The Witches of Eastwick

and the TV show, if you're one of the few who ever saw it. Just enjoy Updike's lush prose and original characters. View this book as a fairytale depiction of the power of women - and men - and how we misunderstand and misuse it. I found it very strange at the start, but only a couple of chapters in I was quite comfortable and couldn't wait to pick it up again. This is a great summer read and, hey, you can impress your friends by telling them you're reading John Updike.

"The Witches of Eastwick" is a very unusual novel about three women in New England who seem to be a modern day version of a witches coven. At times the storyline proceeds very slowly with descriptions of scenery literally exceeding, in length, the development of plot line. These descriptions are so intricate that I had to read the story very slowly or a great deal of the narrative would have been lost on me completely. At these times, this is definitely not an easy read. It takes longer to read than its length would suggest. Personally, I am conflicted thus far about John Updike. John Updike seems to be an author who I SHOULD like, more than an author that I ACTUALLY like. Thus far I have read "Rabbit, Run", an early novel, about which I was very ambivalent, "The Maple Stories", which I liked very much and now "The Witches of Eastwick", and back to ambivalent feelings. On one hand Mister Updike can write with great erudition and humor. In this novel, there is a scene wherein a character gives a homily at church that is one of the funniest things that I have ever read. And there is no question that as far as scenery goes, Mister Updike can "paint" with words. Mister Updike is undeniably a very gifted talent. Also he was born in Pennsylvania, as was I, and I WANT to like his work. But there are times, I feel his writing is in very poor taste, to the point of being creepy. "Rabbit, Run" is a early novel. "The Witches of Eastwick" Is a much later novel. In both of them he talks extensively through the voice of female characters. He has them give voice to their feelings about aspects of sexual activity. The "Witches" speak at length to each other about who they are "f---ing", etc... He has these women speak about certain acts using the most vulgar street nomenclature. In both of these novels he seems to need to explain, through the voice of female characters, their perceptions about certain male fluids, with great particularity. I am sorry but I feel Mister Updike should be able to do better than that. "The Maples Stories" proves that he can write in a more delicate and tasteful manner. I THINK that Mister Updike believes he is, and means to be, a feminist writer, but I feel some of his writing comes off as demeaning toward women and even at times misogynistic. In "Rabbit, Run" as an example, there is an episode wherein a wife is giving needed advice to her husband, in private, and then she "swishes" out of the room. That is the only time that word is used in that context in that novel. I noticed the same word showed up in this novel in the same context. I don't know, maybe I am being too surgical. As a former detective I payed very close attention to how certain people made use of such words. I don't mean that Mister Updike is violent, I am sure he is not. But our choice of words can speak volumes about who we are and our attitudes. In summary, this is an interesting novel and in the main, I am glad that I read it. I liked parts of the novel very much, but cannot imagine reading this novel again without specific cause. Although I probably will read the described "homily" again. As a parent I would not allow my children to read this novel. Personally, I need a break from Mister Updike. I do have a copy of a very early novel, "The Poorhouse Fair", which I will read, but not in the immediate future. I did like "The Maple Stories". Thank You.

Better than the movie, but not my cup of tea.

Updike at his best, in my opinion. An imaginative, humane, novel, soggy with sex yet not in the least pornographic. I think Updike liked and respected women, and maybe feared them just a tiny bit. He certainly loved and respected our beautiful earth and detested the hypocrites among us. This novel is nothing like the silly movie of the same name (and I can see why). I think it’s a “must read” and belongs in the American Canon, if there is such a thing anymore.

Fast shipping. Wonderful condition. Better than described.

The wordiness didn't bother me as much as the terrible characterization, non-existent plot, and general hatefulness. This was my first Updike book and will likely be my last.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. I've seen the movie, and I loved it. I know that in most cases, the book is better, but not in this case. First of all, I'm not fond of this particular style of writing. It's just too bogged down in superfluous detail. Being detailed is great up to a point, but John Updike goes far beyond that point. He spends so much time on detail that the story just drags, taking forever to get anywhere. That makes for a pretty laborious read. Updike actually reminds me of Charles Dickens in his manner of focusing on details so much that the story gets smothered. His run-on sentences go on for two thirds of a page sometimes. Jeez. Okay, now for the SPOILER ALERT: there is nothing evil or sinister about Darryl Van Horne! He's just clumsy, crude, grotesque, and doesn't pay his bills. I was so disappointed! I kept waiting for the juicy stuff that happened in the movie, and for Alexandra, Jane and Sukie to all realize that he's trouble. For them all to get pregnant by him and band together to get rid of him using their magic. Absolutely none of that happened. Whoever wrote the screenplay did a better job with this story than the author himself. I was really looking forward to sinking my teeth into this book, but instead I dragged myself through it because I paid for the download. I highly doubt that I'll be reading this book again. Anyone looking for a story that even remotely resembles the movie can just keep looking. This isn't it.

The Witches of Eastwick is another example of a great book being turned into a less than stellar movie. If you're familiar with the movie, there's a lot in this book that you'll find familiar as well. Unlike the movie which was set in the late 1980's, the book takes place in the fictional town of Eastwick, Rhode Island at the time of the Vietnam War. The story mainly concerns Alexandra, an artist; Jane, a cellist; and Sukie, a columnist. They are in the primes of their lives, each having either left, or been left by, their respective husbands. Following the void left by their husbands, the women find an inner power they each posses...the power of witchcraft. These witches, however, are a far cry from the an it harm none variety with which many modern readers in the know are familiar. No, these witches are promiscuous, spiteful, vindictive, and they're not above putting a hex on their enemies. Enter Daryl Van Horn. Summoned to town not by the witches magic, by rather by a desire to escape a past life and possibly numerous creditors; Daryl promptly takes possession of and begins remodeling Lenox Manor. One by one, the witches are seduced by Daryl who each takes him as their lover. In the mean time, the witches have conjured a cookie jar in such as way as to cause their enemy (and most outspoken opponent) Felecia Gabriel to vomit all manner of feathers, dirt, pins, etc...which ultimately leads to her murder by Felecia's husband, who goes on to commit suicide. Following the death of Felecia and Clyde Gabriel, their children Chris and Jenny return to Eastwick to settle their parent's affairs. Finding the girl to be sweet, innocent, and accommodating and perhaps even out of a sense of guilt, the witches invite Jenny to participate in their activities with Daryl. However, Jenny proves to be too accommodating and accepts Daryl's proposal for marriage. It is then that the witches conspire to punish the girl they believe stole their shared lover for herself. The remainder of the story examines the lives of all those involved as the witch's curse takes its toll and we are able to also see the consequences of the magic they invoked. In the end, it seems that everyone's relationship suffers. Will the witches be able to undo the damage they have done? Will they be able to heal the rift that has come between them? Will anything ever be the same? Prudish types may find the frank and sometimes descriptive depictions of the witches sexual encounters unsavory. I personally did not like the slurs the witches use when referring to men they suspect to be gay. However, as a gay man myself I am not unaccustomed to such prejudice and I chalked it up to the women's generation. I really enjoyed the depictions of the witches flavor of witchcraft and found their use of common household items in their spells an excellent example of Kitchen Witchery. At roughly 300 pages Witches isn't a quick read, as it is filled with a great deal of detail that the author is famous for. Some may feel that the story branches off from it's self in a few places but it only adds to the overall story, as Witches isn't just about three women, it's a story about an entire town and the effects of gossip, scandal, and magic run wild.