way to and from work with his father. He compares his and his father’s situation to that of other children who know nothing about their father’s job except that he works in a skyscraper somewhere. I find this to be very realistic due to the fact that I myself had no idea what my dad’s job was until recent years. Overall, I personally liked John Updike’s response to this question.
As I read this interview with John Updike, one thing particularly resonates with me, and that is the fact that he is a man of many interests and of great insights. He seems like a genuine person. There is no pomposity (or at least none on display) that a truly great writer may have (a "holier than thou" attitude, in essence). He talks about his move as a child as being annoying and unenjoyable, but also adds that he was happy when he made the move. He wasn't popular, but he was smart, and that is a fact I cannot argue with. The one comment Updike made in this interview that really resonated with me is "it's a struggle, and it's not easy to be an American man." In many respects this observation is spot-on. The American man (or person, more specifically) always faces a struggle in some capacity, whether it be for power, recognition, or even employment, there really is a certain degree of struggling and fighting that every American must do. I also found his choice of favorite authors to be fascinating as well. He cited an author whose name I at first was not familiar with as his favorite -- Erle Stanley Gardner. After a quick Google search, I soon realized he was the author of the 'Perry Mason' book series. It then hit me -- if one closely examines the writings of Updike's and then compares it to Gardner's, they can certainly see where John Updike would be influenced by it. The final observation I will make also comes from the answer to this same question -- "...it's odd that I didn't become a humorist really." I found this statement to be ironic, as stories such as 'A&P' an even elements of 'The Lucid Eye' certainly featured strong traces of humor. If one were to ask me, I'd absolutely respond by saying Updike is a humorist. His stories are witty, clever, and of course humorous. Reading an interview with Updike really was fascinating, as it provided a rare glimpse into this brilliant American author's thought process, as well as a condensed version of his life story.
Unlike John Updike I am very far from being an only child. I have three sisters and one brother that are all at least fifteen years older then me. My family is not your average "American family." Updike is an only child and says how much he enjoys it because of the attention. He even referes to his family as a pentagon because of all the attention he gets from his parents and grandparents. This is where John Updike and I can relate. Since my sisters and brother are all so much older then me in age they have moved out and started families of their own. I am the only child that lives with my parents and that is how it has been for the past eight years. Because of this sometimes I feel as if I am an only child myself because of all the attention I get, don't get me wrong I'm not complaining. I love getting all the attention from my parents and being their favorite child. I'm the only child that doesn't owe them money or fight with them. Since I'm so young in age compared to the rest of my siblings my parents love to spoil me. My sisters and brother always tell me how much easier my parents are on me then they were on them. They get angry when I'm aloud to do things that they weren't aloud at my age. This is why I agree with Updike and how he enjoys all the attention from his parents.
After reading this interview, I definitely a different view towards John Updike. In a lot of aspects, we shared some shared childhood experiences. We both grew up in a "hick" town and we both had to live with both our parents and grandparents. I also liked how he talked about his addiction to reading. Over the summer, I have my own addiction to reading. Inspired by a habit a character had in a book I read, I like to go out and buy cheap books. Just find a tiny bookstore with discounted old books and buy ones that look interesting. Long story short, I really felt like I could understand Updike a lot better after reading this interview.
Unlike John Updike I have four brothers and sisters including myself. I have two sisters and one brother. We are all around the same age but each of us has a different relationship with our parents. John Updike stated that he feels as if his family is like a pentagon because he gets so much attention from his grandparents and parents. I can relate to that because my young sister and I are much younger than my older sister, her being 22. My older sister lives in Oklahoma and I don’t see her very often and my brother is 20 and lives on his own as well. My sister and I are the only ones still leaving in my parents’ house so we get most of their attention. Even though my sister lives in the house with me, my parents make me feel like as if I am an only child because they take very good care of each and every kid. I am very fortunate to have the parents that I do and I can relate to John Updike in the sense that he appreciated all the attention his grandparents and parents gave him.
