In the Beauty of the Lilies

by John Updike
In the Beauty of the Lilies cover
Good Books rating 3.67
Historical Fiction
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  • ID: 11062
  • Added: 2026-02-18
  • Updated: 2026-02-22
  • ISBN: 9780141188577
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 2006-06-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

John Updike's 'In the Beauty of the Lilies' is a sprawling narrative that begins in 1910 and follows the lives of one family across four generations. The novel delves into the American dream of perfection, which is often translated into an intense focus on religion and cinema. /n/n The story is a rich tapestry of personal and societal changes, reflecting the evolution of America through the lens of a single family. Updike's signature prose and deep character development make this a compelling read for those interested in historical fiction and family sagas.

Reviews
Eddie on Film · 2005-12-24
compelling 4.50

The prose is stunning, and the story does not suffer, making it one of Updike's finest and most compulsive works. The novel is praised for its compelling narrative and beautiful writing.

The reviewer is impressed by the stunning prose and the compelling narrative, which they believe makes this one of Updike's finest and most compulsive works. They appreciate the novel's ability to captivate readers and its beautiful writing style. The reviewer highlights the novel's strengths in its storytelling and its ability to engage readers from start to finish. They find the novel to be a standout work in Updike's oeuvre.

Quick quotes

    His prose is as stunning as always, but the story doesn't suffer in this one.

    It may well be his finest work as well as his most compulsive.

    The novel is praised for its compelling narrative and beautiful writing.

The New York Times · 1997-04-06
critical 3.50

The novel is deeply disenchanted with America, religion, and the movies, offering a critical perspective on these themes. It is a reflective work that challenges conventional views.

The reviewer notes that this novel is deeply disenchanted with America, religion, and the movies, presenting a critical perspective on these themes. They appreciate the novel's reflective nature and its ability to challenge conventional views. The work is seen as a thoughtful exploration of disillusionment and the search for meaning in a changing world. The reviewer highlights the novel's ability to provoke thought and its nuanced portrayal of complex themes.

Quick quotes

    This is, as the ending confirms, a deeply disenchanted novel: disenchanted with America, religion, the movies.

    It is not, however, a piece of dismayed authorial hand-wringing.

    The novel is a thoughtful exploration of disillusionment and the search for meaning.

Commentary Magazine · 1996-04-01
thoughtful 3.00

The story is a bit sketchy, as if it were an abstract for a novel rather than the finished work. However, it is a thoughtful and introspective piece.

The reviewer points out that the story feels a bit sketchy, as though it were an abstract for a novel rather than the finished work. Despite this, they find it to be a thoughtful and introspective piece. The novel's exploration of themes and characters is appreciated, even if the execution feels somewhat unfinished. The reviewer acknowledges the novel's strengths in its reflective nature and its ability to provoke thought.

Quick quotes

    The story is perhaps a little sketchy, as though the book were an abstract for a novel rather than the finished thing.

    But it is a thoughtful and introspective piece.

    The novel's exploration of themes and characters is appreciated.

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