Writers: John Updike

Seek my Face

I really enjoyed this novel the last (?) of John Updike's extensive outputs. Seventy-something Hope is interviewed by a 27-year-old glamous, mysterious journalist about her fascinating life. She was married to two of the most significant artists of the 20th century Zack (Jackson Pollack) and Guy (Andy Warhol). The novel takes place over the course of one day and no minutea of Hope's thoughts, memories and perceptions is overlooked. It is testiment to Updike's skill that this incredible detail is also deeply gripping. His ability to inhabite the mind and emotions of a woman so believable is also impressive. The only caveat I have is that when I finished reading I wished that more had been revealed about Kathryn, the interviewee, 's motivation for doing the interview. A jealously and admiration of Hope's full life is alluded too, and perhaps that is all that is necessary.