In the Beauty of the Lilies Audiobook By John Updike cover art

In the Beauty of the Lilies

A Novel

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In the Beauty of the Lilies

By: John Updike
Narrated by: Jason Culp
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Faith ultimately bursts into flame as Updike's major new novel, charting the lives of one family through four generations, shows listeners an America whose dream of perfection is translated into an obsession with God and the moving picture. Paterson, New Jersey, 1910: When a Presbyterian minister suddenly loses his faith and leaves the pulpit to become a salesman, he becomes a movie addict as well.

©2009 John Updike (P)2020 Random House Audio Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Sagas

Critic reviews

"Dazzling...a book that forces us to reassess the American Dream and the crucial role that faith (and the longing for faith) have played in shaping the national soul." (The New York Times)

"Stirring and captivating and beautifully written... This is the Updike of the Rabbit books, who can take you uphill and down with his grace of vision, his gossamer language, and his merciful, ironic glance at the misery of the human condition." (The Boston Globe)

"Updike’s genius, his place beside Hawthorne and Nabokov have never been more assured." (George Steiner, The New Yorker)
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Updike’s novel is timeless. Like many of his novels, it left me wanting to know more.

Pacing of read aloud was perfect

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The generational saga of a family is brilliantly told and shows empathy and respect to each individual’s life story.

Life lessons

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well, this book takes a very hard left turn at the end . I personally didn't like the ending he made . all in all, a very good book . almost a great book . worth your time. the orator was superb!

updike certainly can paint a picture with his words and has such beautiful little insights on human nature .

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I liked the telling of the Wilmott family thru the decades. Clarence, Danny, Essie and Clark each face issues that they must face.

Family saga

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Extraordinary craftsmanship and a compelling story. My second time through after reading it many years ago. Timeless brilliance.

In the Beauty of the Lillies

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The book tells about the life of a family covering 4 generations along the 20th century. It is really interesting to follow so nearly the ins and outs of their inner conflicts and realizing how human we all are and how important it is to keep faith and follow our paths with determination and equanimity. Life unfolds with everyone appearing to be its center and then just not. It feels rather important to take this in

Interesting story and excellent reading

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If you are looking for a Sunday sermon, this is the book for you. Otherwise, keep on scrolling. I tried and tried but it's just so much God-speak and though I don't mind reliving Bible study, I want a story too! I see why this book is not tremendously popular these days.

Could Barely Keep Interested

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Don’t know what the point was of the story. Way too long for a book that didn’t say much.

Story of multiple generations of a family

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