You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Beautifully written and I didn't want it to end, both because of the plot and because I enjoyed my time with these characters so much. One of my favourite depictions of friendship. Can't wait to read more Stegner
Set in thirties America, this is a story about two couples. The husbands work together at the University of Wisconsin in the English department and meet at the social events and parties. Charity and Sally are both expecting with the babies due more of less at the same time.
They hit it off and start to spend lots of time together. Sid and Charity are financially secure, and Larry and Sally are right on the edge with regards to money. Charity is the great organiser and she sets about arranging further events and parties.
It is a time of great hardship in America and the story ebbs and flows with the two couples successes, failures, traumas and joys. It is never sensational, and you have a sense of the character growing and changing in response to the events and as they age
The writing is effortless, calm, confident and eloquent. I hadn't read anything before by Stegner, something that I may need to reconsider.
They hit it off and start to spend lots of time together. Sid and Charity are financially secure, and Larry and Sally are right on the edge with regards to money. Charity is the great organiser and she sets about arranging further events and parties.
It is a time of great hardship in America and the story ebbs and flows with the two couples successes, failures, traumas and joys. It is never sensational, and you have a sense of the character growing and changing in response to the events and as they age
The writing is effortless, calm, confident and eloquent. I hadn't read anything before by Stegner, something that I may need to reconsider.
Easily one of my favorite books of the year. A gentle, humane, understated story about life, ambition, marriage, and the friendship between two couples in midcentury America.
It took me a while to get into this book. It was slow going for about the first third, but in the end it was a beautiful story and exactly what it needed to be. The relationships, events and ideas fit together well, and the language used to express and describe them also fit and belong. I love it when writing and content match. Nothing else can make a book feel so solid and whole.
The second time through I loved it even more. Poetry and life and real relationships. I love this book and will probably read it again.
The second time through I loved it even more. Poetry and life and real relationships. I love this book and will probably read it again.
Another amazing, beautifully written novel by Mr. Stegner. Takes my breath away.
“Leave a mark on the world. Instead, the world has left marks on us. We got older. Life chastened us so that now we lie waiting to die, or walk on canes, or sit on porches where once the young juices flowed strongly, and feel old and inept and confused.”
This was an incredibly well thought out tale of friendship in its purest form. I may be too cynical to appreciate it in the way it may deserve.
Rating: 4 Stars
This was an incredibly well thought out tale of friendship in its purest form. I may be too cynical to appreciate it in the way it may deserve.
Rating: 4 Stars
I just…do not have the patience for books like this anymore.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes