• In the Beauty of the Lilies

  • A Novel
  • By: John Updike
  • Narrated by: Jason Culp
  • Length: 20 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (45 ratings)

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In the Beauty of the Lilies  By  cover art

In the Beauty of the Lilies

By: John Updike
Narrated by: Jason Culp
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Publisher's summary

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

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)

What listeners say about In the Beauty of the Lilies

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Pacing of read aloud was perfect

Updike’s novel is timeless. Like many of his novels, it left me wanting to know more.

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    4 out of 5 stars

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

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!

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In the Beauty of the Lillies

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

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3 people found this helpful

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Could Barely Keep Interested

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.

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