Before the pandemic turned 2020 into a strange, chaotic mess, I made the decision to read some bit of John Updike's work every single day of the year, whether that turned out to be a few lines or hundreds of pages each day. I can't fully explain why, but the idea primarily came from my need to travel American history with Updike and relish in the beautiful sentences he composed over the course a lifetime.

Long ago, in what seems now like a strange twist of fate, I fell in love with John Updike. Rabbit, Run simply knocked me off my feet at a time when my own life seemed to swirl out of control. The novel didn't fix my problems, but the words gave me insight into how I wanted to live my life. And, perhaps more important, reading about the erstwhile Rabbit Angstrom kicked off a love affair with Updike's work that has nourished me ever since.

In "Falling in Love with John Updike," I want to share that early story with you and -- perhaps -- give you cause to pick up one of Updike's many works and dive in.

On another note...

I am incredibly honored to present the fantastic piano introduction, called "Swing Of The Hip," written and played by Evan Palazzo. Evan is the band leader and pianist of The Hot Sardines, the band he and front woman, singer extraordinaire Elizabeth Bougerol created to play the great jazz classics of a century ago along with their own originals. If you love jazz, you've probably seen The Hot Sardines at one of their many global tour stops or listened to them rip live, which I'll guarantee you, is a concert experience you will never forget! For my money, The Hot Sardines are simply the best jazz band playing today!

For more information about The Hot Sardines, visit them online at www.hotsardines.com or at Facebook or Instagram where thousands of followers gather to get the latest news, music, and information about the band.

Episode 3: Who Was John Updike?