All the Little Live Things is an exquisitely written and deeply moving tale. Wallace Stegner's hypnotic prose weaves a story that is both heartbreaking and beautiful. It delves into the complex themes of family and friendship, as well as the mysteries of life that we often struggle to understand.

The story follows Joe and Ruth Allston as they attempt to come to terms with the senseless death of their son in a surfing accident. This tragedy leads Joe to retire from his literary career on the East Coast and move with Ruth to the beautiful but remote hill country of northern California. Here, they build their house on a wild piece of land and encounter a colorful cast of neighbors.

One of the most significant relationships they form is with John and Marian Catlin, who move with their young daughter to a cottage below their home. Their friendship adds a new dimension to the Allstons' lives. However, the arrival of a hippie, Jim Peck, who builds a treehouse on the Allstons' property, causes complications.

The LoPresti family also plays a role in the story. Their home is constantly under construction, and Fran welds sculptures to add to her art collection. The big Fourth of July celebration at their home is a highlight of the summer.

Overall, this book is a powerful exploration of love, loss, and the human spirit. It is a book that I am glad to have read, despite the emotional toll it took. I look forward to reading its sequel, The Spectator Bird, which has won several awards.

Wow! Stegner is truly a master of literature. It's astonishing how I only discovered him recently while searching for Pulitzer Award winners. He has an incredible ability to handle complex and difficult themes in such a gentle and nuanced way. With each book I read, my admiration for him grows. I must admit that he often starts his stories slowly, requiring a bit of patience from the reader to truly immerse oneself in the narrative. But once the story takes off, Stegner's power and talent shine through. His unique sense of humor is also a delight. In this book and "Angle of Repose," the stories are narrated by ranting old men, and the excellent narrators bring these characters to life in a truly beautiful way.

The book raises some profound questions. How do we respond when we encounter someone who is completely disagreeable or someone we simply can't understand? Joe, the old man in the story, meets both Pack, a troublemaker who preaches for the use of drugs, yoga, and loud music, and his new neighbor Marian, who loves all the little living things and believes in true nature. Both of these characters are a mystery to him.

This is a powerful book that you won't soon forget. It makes you think about what really matters in life, and forces you to reflect on life, death, nature, and human nature. I highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by the talented Edward Herrmann, who also did an excellent job with "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption."

Wallace Stegner was an extremely meditative writer.

This, in my opinion, is precisely the reason why some individuals struggle to get through his books.

The characters in his works engage in a great deal of rumination, while the plot takes a backseat.

With certain authors, this would drive me crazy, but with Stegner, I somehow possess the patience to stay with the writing and relish it.

I believe it is because he articulated so many truths and emotions that I have personally experienced.

He dealt with difficult themes in such a gentle manner, with the perfect blend of intellect and heart.

"All the Little Live Things" and "The Spectator Bird" are companion novels centered around Joe Allston, a retired literary agent who has relocated to California with his wife Ruth.

It doesn't matter which book is read first.

The two books complement one another and fill in the gaps as necessary.

The only consistent characters are Joe and Ruth, along with the painful memory of their son Curtis, whose life and death continue to haunt them.

If you need to follow a strict chronological order, then it is advisable to read "All the Little Live Things" first.

I often find Wallace Stegner's work deeply emotionally relatable. This particular piece is no exception.

I can truly identify with Joe, the main voice in this tome. He is older, just as I am. Over the course of many years, he has carefully cloaked his life perspectives in an outer crusty shell of cynicism that is firmly based on his rich experiences. And I, too, have done the same.

Then, he encounters a young woman. She entrances him, and he is very touched by her remarkable ability to savor, treasure, and caress all of life's offerings. Her unique life perspective has a profound impact on him, touching and rekindling his inner soul of experiences. It's as if a long-dormant part of him is suddenly awakened, and he begins to see life in a whole new light.

This story serves as a powerful reminder to me of the importance of remaining open to new experiences and perspectives, no matter how old we may be. It shows that even the most jaded among us can be rejuvenated by the simple beauty and wonder of life.

This book was an absolute struggle to get through and made for a highly unpleasant reading experience.

I will admit that the writing within it was indeed beautiful and filled with vivid descriptions. However, the characters left a lot to be desired. They were extremely one-dimensional. There was the cranky old man, who seemed to be nothing more than a caricature of grumpiness. Then there was the obnoxious "hippie," a portrayal that felt very dated and perhaps not in touch with the true essence of what that subculture represented. And finally, there was the perfect but dying young woman, a trope that has been overused and didn't bring anything new or interesting to the story.

