Man I can’t want for this book to come in now. I have lots of thoughts on things like this in general – a lot of what I teach is…problematic…so I’m pumped to get into this.
Edit: it came this afternoon. Can’t wait to dive in.
4 Likes
Lordy, this has some powerful discussion potential.
Some of the early posts (and okay, I read the spoiler alerts having read the book in an earlier life) had me scared that we went way “too old white guy” for this effort.
I will put my spoiler front and center to spark some discussion and maybe provide some relief for any with those fears. Read “Golfer’s” and “Women’s Work” early on for some consideration. To me, Updike poses as a pompous old fuq in order to play a game filled with pompous fuqs (both young and old). The true magic is in considering he’s not writing for Golf Digest, and not trying to dodge the pompous fuqery of golf… hell he’s bringing it directly to the pompous literary fuqs of The New Yorker……as a small town journo who had to earn his way in and was never comfortable in it.
TL;DR I’m still convinced Updike is absolutely brilliant, progressive for an old white guy but could have learned to mask his sexual jokes and references much better… like our friend Melville. This isn’t a novel. Jump around. No more than one essay at a time.
2 Likes
Starting full on now and realizing he did go Golf Digest on us a bit…. Assuming some of these maybe have not aged so well…. And Rabbit Angstrom….he’s a literary character not for the faint of heart.
1 Like
Do we have a discussion date for this yet?
Jan 12 was the aim (@OffTheDole can you update title?)
1 Like
I’m most of the way through Golf Dreams. Didn’t take long to remember why I started and then abandoned it a few years ago.
4 Likes
For some reason the first few essays were giving me strong Disney sports cartoons from the '40s vibes. I kept reading with the cadence and inflection of the narrator from things like this:
2 Likes
I’m pretty sure I would have hated Updike if I ever played with him, based on reading maybe a quarter of the book. His writing about golf is what makes non golfers hate golf.
1 Like
That’s a great point. I think I would say it a little differently, though I haven’t worked out just how yet.
I was thinking that Updike missed one book in his most famous series - Rabbit is an Asshole.
I kinda think that was the point. IMHO.
2 Likes
Anybody read The Range Bucket List by (former Trap Draw guest) James Dodson? If so, and maybe this is something we can discuss, has anyone had any trouble reconciling the Updike from Golf Dreams with the Updike portrayed in Dodson’s essay in TRBL? I’m (probably unsurprisingly, given the post) having some trouble with it.
1 Like
Just got my copy today. Found this quote on the back more amusing than the intent given the commentary above.
4 Likes
Is that the book with a chapter recounting a time when Dodson played with Updike at Myopia?
1 Like
Just finished…not sure if I want to save the takes for the meeting or just rant here so I can talk about the things I DID like about it on the call 
There WERE a couple things I enjoyed, want to start the new year accentuating the positive haha
3 Likes
It is!
1 Like
Well this one has suddenly turned into a special one for me. If you were on the last discussion, you may have heard me allude to the fact that Updike was a friend of my grandfather and grandmother, and in fact was at my parent’s wedding. Unfortunately, my grandmother unexpectedly passed away peacefully yesterday, and while I do not think this is his best work by far, it is surreal to have been having reading him at the same time as this occurred. She was the catalyst for my love of reading, and had of course read all of his books (and was, in addition to her house and husband, portrayed in some of his books). On a more golf-related note, I played on of my first rounds at one of the courses Updike frequented before he joined Myopia, Candlewood Golf Course. It recently closed, and on a trip up to Ipswich, MA this past Christmas (which was the last time I saw my grandmother) I noticed that it is now defunct, and completely grown over. It potentially could have been the most “strapped” course in the state, with single-mower fairways, carts that died on nearly every hole, and a second green with a slope so severe you literally could not hold it unless it plugged. Im not really sure why I am writing this, or if anyone will find it interesting, but I have come to discover this book means a lot to me, even though I enjoy his other work much more from a literary point of view. Hope you all had a great holiday, and I am very much looking forward to the discussion. If you are looking for a short article on Updike’s place on the North Shore of Boston, check out the below, which happens to have a few quotes from my grandmother, M.L. Scudder. (open in incognito mode to get around the paywall).
12 Likes
Sorry for your loss - sounds like she was an awesome woman who lived quite a life. Look forward to the talk.
2 Likes
Left me longing for more quite honestly!!
Sorry for your loss!!—-though love the personalized aspect that book talks can have. Looking forward to next week.
1 Like
Thank you for sharing! I’m so sorry for you loss 
1 Like
Folks still good for the 12th?
If so, @mcdonart22 good for the zoom link?
5 Likes