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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness
Not my favorite Stegner, but masterful. I felt drawn to the narrator’s philosophical articulations.
I can't believe I am reading this for the first time. Stegner is fantastic and I'm a sucker for grumpy verbose characters. I keep laughing at this description of his arrival in Denmark after a rough sea voyage: "The rain came down on them, half of them without umbrellas, and their wet faces shone, and they cheered and waved....Altogether the healthiest, happiest people we have ever seen. We feel like something brought up by grappling hooks, but we are happy to accept their wavings and welcomings as if they were meant for us personally. Escaped from the deep. Praise the Lord.". Grappling hooks - I keep snorting back a laugh. Now starting part 3.
Sniff, sniff, blubber, blubber...You did it to me again, Wally.
Compared to other Stegner novels, I didn't care for The Spectator Bird as much. Perhaps it's my age; I had difficulty identifying with the characters. Also, many Stegner novels depict the landscape of the American West, and I was missing that from this novel. That said, I felt a bit surprised by the ending and appreciated how the story wrapped up.
Even though all of his works are about old people, this one I felt too young for. The writing is obviously unmatched, but the theme of being 70 and looking back at your life and mistakes was a bit depressing for me in the spring ... as a 29 year old.
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't realize before starting this book that it has the same main character as All The Little Live Things, though I'm not sure I would call it a sequel.
The storyline isn't as compelling or as intense as Big Rock Candy Mountain or Angle of Repose but his writing!! I just love Stegner's writing. It's perfection.
The storyline isn't as compelling or as intense as Big Rock Candy Mountain or Angle of Repose but his writing!! I just love Stegner's writing. It's perfection.
Well written and overall interesting. Just not sure I’m a Stegner person
Wallace Stegner is a brilliant writer. I may not agree with every plot direction or every choice made by every character, but I feel like I understand the motivation of each character -- even if it frustrate me. As opposed to most books where I simply suspend my willing suspension of disbelief and want to slap the author across the back of the head over some of the choices madew. Which is to say, I don't agree with the overall direction of The Spectator Bird, but I understand it. Like many of Stegner's books, the plot is simple: a couple in their 70's reminisce about a trip they took in thier 40s or 50s, and the until now unstated impact that the events of that trip had on them. The reminiscence draws them closer together, although neither admitted the extent to which the trip had drawn them apart. ... With Stegner it's the fully formed, and flawed, characters and the brilliant writing that keep you reading -- what a pleasure to read. And now and then he simply mesmerizes me. For instance, the first chapter of The Spectator Bird. I read it twice within 24 hours, and I know I will read it again one day -- soon. It is recommended reading for any guy over the age of 55. I even suggest women read it, but it is an ode on aging from the male perspective so I won't pretend to know if women will react to it the way this guy did. It's brilliant, bloody brilliant. It had me in tears or recognition and sorrow. Even if you don't want to read the book, read the first chapter. And I do love how the book ends, even if I felt it took a bit of meandering time to get there -- I do like where it goes. But the first chapter ... I might even read it again tonight and feel a little bit sorry for myself, but understand there are places I simply must go. I can fight it, but I have no choice. I don't mean to be vague, but I don't know what else to say other than read it.