Losing Another Great Writer

2009 seems to be the year many great writers facing their own mortalities. Today we lost another great writer. John Updike, the American literature giant, just passed away. A lot of people reading his latest novel, "The Widows of Eastwick", wondered why it was full of ruminations and read more like a travelogue than its plot-rich prequel, "The Witches of Eastwick". Now we know it's Updike's contemplation on life and his valediction to the three memorable characters he had created. Farewell, Mr. Updike. And farewell, Alexandra, Sukie, Jane...