From Slate:

Updike was the consummate stylist with a blogger mentality.

Like I’ve always said (or wanted to say): the man was almost unparalleled in his evocation of detail and subtlety.  Where he lacked was overall vision.  Like the article advises, though, it’s best to keep a pen and paper handy when reading Updike because you’ll likely strike upon a sentence of such beauty and insight that it’ll blow you away.