Updike’s first answer is very insightful. I didn’t know he grew up during the great depression and it makes him realize that he has to work hard for what he wants in life. One of the possible reasons that he was so mature in the 8th grade was because he grew up with all adults. He says in his interview “I got all the adult attention and adult energy focused on me.” He was basically forced to grow up, but not in a bad way. In his second answer, I think he’s incredibly modest about his home town. He says he wouldn’t recommend we visit but it was beautiful to him. It was his “horizon.” Moving must have been tough on Updike. Especially because as he says he wasn’t particularly smart or athletic so he didn’t stand out. Moving sometimes crashes kids’ world because it’s so much for then. I believe that Updike was better then he presumed because of his mature atmosphere at home, he could handle this. Also, Updike read so much on the farm because that’s all there was to do. He again, grew up in a mature atmosphere where he then at an early age, matured into a young man.
I agree with the fact that Updike did not find his love of writing fiction as the first thing he tired at. He originally tried to be a cartoonist and did not realize his true calling until his cartoonist dreams were sort of shot down. But this can go for everyone, in any situation. The first thing that you try may not be the one that is meant for you, or there is something else that you may just be naturally good at such as Updike and his fiction writing. Updike spent a good portion of his school years trying to be a cartoonist and in the long run decided it wasn’t for him and picked up fiction writing, now he is one of the most known writers there is with all of the stories he has written. It just naturally flows onto the paper for him and he is lucky to have found his calling early on in life. Everyone’s calling in life is different but Updike story helps to reinforce that we all need to try new and different things until we find that one thing that we are really good at.
John Updike was the only child in his family as I was in mine for many years until my sister was born around 4th grade. So all the attention was on him and he was able to hear many words and points of view from many people. Updike says knowing many words contributed to his stuttering problem. I like how Updike talked about going to school with his dad and being in his class. In 8th grade my mom got moved to my school to work with the special Ed and behavior classes. Like Updike’s dad, my mom didn’t treat me any different then the others kids but it just felt like she was always around me and I didn’t have personal space. So I just made sure to keep my grades up at all times. I can say I shared the same experience as John Updike said when he talked about the teacher’s being friendly to him and having better understanding of them just because I was a teacher’s son. Being a teacher’s son helps me today have a good relationship with my teacher’s because I understand them more. Seeing your parents at work is kind of a good thing because you know what they have to go through on the daily basis and why they are always stressing or complaining about work.
TylerDennis PurpleI personally think that the story of Updike's childhood is particularly touching and inspiring. He grew up in a "hick" town, and had to live with both his parents and grandparents who weren't particularly well off. He had a sub par life in which he did not see him self as being extremely popular or athletic. But he did have one thing, a passion for reading which developed himself as a writer. It is always inspiring when someone turns there passion into their job because they put the time and effort into developing it. At the moment when your job or occupation is synonymous with your passion in life, that is how you know you are truly happy. Also I think it was important that his dad was in his life to support his endeavors.
John Updike’s strive to be a writer is really inspiring. He grew up in the suburbs of PA and then moved to the countryside. It was there that he did a great deal of reading and writing. I believe that to be a great writer, you need to have done a lot of reading; get a feel for other authors and other styles of writing. John did just that growing up. He read the New Yorker and every book he could find. After reading this interview, I feel like I really got to know John, as a human being. His admittance to stuttering really inspired me. He proved that even if you have a challenge in your life, you can overcome it if you have strive and ambition. His strive was for reading and writing. I personally try to write every once in a while. I find it stress relieving and exciting. Sometimes I will have good topics of which to write about, but the creativity just does not come to me. It is not the same as a stuttering problem, but to me, it’s my creative block. I feel that in some little way I can connect to John now. I know him better as an individual and writer.
When John Updike was asked the question “When did you first get the idea of being a writer?” he responded with a mixture of comical phrases and an anecdote of his mother. He first mentioned how his mother would always sit in the front room and write. I enjoyed this story because it showed that he got his inspiration right from home by his mother. Also, when he mentioned that his mother always encouraged him to follow his dreams by getting him art and painting lessons I could relate because I always felt that my mother did the same. She always provided me with the opportunity to try out different things to see which one I would enjoy. I liked that I could relate to one of his stories and memories. I also enjoyed when he brought up his days at Harvard. It was clever the way he brought his love for drawing first into his story. The line, “but actually they were quite good -- about three of them”, was funny and made the story more relatable.
