MY FATHER’S TEARS: And Other Stories
John Updike
Knopf
Fiction/Short Stories
ISBN: 9780307271563
MY FATHER’S TEARS is the last in a sterling lineup of stories from the master storyteller John Updike, who passed away in January 2009. With 18 tales in all, the book has a wide range of characters, themes, times and settings. But all of them have a common thread --- that of delving into the human spirit and capturing the emotion of the moment. And they were previously published in various magazines, including The Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s and The New Yorker.
Most of the main characters are male, but there are some of the female persuasion. Themes include aging, reminiscing, love lost and religion, among others. Times range from the Depression era to that of the modern-day world. Updike uses some fictional places in Pennsylvania to mirror those of his hometown of Shillington. The settings also include the state of Florida and such exotic locales as India, Spain, Italy and Morocco
The first story, titled “Morocco,” takes place in that country and is based on a true story from events that occurred there in 1969. “The Walk with Elizanne” revolves around a high school reunion where two former high school sweethearts meet up after 50 years. A young child is the main character of three entries: “The Guardians,” “The Laughter of the Gods” and “Kinderszenen.” Love and its imperfections are the themes of “Free,” “Delicate Wives,” “The Apparition,” and “Outage.”
An interesting and sobering piece, “Variations of Religious Experience,” explores the concept of religion and how it affects our thoughts and actions. The story centers on the horrific events of 9/11 and is told from the perspectives of a man watching the Twin Towers collapse from a distance as he looks out an apartment window, one of the hijackers who flies his jet into a tower, an office worker who is trapped in one of the towers and leaps to his death, and a passenger on the doomed plane that crashes in Pennsylvania. Each views his religion (or lack thereof) differently, and their reactions are varied as the events unfold.
Prior to reading this volume of short stories, my exposure to Updike’s writings had been limited to a couple of volumes from the Rabbit series. Dedicated fans will enjoy MY FATHER’S TEARS, while newcomers can expand their enjoyment by perusing the many other short stories and novels he has produced. All readers should cherish this latest collection as it will be the last by this renowned and prolific author, unless new ones are discovered posthumously.
--- Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin
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