Conservationist, scholar, Pulitzer Prize winner, and humanist Wallace Stegner came from poor, abject beginnings in Iowa. His father was abusive to young Wallace, his mother helpless to stop it. Through determination and perseverance, Stegner built a successful scholarly life out of the wreckage of his childhood. It's no small wonder that his writing is generous, compassionate, and reflective. This is my first journey into Stegner's oeuvre, a man of letters who has been respected by scholars and literature lovers since the latter mid-twentieth century.

This quiet but penetrating story takes place primarily in Wisconsin and northern Vermont, during The Great Depression. Two young couples meet at a college in Madison circa 1937. The husbands teach liberal arts courses, the wives are simultaneously pregnant, and the four become instant and everlasting friends. Sally and Larry Morgan came by way of New Mexico and lack an Ivy League pedigree. Syd and Charity Lang have the eastern branding and wealthy background.

As the reader, we bear witness to the contrasts and complexities of their friendship, the triumphs and blows to their ambitions and private lives, and the demands of an academic career. No melodrama or sensational action takes place; the careful composition of character and amplification of story is done with subtle and contoured development. Syd, Charity, Larry, and Sally gradually felt like dear, close friends.

The prose style took some adjusting. It is a tad old-fashioned and heavy on the adverbs. However, after a few chapters, it didn't seem to matter; the awkward passages melt into the dignified beauty of the story. You can hear the crackle of a leaf underfoot on a brisk autumn night, feel the frost in a wintry afternoon, see the bright blue of a spotless summer sky. The contemplative characters, their destinies and tensions, dwell gradually in the reader's heart. If you are looking for a tasteful, subdued and quintessentially American novel, search no further. Unwind in a quiet corner near a window, brew some hot, fragrant tea and settle in with this refined and evocative story.

This novel is a sensitive reflection on the intermingled lives of two couples. As captured by Stegner's skillful writing it becomes an emotional meditation on four lives well lived. The characters in this book are of a generation that began their married and professional lives in the late 1930s, thus they preceded my own "boomer" generation. But Stegner's reflection on their early dreams and subsequent lives emotes similar feelings within myself when I recall my early hopes and compare them with what turned out to be reality.

What ever happened to the passion we all had to improve ourselves, live up to our potential, leave a mark on the world? Our hottest arguments were always about how we could contribute. We did not care about the rewards. We were young and earnest. We never kidded ourselves that we had the political gifts to reorder society or insure social justice. Beyond a basic minimum, money wasn't even very good for people ... . But we all hoped, in whatever way our capacities permitted, to define and illustrate the worthy life.

Leave a mark on the world. Instead, the world has left marks on us. ...

In terms of adventure and action, not much happens in this book when evaluated by the standards usually applied to novels. This book is filled from beginning to end with character development. Things happen in the story, but they're mostly ordinary things that could happen to anyone. There are no incidents of violence nor betrayals to provide tension for the narrative. But the narrative does contain phycological tension in the form of personalty differences and collision of wills. In the end it is the solid loyalty of these couples to their marriage partners in spite of the described tensions that makes this story a hopeful mediation on life.

The book is narrated in the first person voice of Larry Morgan who ends up being a successful novelist. Both he and his wife Sally begin poor, but Larry's success yields a happy life together in spite of Sally's early bout with polio that leaves her crippled. Sally has a patient personality able to show understanding and tenderness to all.

What we learn about the other couple is through Larry's observations. Sid is also a writer and scholar much like Larry except that he doesn't meet with the same literary success. His wife Charity has a controlling personality with an extreme focus on organizing things.

The closing chapters of the book highlight Charity's over-the-top efforts at choreographing her own death. She is dying from stomach cancer, but meanwhile she's trying to organize everyone's activities in such a way that she can slip away (i.e. die) with minimal fuss. It's a plan that doesn't seem to take into account the feelings of her loved ones, her husband in particular.

It is my guess that many book groups that discuss this book end up talking about the psychology of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder because of Charity's behavior. I'm sorry this becomes such a significant issue toward the end of the book because the rest of the book is sort of a nostalgic tale of lives well lived in spite of miscellaneous difficulties.