John Updike’s response to the inspiring teacher question is similar to what my answer would be. In fourth grade I had a teacher, Mrs. Jadlocki to be exact, that was a standard elementary all around subject teacher. Although her favorite subject happened to be the sciences, my favorite that she taught was English. This may have been the first year that I had found an actual interest in reading and writing because Mrs. Jadlocki made it fun, we wrote small stories to help us learn about how to do quotes, and she let us work our way through our own mini-research papers. John Updike was influence primarily by one4 teacher, and I agree that like me, that me be all it takes to begin to love a hobby. People sometimes give up on things like writing and reading because it takes time, energy, or patience to complete it. This should not be. People need to learn, like Updike and I, that sometimes writing can be interesting. When you have a clean slate to write whatever you want at any length, there are endless possibilities. Although my writing now may not be the best =now, I will always remember the classes spent in the U – shaped desk format of Mrs. Jadlocki’s classroom.
In the interview of John Updike, the interviewer states, “There’s an axiom one hears about writing: ‘Write what you know.’ Geographically, it seems, you have more or less kept to that.” Updike answered, “I’ve not ventured too far from what I could verify with my own eyes.” This answer ties into the lesson of the writers focusing on what they know to make the story realistic. This answer also ties into the symbolism of eyes and sight, in his story “The Lucid Eye in Silver Town”. Updike states that his stories are generally true to life and involve his own conflicts in his pursuit through life. This answer ties into the plot of “Lucid Eye in Silver Town” because the story shows the struggles that a family of lesser money would have in a time period like the Depression. His father was a schoolteacher and therefore, the family probably did not have much money, just as Jay’s father did not have much money. The eye was an important motif in the story and ties into the statement of “I’ve not ventured too far from what I could verify with my own eyes” because you have to see something to know what its truly about. To truly experience something like a visit to New York is something that burns itself into a person’s memory and it would be something very easy to talk about. Therefore, if a person sees something and experiences it on their own, they will truly capture the essence of something, and in John Updike’s case, be able to “write what you know.”
John Updike had a very hard childhood. He had a stuttering problem which may have resulted from too many people speaking at one time. All the voices and words in his head made his speech impaled and in which he could not spit out all of his words correctly. The fact that he talked about his stuttering problem I enjoyed because it basically shows that even though the words didn't come out of his mouth correctly,they came out correctly on paper, making his writing excellent. I also loved his response to what his dad taught him. He basically says that he was inspired by his father and has a lot of appreciation for him. In" The Lucid Eye", jay's dad was much like John Updikes Dad in a similar sense that he was nurturing and also an influence. . His father never lived up to the status of his brother, but he showed his son the meaning of life more than the uncle ever could have.
My favorite part of the John Updike interview is the part where he talks about teacher that made him appreciate the English language more, and his father being a teacher. I understand how he says that he didn’t see his teachers as “the enemy”, but I still fall under the category of most children, seeing as I didn’t have a parent for a teacher. The one English teacher he had in eighth grade must have been a really good teacher, to be able to make an eighth grader have an appretiation for the english language. When I was in the eighth grade, the thought that the english language was a great and intricate tool would have never crossed my mind. If I had my dad for my teacher I feel my experience would be the opposite of Updike’s. Updike father was neither harder, or nicer, but with my dad he would be ten times as hard on me then the other students. My dad being my teacher would be torture. One thing I do agree with Updike on is him not wanting to be a teacher. The last job on this earth that I want to be is a teacher. I think that Updike has some valid points, there are just some I do not agree with.
Updike talks about his stuttering problem in the interview. I can relate to this. I don’t necessarily have a “stuttering problem”, but I do tend to stutter quite a lot when I have to speak in front of large groups of people. I have a huge fear of public speaking. Whenever I have to present something in class or read out loud to a class, I freak out; I turn bright red, I stutter, I laugh, etc. Over the years I have gotten over this fear a little bit. Practice makes perfect, so the more that I do have to speak in front of groups of people I get a little better and used to it. Updike’s solution is sort of the same, in that he said he did not stop speaking just because he had this stuttering problem. I can relate to what he must have felt like when he had his problem.
