Author John Updike’s cinematic legacy never came close to matching his literary work.
The Pulitzer Prize winner, who died today at 76, enjoyed his biggest hit with 1987’s “The Witches of Eastwick.” But the film took dramatic liberties with the source material – read the book’s ending for all the proof you need.
His fiction didn’t translate into great movies, but his stories affected me in ways no other novelist could match.
I remember reading “Rabbit at Rest,” the fourth and final novel detailing the life of Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom. I read the last 20 or so pages slowly … I simply had to savor every last moment. I literally read a page a day – that’s all – to extend the experience.
Updike’s recent books couldn’t match classics like “Couples” or “The Centaur,” but his death today is a major loss all the same.
UPDATE: Here’s how you can see one of the film movie adaptations of Updike’s works … via download services.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Did they never make a movie out of the first Rabbit book? Seems like it would be an ideal flick …
They did make a movie – “Rabbit, Run” with James Caan, but it was hardly a smash.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066274/
Rabbit is dead – Requiescat in pace, Mr. Updike.
~ Dagnabbitt
A major loss to the literary world. I’m glad you took notice and made a post. The only other place I heard about it was on NPR.
Most of the last two days news has been related to Jessica Simpson being “fat” at a size 8.
Rest in peace
John Updike’s passing is sad news indeed… he possessed a truly beautiful mind; he didn’t just write well, he wrote wisely