The following is from the PageADay Book Lover's Calendar for December 12, 2017:
A fascinating and authentic novel about marriage, Crossing to Safety traces the lifelong friendship of two couples who meet in Madison, Wisconsin, during the Depression. Larry Morgan is teaching at the university, and wants to find success as a writer. When Larry and his wife meet Sid and Charity, they are instantly caught up by their wit, intelligence, and privileged lifestyle. Although the couples come from very different backgrounds, they manage to form a connection that lasts decades.
n  CROSSING TO SAFETY,n by Wallace Stegner (1987; Random House, 2013)

This book was my introduction to Wallace Stegner. Since then, I have read all of his novels with the expception of his first, Lucky Star (I think). I am forever grateful to the women of the Reading Group I was then a member of for bringing me to Mr. Stegner, one of the finest writers I've read.

A wonderful story of friendship and the power and suprises it can bring you. Stegner's amazing ability to present things in new ways never disappoints me. I was quite surprised by the twists at the end that changes almost everything that preceded it; it made you want to read it again immediately to see if you could/should have interpreted events and characters in a different way than you did the first time around. Although, maybe others would have a more insightful mind than mine is and discerned the truth of things to a greater degree.

All the same, it was a wonderful, satisfying story of people who loved each other in the most basic ways.

Struggling writer gets immediate recognition, Guggenheim fellowship, and critical success. Wealthy poet never achieves recognition, depends on the help of more successful once-poor writer friend, and ends up a failure in career and poetic ambitions. I couldn't find a narrator I disliked more in recent memory, with his pretension and self-congratulatory smugness: and I don't even think Stegner intended to make him so unappealing. Also, the fact we have to wait so long to find out what ailed the wife came off as gimmicky and entirely unnecessary to keep some mystery in an otherwise wooden story. I'm amazed (and disappointed) this is regarded as a classic.

I've been thinking the last few days (that's what Stegner does best--makes one think), what IS it about this novel that's so incredibly profound? Why does this fine piece of literature affect me on so many levels? It's curious because there's not necessarily a rich plot, hardly any action to speak of, or even a real stand-outish climax per se... just a beautifully written story with relatable characters living life and facing its challenges as they come. I believe Stegner's real gift is the way he uses his words so effectively. Every. Single. Page contains a word, a sentence, or a thought that's worth embracing. The thing about Stegner is the way he tells a story is very much theraputic. His books stay with you, you can't shake them, and at some level they actually change who you are...that is the power of language and that is profound, indeed.

New thoughts on reread soon…..





The writing is really beautiful and this story of friends (two couples who meet teaching in the English department, Depression era, Wisconsin). They quickly become the absolute best of friends and remain so the rest of their lives. I really did love the connections between these couples and how they just love each other. I do believe that for some people this is a 4 or 5 star book and I can definitely understand why. For me, not completely understanding all of the literary references didn’t allow me to have a total experience with the writing.

Two couples, three friendships (the women, the men, the couples), four good people, over a lifetime and all its vicissitudes. A lovely story beautifully written. Stegner writes women that are strong and memorable, and this is no exception. Even bit characters (eg, Aunt Emily, the nurse, …) have real presence and impact.

A solid four and a half stars.

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Why I chose to listen to this book:
1. since I enjoyed listening to Stegner's Angle of Repose, a couple of GR friends recommended that I read some of his other books, including this one; and,
2. considered by many to be an American classic, I thought it would be a great addition to my "Classics Month"!

Positives:
1. Oh, my heart! I felt like I was listening to a story about real people, not just characters in a book! Following the decades-long enduring friendship between Larry (our narrator) and Sally Morgan, along with Sid and Charity Lang, I couldn't help but feel emotionally connected to these married couples' joyful moments, work issues, marital discord, tragic events - all revolving around their intense loyalties for each other;
2. in case I didn't make myself clear, this is an exceptional character-driven novel! One gets the sense of some strong personalities, especially Charity's. Although I most likely wouldn't be a part of these people's social circle, sometimes I felt a kinship towards Charity, but at other times, a powerful frustration for her martyr-like behavior;
3. some parts of this story were so heartbreaking for me that they had me crying long after the story was done! I just had to walk around outside for a while, letting it all soak in;
4. narrator Richard Poe, does such a believable job with all the characters; and,
5. I think readers with an English major or those who are attuned to English literature would really enjoy the many references made throughout the story.