I like how positive Updike is when he is speaking of being an only child. I also like the fact that his parents were financially responsible about how many children they could support when it comes to money. I respect that, because it shows that even though they may have wanted more children, they were mindful of the children first and realized they did not have the means to support them. I like how Updike says “All a child asks is that the world hold still while he or she grows up…” this is very true in my opinion. Growing up, I moved a few times and my parents were on and off. I never really felt any stability, and that is what I think Updike is explaining here. I especially like the way he worded that sentence. I can agree and relate to Updike when he speaks about the teachers that encouraged him. Teachers have never been my enemy; I have always been on their good side and thoroughly enjoyed it that way. I feel like that is what Updike is speaking about here. I can definitely agree with him when he says teaching did not interest him. To me, after I finish college is when I will be done school forever. I would not like to work in a school the rest of my life. Another way I can relate to Updike is his stuttering problem- I used to have a slight stutter when I was in middle school and I absolutely hated it. I like how Updike says he began to write because he isn’t an orator, and I’ve found myself thinking that before. I would much rather write an essay then speak in front of a group. One last thing that I can definitely agree with what Updike says is when he said “Writing helps the world feel more real to me.” I can see how that would make the world feel more real. There is more detail in writing then in just average daily thoughts. Plus, there are so many imaginative possibilities with writing. I think that John Updike and I have a lot in common.
In John Updike’s interview, he was asked if he likes to write to get himself onto to paper, to find out more about who he is. He responded by saying he is most proud of his prize-winning Rabbit books where Rabbit has the same background as Updike, but instead of becoming an author, Rabbit stay in his small town becoming a handsome basketball star who has to constantly fight temptations of being an early success. This shows Updike’s dreams that he lives out through his character. “I wasn't handsome the way he is.”John Updike, like most fictional writers, write about what they would do if they were given a different set of skills. Updike talks about how the character is like your twin, and in order to make a good story, you need to make the break. So basically, he adds some of his better qualities with ones he wishes he has to make a great character in an ordinary event. Such as Sammy in A&P, how Sammy grew up in kind of a boring little town like Updike but was extremely observant and bold. Also, Jay in The Lucid Eye in Silvertown, how Jay came from a small town in Pennsylvania but has a great appreciation for art. Both stories involve an ordinary character in ordinary events, but who have some great qualities about them.
John Updike is one of America’s greatest authors of the 20th century. He wrote about his many life experiences and created short stories that are still read today. In his interview he began by answering questions about his childhood. He was talking about the way he grew up in the midsts of the great depression and how unusual his family was, for the time. He was an only child growing up just outside of the city of Reading, Pennsylvania. He lived with his mother, father, and his grandparents, in a nice house. He said that he loved to read, as a child, and talked about some of his favorite authors. All these things about his childhood reminded me of the story The Lucid Eye in SilverTown. He wrote this story about a boy who travels to New York with his family to get a book from a store there and to meet his uncle for the first time. This little boy seems to be based off of the life of John Updike, himself. He was an only child that was too smart for his own good, and loved to read intricate books. These qualities seem to be the same as how he described himself as a child, in the interview.
John Updike had dreams of being a cartoonist before he even thought of being a writer. When he was growing up John always watched his mother write in the front room when he was sick. He said that he remembered the brown envelopes being sent off to New York and Philadelphia. But they always came back. His mother had trouble making something of her passion for writing. John wanted to draw and be a cartoonist not a writer, but he realized at Harvard there was a "ceiling" to his drawing. That he had never had with his writing classes. He found that Cartooning was not all it was cracked up to be. Just as Jay found that New York city was not all that cracked up to be in "The Lucid Eye in Silver Town." Jay thought that it was going to be cleaner and neater then it was. It was a disappointment. Also in the story Jay was said to be just like his mom, just as smart, according to the father. John is also like his mother. He followed in her footsteps, but it sounds like John ends up being more successful. Jay is John in my book; in every way I can think of.
I enjoyed John Updike's response to the statement "you said that writing helps the world seem more real to you." I enjoyed it simply because I feel the same way. Maybe not about writing in particular but with photography. Just as he captures moments and thoughts in time and incorporates them into his writing, I too try to put as much emotion and realness into my photography. Most peoples imaginations are open when reading a good fiction book and they visualize everything in their head. With photography people may do the same. They see an image and can be taken to a place where they have never set foot, or even view an image of someone experiencing something that they have never experienced. Writing and photography are two excellent creative arts and both can make people look at life differently. They both cause you to use your imagination.
