I really struggled getting through this book.

It was a real challenge for me to make my way through the pages. The first half was extremely slow-paced, which made me stop reading for several periods of time.

I almost gave up on it, but somehow I managed to stick with it. And in the end, I have to admit that I did like it to some extent.

However, I cannot say that I truly enjoyed it. It just didn't have that certain something that would make me love it.

Interestingly, my sons really like this book. They seem to be completely engrossed in the story and characters.

But unfortunately, it is not really to my taste. Maybe it's because of my different reading preferences or maybe I just didn't connect with the book on a deeper level.

Either way, I'm glad I gave it a try, but it's not a book that I would recommend to others who have similar tastes as mine.

3.75 Stars


All the Little Live Things is a captivating story that revolves around 64-year-old curmudgeon Joe Allston. It details how his life undergoes a significant transformation over several months due to his relationship with a new neighbor. Joe and his wife Ruth have moved from NYC to the rural landscape of California after his retirement, hoping to withdraw from the world and heal from the loss of their son.

Stegner's writing, as always, is a delight. He masterfully evokes the beauty of the natural world, as seen in his description: "... the breeze dropped to nothing, the leaves still, the haze beginning to spread amethyst and lavender and violet between the layers of the hills, the sun dappling the bricks like something especially sent down from above to soothe our mortal aches away."

The novel is highly character-centric. Stegner delves deep into the feelings between his characters, telling the tale with perception and a touch of wry humor. The heart of the story lies in Marian Catlin, the neighbor, who is pregnant with a much-desired second child but also has cancer. She is determined to bring her pregnancy to term and prepare her first child, Debby, for life without her. The Allstons and Catlins become close friends, and Joe rails against her decision to forgo cancer treatment.

Marian's husband, John, tells him, " 'She's entitled to do it her way. It's her death.' So it was, so it was, and closer every morning." There is also some drama with Jim Peck, an anti-establishment dropout who builds a tree house on the Allston's property near the Catlin's home. His encounters with Peck mirror Joe's confrontational relationship with his son. The story, published in 1967, also explores the culture clash between the generations.

However, there were some parts of the book where the pace seemed a bit slow. This was not the case with the other three Stegner novels I've read: Crossing to Safety (my favorite), Angle of Repose, and The Big Rock Candy Mountain.

Ultimately, Joe Allston experiences a crack in his certainties and his heart. He reflects, "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." Publication 1967.

Reading "All the little live things" and "The Spectator bird" was an absolute delight. It was as if one was being served a sumptuous feast by the most talented cook in the world for a whole week. At times, it was like indulging in the most exquisite fine dining experience, with every word and phrase crafted to perfection. The descriptions were so vivid that they seemed to come alive in one's mind. However, it wasn't always all about the extravagance. There were also moments when it was just like having a simple dish of beans in tomato sauce. But even this seemingly bland and plain offering was actually the best beans in tomato sauce one could ever hope to taste. It was a reminder that sometimes, the simplest of things can bring the greatest joy and satisfaction.

This novel truly floored me completely. It was such an unexpected surprise. I bought this novel on a whim, having never read or heard of Wallace Stegner before.

I just finished reading it this morning, and I'm still in the process of absorbing it and wiping the tears from my eyes. This novel has left me in absolute awe.

I'm honestly at a loss as to where to start with a review. But one thing is for sure, immediately upon finishing this, I ordered 7 more of Stegner's novels. It is a true work of beauty.

Thank you, Mr. Stegner, for creating this masterpiece. It has touched my heart in ways I never thought possible. The story, the characters, the writing - everything was just perfect. I can't wait to explore more of Stegner's works and see what other treasures he has in store for us.

This novel will stay with me for a long time, and I will recommend it to anyone who loves a good story that can make them laugh, cry, and think. It is a must-read for all literature lovers.

Oh Wallace Stegner, how I truly love you!

Your works have always had a profound impact on me. The way you craft stories, develop characters, and build entire worlds within the pages of your books is simply remarkable.

And that ending! It was so powerful, so unexpected, that it left me completely speechless. I sat there, with the book in my hands, for what felt like an eternity, just trying to process all that I had read.

