All the Little Live Things

After reading a Stegner novel or two, you gradually come to the realization that his works have a slow-burning quality.

Both in this particular novel and in "Big Rock Candy Mountain", I initially found myself confused and a bit annoyed by the seemingly lack of significant events taking place.

However, around the halfway point or so, looking back, I understood that he needed that time to set the stage and firmly establish the characters in my mind.

Then, the emotional weight begins to build up, interspersed with the most breathtaking statements by the narrator or astute observations by the characters.

What a jarring and horrific ending it is, though.

The quotes in the story are also thought-provoking. For example, "You don't have to shoot yourself like a Dostoevsky intellectual to assert the will. You don't have to commit whimsical, existential crimes to prove your freedom. You can take hold of yourself, like training a horse. And that is both pleasure and morality."

Another one is "The 20th century corrupted him. The America that he despised corrupted him. Industrial civilization corrupted him with the very vices he thought he scorned in it... His personal motives were freedom and pleasure, and he misread them both.”

These quotes add depth and complexity to the story, making the reader reflect on various aspects of life, such as freedom, morality, and the impact of society.

"Yet I was never willing to suffer with others, and when my own pain hit me, I crawled into a hole. Sympathy I have failed in, stoicism I have barely passed. But I have made straight A’s in irony - that curse, that evasion, that armor, that way of staying safe while seeming wise."

This quote reveals the narrator's self-awareness and perhaps a hint of self-criticism.

"I had had no answer for her then. Now I might have one. Yes, think of it, I might say. And think how random and indiscriminate it is, think how helplessly we must submit, think how impossible it is to control or direct it. Think how often beauty and delicacy and grace are choked out by weeds."

This passage shows the narrator's evolving thoughts and his/her realization of the unpredictability and harshness of life.

"Love is a carrier of death - the only thing, in fact, that makes death significant.”

This profound statement makes us think about the relationship between love and death and how love can give meaning to something as inevitable as death.

Finally, "I shall be richer all my life for this sorrow" shows that even in the face of sadness and loss, there can be a sense of growth and gain.

Overall, Stegner's novels are not only engaging stories but also a source of deep reflection and inspiration.

"All the Little Live Things" holds a special place as my favorite Stegner work. It truly is outstanding, perhaps boasting one of the greatest final (more or less) pages of a novel I've ever encountered - easily in the top five. I must note that I'm in the minority when I place this at the top of his collection, as most people claim "Angle of Repose" to be the best, which is also excellent.

Here, Joe Allston, a retired literary critic who would later resurface in Stegner's "The Spectator Bird," resides with his wife in a secluded part of California. The Allstons' lives are disrupted by the arrival of a motorcycle trespasser and a young couple, the Catlins.

This novel offers a wonderful and rare depiction of a friendship between an older couple and a younger couple, with the Allstons forming a particularly close bond with Marian Catlin.

The book, published in 1967, is very much a Sixties novel, delving into the generational conflicts and issues of freedom and separate societies of that era. To some, it may seem dated, but one should look beyond that. As always, Stegner's writing is beautiful. His later novels all feature crotchety old men, and he was masterful at portraying crusty characters. Even if "All the Little Live Things" isn't consistently five-star excellence throughout, that magnificent ending more than makes up for it.

4✚

"All the Little Live Things" is the second novel by Stegner that I have delved into, and it is every bit as exquisitely written and profoundly thought-provoking as the previous one. I am truly enamored with how Stegner's unique style and his well-developed characters prompt me to reflect deeply on my own life and perspective. This book has been an absolute delight for me.

The story revolves around Joe Allston and his wife Ruth, who have recently retired to a charming country house in Northern California. Their retirement is not merely an escape from their professional lives but also from the burdensome memories and past sorrows that haunt them. In his new abode, Joe endeavors to create a kind of Eden for himself and his wife, complete with beautiful flowers, fruit trees, and lush gardens. He also tries to shield himself from future sorrows by maintaining a certain distance from their few neighbors.