Updike explains that he grew up as an only child and that he was quite happy being an only child. He had his parents and grandparents, so whenever he wanted an adult’s attention, he had no problem getting it. However, I lived with my older brother, Henry ( who is two years older than me) and my sister, Bridget (who is five years younger than me.) Honestly, my brother and I are basically best friends. He makes me laugh and is kind and we share a bound, whether he will agree to it or not. We share allot of the same interests and hobbies and we love each other’s accompany. Now that he has moved to college, whenever he come home I am always so ecstatic about whenever he visits, because I have missed him so much! My sister , however, we are not as close and my brother and I, but I feel as though when she matures and is older we will share the same sibling bound as my brother and I do. Honestly, I am not sure how Updike grew up being an only child. I could not image life without my brother and sister. They helped shape who I am and they are very slose to me. Updike may have had his parents close by to help him with anything, but I would chose my siblings over being an only child any day.
I agree with John Updike when he says that his teachers had a big impact on his life. Like Updike, my teachers have also affected my life in a positive way. He states that one of his English teachers sparked his love for literature and inspired him to become a writer. I would have to say that my teachers, as a whole, have had a much more significant impact on my life than just one teacher. They have always treated me with respect, taught me everything I have needed to know, and filled me with the confidence that I need to succeed. Without my teachers, I would not be half the man that I am today and certainly would be much less intelligent. I have always had good relationships with my teachers and they have inspired me to be the best I can be. I am very grateful to have been their student as I am sure Updike was to his English teacher.
After perusing the answers that John Updike gave in his interview, I feel that I have grown a greater sense of understanding about his personal take on writing. From the very beginning, I felt very astonished to find how Updike’s family bound together and fought through the harsh times of the Depression. This was the first sign that I knew his family was strong-willed and determined to get through any obstacles. Even though it was typical during the time period for the wife to endure the luxuries of being a house wife, Updike’s mother branched out and received her master’s degree. Even though she put her career on hold when his father got a job in teaching, this still shows a great deal about the drive his family had for success. He also mentions in his interview that everyone in his family were “readers” who were interested in all sorts of various genres. Because Updike was exposed to such a wide myriad of genres at such a young age, he began to read all types of books for fun, and by choice. Although his family was full of all big readers and speakers, they never pressured their son into conforming to that same kind of lifestyle. Nevertheless, John was a brilliant child, and realized that he could never be that naturally talented athletic or popular child. Yet, there was one innate quality that he had over all of the other children; his gift of overwhelming intelligence. Being fully aware of his defectiveness of speech, he knew that he could never be a speaker like the rest of his family. Even though he suffered from this downfall, he overcame it by becoming a writer. There was one part of his interview that really spoke to me. He said “..and maybe one of the reasons that I was determined to write was that I wasn’t an orator, unlike my mother and my grandmother, who both spoke beautifully and spoke all the time. Maybe I grew up with too many voices around me, as a matter of fact.” This is something that I view as extremely commendable. Instead of falling short because of people’s opinions, he used that as a force to be reckoned with. Overall, I view him as a great role model for not only writers, but people who wish to make a living in any field. Updike was never completely sure of what he wanted to become in life, so he tried everything out to be certain of his course of action. I believe his interview serves as a great reminder for all of us to never be ashamed of our uniqueness and our differences, because that is what makes us shine brighter than the rest.
The most intriguing question, or statement, that was given to John Updike in my opinion must be when the interviewer said, “you said that writing makes the world feel more real to you.” Seeing this statement drew my attention instantly. Reading Updike’s response was basically common sense to me. He explains that writing a novel shows you a life or a routine by one person or a group of people. As readers, you acknowledge what happens to a character and how average and normal a character can be or how spontaneous. Writers can give a sense of idea how a certain stock character or main character acts giving the reader an idea or an image of how that character may be. For example, Colwin, who was raised in a wealthy family, wrote about the wealthy in a stereotypical way such as the characters were in “An Old Fashioned Story.” Even though some of us will never be involved in a really wealthy life, reading about it gives us an idea of what it’s truly like. I also agree with the analogy of how those you meet in a cocktail party become something recognizable and acknowledgeable to you such as certain characters in poems, short stories, and novels.
