Criticism > Contemporary Literary Criticism > Updike, John (Vol. 139) - Barbara Kingsolver (review date 6 February 1994)


Updike, John (Vol. 139) - Barbara Kingsolver (review date 6 February 1994)

Barbara Kingsolver (review date 6 February 1994)

SOURCE: “Desire under the Palms,” in New York Times Book Review, February 6, 1994, pp. 1, 26–7.

[In the following review, Kingsolver offers a positive evaluation of Brazil, but objects to racial stereotypes and elements of misogyny in the book.]

Tristão and Isabel, the hero and heroine of John Updike's 16th novel, Brazil, never quite realize the epic valor of their name-sakes of medieval legend and Wagnerian drama. They mean well, but they just can't seem to resist silk shirts and kinky sex.

The knight-errant, Tristão is strutting the Copacabana beach in his shining armor of night-black skin when he first lays eyes on pale Isabel, in her bikini and rich-girl languor. “This dolly,” he declares, “I think she was made for me.” With a razor blade in his pocket and the vague sense that he has outgrown a life of crime, Tristão makes his way to her, pledging...

[The entire page is 1376 words long]

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