Stegner has a unique ability to make his readers feel deeply connected to his characters and their experiences. His writing is so vivid and descriptive that you can almost see the scenes playing out in front of your eyes.

I am truly in awe of his talent and will continue to be a devoted fan of his work for years to come.

I simply cannot find the words to convey just how profoundly this book has affected me. It is truly impossible to put into words the depth of emotion and the impact it has had. Wallace Stegner's writing is nothing short of extraordinary. I can try to pile on all the literary superlatives that come to mind, but I know it will still fall short. His prose is so masterful, so evocative, that it draws you in and holds you captive from the very first page. Every sentence is a work of art, carefully crafted to create a vivid and unforgettable picture in your mind. The characters he creates are so real, so complex, that you feel as if you know them personally. And the story he tells is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, leaving you with a sense of hope and a newfound appreciation for the power of literature.

This passage truly brought to mind the previous books I've read by Stegner. The exquisitely written prose about nature was ever-present, just as in his other works. However, this particular one seems to have a darker tone compared to the others. As is typical of Stegner, he prompts deep thought, and that holds true here as well. It especially makes one think deeply about how to deal with impending death.

I didn't engage with the characters in this book as deeply as I did in some of his other works. In fact, I was rather annoyed by some of the characters. At times, some of them acted beyond reason, and with others, they should have been more supportive, it appeared.

There was definitely a brutal and surprise ending that suddenly changed the feel of the entire story.

Favorite quote(s): "I shall be richer all of my life for this sorrow." "When we are young, we take so casually every sacrifice offered by the old." These quotes add an extra layer of depth and poignancy to the overall narrative.

This is a sort of prequel to The Spectator Bird, written nine years earlier.

The main character and narrator is Joe Allston, who is in his 60's and has retired from a job in publishing in NY City.

Joe and his wife Ruth are still grieving the death of their son in a surfing accident. After traveling around Europe, they built a retirement home in California.

As the book opens, Joe, as narrator, tells us about the death of a young friend named Marian. He then proceeds to tell of the months before her death when he and Ruth met her, her husband John, young daughter Debby, and the young man who so reminded him of his dead son - Jim Peck.

This is very much a book about the 60's, the time when it was written. Jim Peck, like Joe's son, is a hippie, believing in freedom. He smokes pot, takes LSD, has multiple sexual partners, steals Joe's water and electricity, and is setting up a \\"school\\" on the land Joe very reluctantly allowed him to camp.

But Marian is the joy, as well as the sadness, in Joe's story. Marian chides Joe for using pesticides and weed-killers, telling him that all living things have a right to live. They have arguments that get Joe heated and Marian laughing.

Joe and Ruth find out that Marian is a cancer survivor who has determined to have another child, despite the possibility that pregnancy will trigger the cancer's return. She becomes pregnant and, of course, the cancer returns.

Joe loves Marian as he would a daughter and is devastated. Marian won't listen to reason (that is, to any of the things Joe tells her she should do).

Stegner's prose, as always, is mind-boggling. Stegner knows how to tell a story.

I don't think it matters which of the two Joe Allston books you read first, even though this one was written earlier, the other is largely concerned with recollections of the European trip.

Once again, Wallace Stegner’s beautiful, descriptive prose drew me in to this novel from the very beginning.

It was as if I was taking a lovely walk in a lush forest, with crystal-clear streams meandering through, birds singing their enchanting melodies, and perhaps even a magnificent waterfall cascading down.

Then, just when I was completely soothed into the idyllic atmosphere, it was like a rock suddenly fell from beside the waterfall, startling me into the heart of the story.

The story of Joe Allston and his wife, Ruth.

In their mid-60’s and now retired, the Allstons have left the East coast and are in California,沉浸在深深的悲痛之中. I deliberately chose the word ‘mourning’ rather than ‘grieving’, for their feelings were a complex combination of grief, regrets, disappointment, and guilt among others.

Their son has passed away, and no matter how hard they had strived, they felt trapped in the distorted relationship they had shared with their son.

A young man, Jim Pitt, arrives on the scene and desires to build a small camp at the bottom of their property.

Could this be an opportunity for redemption for both of them? Joe’s hackles rise when young Pitt’s values and attitude clash with his own, but Ruth is inclined to give him a chance, so Joe reluctantly acquiesces.