However, Joe discovers that his idyllic Eden is under threat from various pests and snares, as well as a neighbor with a penchant for development, a hippie squatter who resurrects memories of his son, and perhaps most perilous to his peace of mind, an overly optimistic young mother, Marian Catlin. Through his vivid characters and their heart-wrenching story, Stegner poses several profound questions. Can one truly retire from life? Is it possible to obtain Eden? And, more significantly, should one even attempt to? For, in regaining Eden, what is sacrificed? Sorrow, indeed, but also love. Stegner challenges the reader to ask ourselves, as Joe does, if we would be willing to forsake all our sorrow for the sake of comfort and complacency, but at the cost of true happiness, hope, and love.

[ Hardcover First Edition borrowed from the library with stamps in the back dating back to the mid 70’s]

I really shouldn't be writing a review for this book. The moment I finished it, I had this overwhelming urge to roll around on the ground,紧紧 clutching it to my chest, mumbling my undying love for the beautiful writing, for the captivating characters, and especially for Ruth.

I find myself at a loss for words. After reading those profound and touching words, I would feel like an absolute imbecile if I tried to come up with something clever to write. It's as if any attempt at putting my thoughts into words would pale in comparison to the magic that this book holds.

All I can say is that this feeling right now, after reading this book, is like a powerful and nostalgic flashback that takes me deep into the recesses of my own heart. It has awakened emotions and memories that I didn't even know were there.

I have no idea how this author manages to create such rich and detailed worlds, such complex and relatable characters, such profound insights, such delightful humor, and such a vivid sense of nature, all within the framework of one single, fantastic yet simply told story. But I do know one thing for sure - I can't wait to devour everything else that this author has ever written. I'm eager to explore more of the magical universes that he has crafted and lose myself in his words once again.

One of my all-time favorite books is Stegner's CROSSING TO SAFETY. It presents a truly profound story about the transformational potential of friendship. However, this book also delves into this theme from a painfully different perspective, causing me to suffer as I read.

Stegner's writing is undeniably beautiful. Nevertheless, the anger and social prejudice expressed in this novel failed to appeal to me. I believe he was an English professor at Stanford in the late 60s when this book was written. I can only envision that as he approached his 60th year, he must have felt extremely alienated from the liberal youth in Northern California of that era, his own students.

The anti-establishment characters in this novel are harshly exposed by the narrator, making me cringe. There is no hint of romanticism for the fledgling Hippie movement here! And, frankly speaking, that venomous attitude spoiled the book for me.

The warmth and love expressed for another character, who is perceived as pure and generous, is juxtaposed too strongly against the mean-spirited attitude the narrator adopts towards other characters.

Perhaps this book is simply too much of a period piece that doesn't hold up well as society adapts and evolves. It may have been relevant and impactful during its time, but as the world changes, its message and tone seem to have lost some of their resonance.

Oh Wallace.

I truly desired to love "All the Little Live Things" (isn't that one of the most captivating titles?). There were indeed moments when I did. The beginning was enchanting, and so was the end. When Wallace presented his amazing descriptions of the landscape and nature, it was simply breathtaking. And when things actually happened, like when we escaped from the inside of Joe's brain.

However, I must admit that Joe's brain was the issue for me. It seemed to be constantly on repeat. Joe didn't have a liking for his hippie tenant, yet he did have a soft spot for his sweet and beautiful neighbour. Wallace could have easily conveyed this in just one line (and probably written it even better), but instead, he dedicated an entire book to it.

Nevertheless, I might still find it in my heart to forgive him, because deep down, I do love Wallace. His writing has a certain charm that keeps pulling me in, despite the flaws in this particular work.

I read this some years ago, but just realized that I had never added it to my shelf. It was a remarkable piece of work that had left a lasting impression on me. The story was engaging, the characters were well-developed, and the writing style was captivating. I remember being completely immersed in the world that the author had created.

Despite having read it several years ago, the memory of this book still lingered in my mind. It was only recently that I came across it again and realized that I had never added it to my collection. I immediately felt a sense of regret for not having done so earlier.

Now that I have added it to my shelf, I look forward to reading it again and reliving the experience. I am sure that it will be just as enjoyable as it was the first time around. This book is a true gem and I am glad to have finally added it to my collection.