Keith Dmochowski: John Updike Home commemorates author's 90th birthday

Mar. 23—A small crowd kept the memory of John Updike alive at a celebration for the late author and Berks native's 90th birthday.

The group gathered at the John Updike Childhood Home in Shillington to commemorate the author's works with readings by local leaders in history and education, as well as several who knew Updike.

Updike lived in Shillington until age 13, and in October the home opened as a museum featuring exhibits on his life in Berks.

The author's local experience was the focus of readings chosen from his novels, poems, letters and even a childhood love note, read by Updike's grade school crush.

Many of the readings featured Updike's reflections on his years spent in Berks.

Readers spoke for over an hour, and guests were treated to cupcakes decorated with pictures of Updike's popular works.

Updike died in 2009 at age 77. He was one of only four authors who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction more than once.