Small niggle:
Sometimes it got a little wordy, and some references were obscure for me, but overall, these weren't too obstructive for my reading pleasure.

Another Wallace Stegner novel that I would strongly recommend for readers who have been, or who are, in long-term relationships!

Oh, my heart, what a novel.

I'm incredulous that this novel is not up there among the best novels of the 20th century .
I'm also incredulous that I only heard of Stegner last year.

I can't remember ever reading a novel about a friendship between two adult couples. Such friendships are rare. Lots of things have to align for that to happen, besides proximity, compatibility between four people, and the kids, a similar socio-economic standing, political and intellectual similarities.

Written in the 1980s, this is a novel about a friendship forged in the late 1930s, when Larry Morgan and Sid Lang were colleagues in the English Department of a university in Madison, Wisconsin. They're both hoping for tenure. Their financial situation is very different - the Morgans live paycheck to paycheck, whereas the Langs have a privileged financial situation.

Charity Lang, Sid's wife, is a force of nature. She's vivacious, enthusiastic, organised, determined, generous, and bullheaded. Nothing fazes her. Her huge house is a hub for entertainment and get-togethers.
She's the ultimate hostess. She never stops and loses patience with those who don't toe the line or keep up, an impossible task. I liked her a lot.
Larry's wife, Sally, is kind and unassuming, in many ways, Charity's opposite. But opposites attract.
The Morgans live their best years in the Langs' company.

Besides the wonderful characterisations, Stegner created a very atmospheric novel, with beautifully descriptive prose. I could smell the woods, feel I was inside the Langs' house and had picnics with them and their extended family.

Truly, a most marvellous novel.

I think this is my favourite novel of the year, so far.

NB: A little movie on Stegner. It's narrated by Robert Redford - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGCC6...

7.0/10

On page 1, I was mentally recommending this book to everyone I know, so taken was I by the first sentence, so mesmerized was I by the rhythm of the words; by page 101, I was contemplating my own private Fahrenheit 451 in an attempt to get rid of every copy of it, so that others might be spared.

It's hard to imagine 4 more annoying, unlikable ... and just plain "icky" ... people in print. I didn't enjoy meeting any of them and fail to see the point of this unproductive odyssey that we, as readers, have to engage.

I've known people like this, and glad I don't know them anymore. That is, they're out there somewhere, but disassociation allows me to pretend they are no more. Four crackpots feeding on-and-off each others neuroses not just for a few chapters in youth, but for an entire lifetime. Not one of them is mentally well enough to say, "hey, this is crazy, we need to break up." And so the story goes on for a lifetime. Literally. And figuratively.

This felt longer than Dreiser's American Tragedy, another book which is touted as the beginning-and-end of American novels -- the endless grind of it all reviving the echoes of that novel.

"This is life!" readerly friends shout at me because I haven't enjoyed this. "You're missing the point!" No, I don't think I am. This may be life, but it certainly isn't living.

A group of incompatibles (I cannot call them friends) hang on to each other for a lifetime despite every indication that the best thing for each of them is to disperse to the four corners of the earth to find healthier, more rewarding relationships is, to me, a waste of a precious life. I don't understand, at all, why it is enough for some to simply hold onto the raft, instead of striking out into the storm and heading for shore. Incomprehensible to me that this is how people choose to live their lives.

Stegner's craftsmanship is superb and I will certainly look for other of his works which may better host his abilities, but this to me was a dud. Written at the end of his life, his career, it does astound me that this should be his apotheosis, however; that this is the culmination of everything he had learned and garnered from life. A puzzle and a mystery to me. A disappointment.

Ugh, thoroughly boring so much so I was tempted to give up 3/4 of the way through the book. I didn't like any of the characters and didn't care what happened to them or why they were friends. I found the narrator a pompous know-it-all and am still trying to figure out why the book is termed a classic.