John Updike had pretty bad childhood. He was raised in the 1930’s, during the worst part of the great depression. His parents were very poor, and he was the only child in the family. Updike was in no way athletic or popular in school, but he was quite intellectual. At age 13 Updike moved and therefore had to change schools. Changing schools can be very hard on kids, due to the fact that they have to start over by making new friends and becoming popular. Updike had the opportunity to go to school along with his father, who was an employee at the school. He had the opportunity to see his father much more than a boy of his age during that time period would typically see their dad. He was able to see what it was like to be a working man, struggling every day to make money to support his family. This was good for Updike, it gave him a better appreciation for the world and it could have helped shape him into the great writer he became. Later down the road, Updike later wrote a novel titled “The Centaur”, which was about all the trials and hardships he and his father faced during Updike’s childhood.
I found a great appreciation for the interview pertaining to John Updike’s upbringing as an only child in a home with his parents and grandparents. I can relate to this interview in the way that I myself am an only child as well. Although I do not live in a home with both my parents and my grandparents, our situations, Updike and I, are very similar. My father, as well as Updike’s worked to provide for his family until my birth when my mother, as well as Updike’s began a new job. In John Updike’s interview, he states that his father did not want to bring another child into the world of such great despair and depression. This situation can somewhat be related to the decision of my mother and father. While I was a toddler and in my young years, my family moved around the country many times, these changes of location devastated me more and more with each move we made. These heartaches did not go unnoticed by my father who felt awful due to the fact that he was the source of my pain. Therefor, he and my mother agreed, that not knowing how much longer these transfers would last for, to not bring another human being into this world to go through the pain I was expressing. Similarly to Updike, I can vow that while being an only child, has its ups and downs, one of the major aspects is having all of your parents attention. This can be both a good and a bad thing and through this lifestyle you receive and live the best of both worlds.
John Updike, at least from the 1st question, seems to be from a rather rural background. This makes his story “A Lucid Eye In Silver Town” a little more relatable, as it seems like he feels he is the kid in that story. Another question asks him if he ever saw himself writing fiction, and he says that it was something he was prepared to fail at, but wanted to try anyway. This in my opinion speaks volumes about his character as a writer, and that he wrote not because he wanted to be successful, but more because he just enjoyed writing. Another question that was asked was about writing what you know, which is a common rule of thumb for most writers. John says that he is no exception and that he tried not to write about things that he had not scene before. Another question asked was if he expected to write more then just one of the “rabbit” books. He said that he actually had not intended to, but it just kind of happened. This I think, shows his style of writing was not very structured and more of just a go with the flow kind of writing.
John Updike's response to the question "What was it like being an only child and living with your grandparents and your parents?" In his response he talks about he received a lot of adult attention and was for the most part the center of his parents' lives. This is very similar to the boy in "The Lucid Eye in Silver Town". Both are on particular maturity levels and are raised in an adult world. Both of their parents strongly influenced their lives, even though they might not have acknowledged it at the moment. John also had influences from his grandparents', while in the "Lucid Eye in Silver Town" the young boy goes to New York and comes in contact with outside and foreign influences. In "The Lucid Eye in Silver Town" Jay is very accustomed to adult attention and being able to relate more with adults and in his interview John Updike says, "I had all this adult attention and whatever adult energy was there was focused on me."
I am responding to John Updikes response to being an only child. John Updike’s response to being an only child was rather optimistic; he said that he rather enjoyed being an only child because all of the attention was focused on him. I think that being an only child has its ups and downs. He was living in a very rough economical period in which his father couldn’t afford to have another kid other than him which makes his situation a little bit different. Other than that being an only child is good in some ways because you don’t have any other older siblings to beat up on you or the set high expectations on your parents or to take all the attention and be the favorite child. You also don’t have any younger siblings to nag you or blame things on you and get you in trouble. On the other side being an only child could be very lonely and the house would always be very quiet and boring. I love having two other siblings most of the time even if I am always compared to them and I am regularly beat up by my brother and always told what kind of grades they had and what colleges they went to and what they have accomplished. My childhood would have never been the same without them.
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