A review by borderhopper
The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner

emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was my first Stegner novel and I'm kind of glad I read it at about the same age as the protagonist; that is, as an older man. It's a book that focuses on what a person finds of interest and value in the memories of their past, some of which needs to be resurrected with the help of a re-found journal and re-evaluated to fit into the appreciation of a life that went in a different direction than it might have. 
Stegner's language is beautifully crafted and I wandered in and out of his sentences feeling rewarded.