In the Beauty of the Lilies

The back cover of this book enthusiastically describes it as the story of the 20th century in the US "seen through the prism of the movies." But I'd argue that the movies definitely take second place to religion as the driving force of American culture in Updike's view--and that certainly hasn't changed since this novel was written. "In the Beauty of the Lilies" is the story of religion in the life of a family--first for the brooding minister Clarence, who suddenly loses all faith on a totally ordinary summer afternoon at home. Clarence's son Teddy, the most "ordinary" character in the book, will never forgive God for abandoning his father and for the consequences his family suffered as a result. The third generation is Alma, formerly Essie, a movie star in the age of glamour, with her touching faith in a child-like father God watching over things. But God lets her son Clark wander off into the territory of false religion with catastrophic results. I liked this book a lot--Updike's erudite writing is always a pleasure, and his insights into our so-called godless society, where religion permeates everything, were very astute. The "Teddy" story was a bit slow moving, perhaps deliberately, for it is followed by the meteoric rise--and fall--of his daughter's career. As for the story of Clark, we know what's coming, and we read on with growing dread towards the inevitable conclusion. An extra bonus was the very realistic rendering of Paterson NJ in the early 20th century and the painful silk workers' strike. Updike based this section of the book on the fine research of Steve Golin, a historian I know well. This novel is well worth your while.

"In the Beauty of the Lillies" begins when minister in turn of the century New Jersey loses his faith, suddenly and ominously concluding that "There is no God." Shorn of their moral compass, his family then spends generations descending into the hell of modern American materialist society. Although some family members achieve material success, they all are essentially unhappy, and never realize that this is because they have no faith in God. Updike has a fine command of history and theology to compliment his mastery of English prose. The minister's story is a deliberate antithesis to Jacobus Arminius, a theologian at the University of Geneva in the late 1500's. Arminius was studying non-Calvinist writings in order to bolster Presbyterianism. Instead, he ended up being swayed. Today, we call denominations that believe in the ecumenical nature of salvation 'arminian.' Updike's minister is a Presbyterian who studies athiest tracts to refute them and ends up instead renouncing a faith which at the time was well-known as the "frozen chosen." Updike chronicles the family's journey through four generations and ends with a strange renewal of faith. Updike, deliberately, puts aside the sarcasm and humor that he wields so well in "A Month of Sundays" and "The Coup." What remains is one of the best novels of the late 20th century, a serious work on faith and American society.

Sometimes I've felt Mr Updike has tended to show off his erudition and skill with language at the expense of telling a story so that the reader has been at times more conscious of his rich vocabulary, baroque permutations and Ossianic sonorities at the expense of what was happening and why. In this novel language is very much the servant of the tale and it's a tale very well told. I think also that the story of religion, of the movies and money is central to the story of the USA in the 20th century, so I think apart from being a really good read, it is a great study of American culture and the individual ambitions, needs, hopes, and desires of the characters who make up its fascinating history. Without wishing to sound pompous or make the novel seem portentous and inaccessible which it very much is not, I think it's an important book. And it is as enjoyable as RABBIT, RUN, and there's been a lot of water under the bridge since that was written, so to speak.

Updike has never been a favorite.This novel is an exception.He wrote a moving work on American values and the shift of said values in post-19th century America.Updike's skill with syntax and enchantment had me mesmirized for most of the novel.You get to truly feel for the protaginist and some of the other folks who reside in this magnificent tip-of-the-hat to the human spirit.Following the consumption of this near perfect example of what a seasoned writer can accomplish, i came away with my pores saturated with a sense of hope.

It is time to for those who still haven't, to acknowledge Updike as the greatest living writer.This is one of the master's best