The overall tone of the book was verbose, filled with unnecessary words and a bitterness that permeated every page. It was truly irritating and made it difficult to find any enjoyment in the reading.

This book truly moved me to the core. It had me laughing out loud at times and brought tears to my eyes at others. So far, it stands as my absolute favorite work by this author.

The story is set in the 1960s on the outskirts of San Francisco and follows the life of a retired literary agent and his wife over a couple of months. The couple's retirement spot is a gorgeous piece of land, vividly描绘 by Stegner in all its beauty. However, in this idyllic setting, life unfolds with all its complexities. It includes not only the sweet moments but also difficulties, annoyances, uncertainties, and terrible trials. The neighbors are diverse, with some proving to be wonderful and others less so. From the very beginning, you learn that someone dear will pass away. The central question of the book is: Is life made richer even by the sorrow it contains?

I don't want to give away too much. You have to see how the story is crafted, experience the lines, and meet the characters. They become so real that some will infuriate you, while others you may question but then come to understand that their actions are in line with their personalities. And Joe, the retired literary agent who is telling the story, wait until you meet him. I can't imagine anyone not being moved by his tale.

I believe this book will especially please those who lived through the 1960s, the Hippie era. Now, looking back, one remembers the hopes and dreams of that time but also recognizes an inherent naivety. Looking back, one can't help but smile. There is an immense amount of humor written into the lines, as well as wisdom. It's not the plot that draws you in but rather the prose, which is sometimes stunning in its beauty, other times amusing, and still other times profound and wise.

The dialogue perfectly reflects how we spoke then, and how we thought and behaved is also extremely well captured. The book is a mirror of those times. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Edward Hermann. If you ever listen to audiobooks, then listen to this instead of reading the paper book. Hermann's narration is outstanding. With his reading, you can't help but hear the humor, which is essential to the first half of the book. The tempo picks up in the latter half, and Hermann's pacing is perfect. I have given both the book itself and Edward Hermann's audiobook narration five stars.

Don't wait. Grab this book soon.

*****************

All the Little Live Things 5 stars

Crossing to Safety 4 stars

The Spectator Bird 4 stars

The Big Rock Candy Mountain 2 stars

Angle of Repose TBR

A Shooting Star TBR

Remembering Laughter TBR

Recapitulation TBR

Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West TBR

Dammit...

I truly love the way this guy writes and how he masterfully develops his characters.

I would毫不犹豫地 say that this is my favorite work by Wallace Stegner, and it surely lives up to his well-deserved reputation.

He is definitely a product of his era, which makes me wonder what his books would be like if he were alive and still writing today.

Would his writing style change?

Would he explore different themes and topics?

These questions linger in my mind as I am deeply impressed by his work.

His ability to bring the characters to life and make the readers engage with them on an emotional level is truly remarkable.

I can't help but imagine the new and exciting stories he could have created in the modern age.

Wallace Stegner's writing will always be a source of inspiration and enjoyment for me.

Joe Allston, a retired literary agent, has settled down with his wife Ruth in a peaceful country home in California.

However, his equilibrium is soon disrupted by the arrival of two people for very different reasons.

The first is Jim Peck, a young hippy whom Joe discovers on his property. Encouraged by Ruth, Joe reluctantly allows Jim to camp there. Before long, Jim has a thriving community of followers. Joe views Jim with disdain, as described in the vivid passage: "Teetering, tiptoeing his padded boots to balance the cycle (surely the feet inside those boots were cloven), he sat and looked at us. He was young, no more than twenty-two or -three. His hair was long and tousled, even matted where the helmet, now hung on a handlebar, had crushed it down. It crawled over his collar, and was pushed forward on his forehead, hiding his horns. His brown eyes, extraordinarily large and bright, gleamed out of that excess of hair, and his teeth, badly spaced, the eyeteeth long and pointed, were bared in a hanging, watchful, half-crazy grin. His coveralls and his shaggy head were splashed with green and gold as the leaves of the bay tree above him moved in the wind. He creaked like a saddle when he shifted, and he gave off an odor like a neglected gym locker." One of the reasons for Joe's antipathy is that his own deceased son had similar anti-establishment inclinations, and Jim's presence touches a raw nerve.

The other person who upsets Joe's apple cart is Marian Catlin, a charming young woman who has moved into the next door property with her husband. Soon, both Ruth and Joe adore Marian. However, this affection will lead to much heartache. The heartache, combined with the bewilderment, anger, and guilt over his son's senseless death, builds to a crescendo of pain for Joe as he reflects on where he might have gone wrong as a parent. At times, Joe descends into a bleak and bitter state.