A young couple named Marian and John move into the adjacent cabin with their 6-year-old daughter, Debby.

For Joe, Marian is the daughter he had always wished he could have had. Joe and Ruth quickly form a close bond with the couple and their daughter.

However, neighbourhood problems begin to surface – a land development on the hill across from them. Another neighbour is facing difficulties with their 16-year-old daughter.

As these pains and pleasures gradually unfold and blossom into the story one by one, the connections to the past emerge, sometimes as sharp as thorns, and at other times as vibrant as bright green leaves.

And then Marian falls ill, and the balance tips once more.

This story is not only interesting and engaging but also magnificently moving.

For me, it is Wallace Stegner’s remarkable ability to mould and shape words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs with the skill of a master sculptor that infuses life, energy, and emotion into it.

I relished experiencing the subtleties and literary allusions that added flavour to these pages, but it was the story itself and the brilliant way it was written that made me feel everything so profoundly.

I wholeheartedly recommend this read to anyone who savours high-quality writing that goes down like the finest ambrosia.

It may seem overly generous to compare Stegner to Tolstoy or even Shakespeare, but I don't think it's out of the question. With each book I read from him, I am further struck by how much of the human experience he captures and by how well he does it.

All the Little Live Things is a book of contrasts more than it's a book of plot. The story revolves around an aging couple juxtaposed with both a young couple and with the children of the 60's in a few of their various incarnations. All are represented in a way that shows not only sympathy for their choices but a profound understanding of their motivations. Stegner weaves their lives together in a beautiful and tragic story that will remain with you long after the last page.

In the beginning, it can be a struggle to get interested in the book because the protagonist is such a curmudgeon. However, as the story unwinds, it becomes, in what is typical Stegner fashion, beautifully heart wrenching. You should stick with it as it is truly worth it. The detailed descriptions of the characters and their relationships draw you in and make you care about what happens to them. The themes explored, such as love, loss, and the passage of time, are universal and timeless. Stegner's writing is masterful, and this book is a testament to his talent.

How wonderful it was to come across the grumpy and humourless Joe Allston, whom I first met in Stegner's The Spectator Bird.

Now in his sixties, he's retired in California, living a quiet, routine-filled life next to his wife of forty years, Ruth.

It's the "crazy 60s" when the youths of the day went on sex, drugs and spiritual experimentation benders. I wasn't alive in the 60s, but I always wonder - would I have joined in or would I have followed the beaten path? I'm definitely anti-war, but I'm not so sure about the "free love" (more like free STIs and pregnancies) and the drug-taking.

The Allston's routines are interrupted when they come across a young hippy man camped under a tree on their property. Joe Allston has issues with him immediately. He sees the young "revolutionaries" as preposterous. Joe takes everything personally when it comes to Jim - his dishevelled appearance, his speech, his motorcycle - everything is an affront. Joe resents the young man even more when he gives in and allows him to set camp on an unused part of his land. The young man starts building a treehouse, puts up a bridge and does other improvements that the Allstons observe from a distance.

Not long after Jim's camping development, Marian and John, a beautiful married couple, and their six-year-old daughter move next to Joe and Ruth. Marian is not only beautiful but also has a way of being and thinking that endears everyone to her, including Joe and Ruth. She's like the daughter they never had. Their friendship blossoms quickly, and the older couple find that their life becomes more interesting and sparkly in very subtle but noticeable ways.

This novel is about regret and grief, getting old, and the clash of generations. It's about the way we affect others and others affect us.

The ending was beautiful: "I shall be richer all my life for this sorrow."

I shall be richer for having read Stegner.

This piece was rather difficult to peruse as Stegner makes it known to you, within the initial few pages, that it is going to be a sorrowful tale, and it is laden with deep introspection.

The narrator, who is also the main character, is both endearing and exasperating. He has a humorous side yet is stubbornly unwilling to yield or alter. He learns things the arduous way.

I found myself shedding tears throughout the final chapters. It was a poignant and emotional journey that left a lasting impact. The way Stegner weaves the story and develops the character is truly remarkable.

Despite the heaviness of the subject matter, there are also moments of light and hope that shine through. It makes you reflect on life, love, and the choices we make.

This is a book that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.