Once again, I was captivated by the beauty of Stegner's prose. Whether it is a long lyrical description of nature, an angry outburst, or a witty one-liner as Joe ruminates on life, love, and death, Stegner's prose is brilliant. I was also struck by the many contrasts in the novel, such as Joe representing the Establishment and Jim representing anti-establishment, and the beautiful yet sometimes ugly aspects of their surroundings. Additionally, I cannot resist sharing some quotes that further enhance the depth and complexity of the story.

There is a profound sense in which we are all each other's consequences. Our actions, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, have a ripple effect that can impact those around us. Every decision we make, every word we speak, and every gesture we make can have consequences for others.

We are all interconnected in this vast web of life, and our actions can either strengthen or weaken the bonds that hold us together. When we act with kindness and compassion, we create a positive environment that can inspire others to do the same. On the other hand, when we act out of anger or selfishness, we can cause pain and hurt to those around us.

Therefore, it is essential that we are mindful of the consequences of our actions and strive to make choices that will have a positive impact on others. We should always be aware of how our words and actions can affect those around us and take responsibility for the consequences of our behavior. In this way, we can create a more harmonious and loving world for ourselves and for future generations.

I read my first Wallace Stegner book, Crossing to Safety, in 2018. The prose was simply beautiful, and from that moment, I knew I had to explore more of his works. When Stegner writes about nature, it has a profound calming effect on my soul. Having lived through the 60s, I can vividly recall much of what is written about that era in his books. One of the remarkable things about Stegner is his ability to make his work emotionally relatable. Some of the characters in his stories infuriated me, while others touched my heart deeply. Initially, I didn't take a liking to Joe Allston, but as I delved deeper, I came to understand his personality. Another aspect to consider is how grief can transform a person. It creates a new normal that often feels extremely abnormal. Edward Herman's narration (which reminded me of the late James Garner) is truly fantastic. The humor in the first half of the book is well-captured, and the pacing in the second half is just perfect. As Stegner wrote, "I shall be richer all my life for this sorrow."

Wallace Stegner is truly one of my all-time favorite authors, and this book has only further strengthened that admiration.

It is exquisitely written, with a story that is simply mesmerizing to me. Stegner has an uncanny ability to write about people and their everyday lives in such a quietly stunning way that the reader不知不觉 becomes completely enmeshed in the narrative.

Joe Allston and his wife, Ruth, have retired to a small rural town in California after the tragic death of their only child, a son who was an unruly young man and defied his educated parents in every conceivable way. The couple is seeking peace and tranquility in this new setting.

Then along comes Jim Peck on a motorcycle, asking to "camp" in the bottom land of Allston's property. After Allston reluctantly agrees, Peck quickly builds a tree house, complete with a rickety bridge that can be drawn up into the tree, a shed, installs a mailbox, and begins to invite his free-thinking young friends who proceed to trash the land. The cult-like existence of this group of young people involves alcohol, drugs, sex, and more, and lures in two young local teenagers.

Meanwhile, a neighbor of the Allstons is bent on development and starts bulldozing a nearby hill.

A younger couple with a small daughter and a baby on the way move in across from the Allstons, and the two families soon become close friends. The fragile wife, Marion, charms Joe and his wife with her intelligence and sunny outlook, which is so different from their own.

On the surface, it appears to be a companionable and quiet life away from the hustle and bustle of the city. But to truly understand all the events that unfold for this diverse enclave of people, one must read the book. If you haven't yet had the pleasure of reading Stegner and you have a penchant for literary fiction, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Another remarkable piece from this talented author.

I didn't find this particular work as captivating as Crossing to Safety, yet the writing remains superb.

The characters are all intriguing, but I didn't develop a deep affection for any of them.

It is the interactions among them that truly crafted a compelling story.

There were several extremely challenging scenes to endure while reading.

Fortunately, our main character, Joe, provided some comic relief with his witty dialogue, and Peck did the same with his actions.

The overall tone of the book was far more somber than I had anticipated, and the ending was rather harsh.

And so? Admitting what is so obvious, what then? Would I wipe Marion Catlin out of my unperfected consciousness if I could? Would I forgo the pleasure of her company to escape the bleakness of her loss? Would I go back to my own formula, which was twilight sleep, to evade the pain she brought with her?
Not for a moment. And so even in the gnashing of my teeth, I acknowledge my conversion. It turns out to be for me as I once told her it would be for her daughter. I shall be richer all my life for this sorrow.”