I don't anticipate Wallace Stegner novels to be overly plot-driven. However, I felt that this particular one endured somewhat due to its lack of a clear direction.

I didn't have an aversion to it. In fact, certain portions of it were rather profound.

Nonetheless, this is perhaps as close as a "meh" response as Stegner has elicited from me.

Maybe it's because I was hoping for a more defined narrative arc to guide me through the story.

Despite the moments of depth, the overall lack of direction made it a bit of a lukewarm experience for me.

It's not that I didn't appreciate the writing or the themes explored.

But without a stronger sense of purpose, it was difficult for me to fully engage with the novel on a deeper level.

Overall, while it had its merits, it didn't quite hit the mark for me as some of Stegner's other works have.

It was kind of a tough read to get through. The story is presented in the form of an older man's reminiscences of his youth while growing up in SLC, which is sort of a sequel to Big Rock Candy Mountain. This structure was quite effective and affecting. I guess, considering that it is mainly a novel about the coming-of-age and young adulthood of a young man, it's understandable why so much sex is at the core of everything. However, it was a bit excessive for my liking. Nevertheless, it earns an extra star for being a serious work of literature that names and describes numerous places that I have been familiar with for most of my life. :)

The decision you made today might not seem monumental. However, every single choice has the power to change the trajectory of your life. There are times when we don't even recognize the significance of a moment until we look back on it.

Bruce, a lonely middle-aged man, often reflects on his youth and the choices he made. Some of those decisions were wise, while others were rather thoughtless.

Taking the long view might seem like a difficult way to approach things. But in reality, it is the key to avoiding regret. By considering the potential consequences of our actions in the future, we can make more informed decisions today. This doesn't mean that we should always second-guess ourselves or be overly cautious. Instead, it means that we should be aware of the impact our choices can have and strive to make the best decisions possible.

In conclusion, every decision matters, and taking the long view can help us lead more fulfilling lives. Let's all strive to make choices that we won't regret in the future.

The more I delve into the books penned by Wallace Stegner, the deeper my affection for his work grows.

I firmly believe that one of the key factors contributing to my love for his writing lies in the fact that he infuses a significant portion of himself into his books. It's as if he is baring a part of his soul, and it's a form of revealing that draws the reader in.

You simply can't resist placing yourself right beside the journey that unfolds within the pages. I don't desire an author who merely narrates a story in a detached manner. Instead, I yearn for an author who can impart his very essence to the audience, who can make the reader feel as if they are sharing in the author's experiences and emotions.

Wallace Stegner accomplishes this masterfully, and that's why his work holds such a special place in my heart.

Slow story;

Excellent prose, as always. The slow story unfolds like a gentle breeze, caressing our hearts and minds. It takes its time to build the characters, develop the plot, and create a world that we can truly immerse ourselves in.

The prose is like a beautiful melody, flowing smoothly and gracefully. Each word is carefully chosen, each sentence is crafted with precision and care. The author has a unique way of expressing emotions and ideas, making the story come alive on the page.

As we read the slow story, we are transported to a different time and place. We experience the joys and sorrows of the characters, we feel their pain and their hope. The story lingers in our minds long after we have finished reading it, leaving us with a sense of wonder and a deeper understanding of the human condition.

Slow stories are a rare and precious gem in the world of literature. They remind us that sometimes, it's worth taking the time to savor the moment and enjoy the journey.

One of those books that are appreciated more than enjoyed.

Such a book often holds a certain charm that lies beneath the surface. It may not immediately grab the reader's attention and provide instant entertainment. Instead, it requires a deeper exploration and a more thoughtful approach to truly understand and value its essence.

The language used in these books might be complex, the themes profound, and the storylines not as straightforward as those in more popular or light-hearted reads. However, it is precisely these qualities that make them worthy of appreciation. They challenge our intellect, expand our perspectives, and force us to think beyond the obvious.

Sometimes, we may need to read such a book multiple times to fully grasp its meaning and significance. With each reading, we discover new details, new interpretations, and new insights. It is like uncovering a hidden treasure chest, layer by layer, and being constantly amazed by what we find inside. In the end, although we may not have "enjoyed" the book in the traditional sense, we have gained a wealth of knowledge and a deeper understanding of the human condition, which is perhaps the greatest reward of all.

Book 1 of 2022: Recapitulation by Wallace Stegner

Recapitulation – as defined in the dictionary, it has three meanings. Firstly, it is an act or instance of summarizing and restating the main points of something. Secondly, it refers to the repetition of an evolutionary process during development or growth. Thirdly, it is a part of a [musical] movement (especially one in sonata form) in which themes from the exposition are restated. Most likely, the title of this novel is derived from the second definition.

Recapitulation is a sequel to Stegner's much earlier novel, Big Rock Candy Mountain. In this work, Bruce, the surviving member of the Mason clan, finds himself back in Salt Lake City to arrange and attend his aunt's funeral. He had long ago left SLC to pursue law school in the Midwest and then had a diplomatic career overseas with the State Department.

His visit triggers a flood of memories of his time in SLC as a youth and a young man. These memories detail his development into the man he would eventually become and leave behind. The memories are sparked by various landmarks, some existing, some missing, and some completely gone, from his life in the late 1920s and early 30s. Ironically (in my view), his description of SLC in the early 1970s seems as bygone as the city of Bruce's remembrances.

This is a truly fine and well-crafted novel. If you are someone who is past mid-life and likes to look back on your life and reflect on how your experiences have shaped you, I would highly recommend this novel. I, who am fast approaching 60, found it to be a meaningful and rich narrative that made me look back on my own life and consider how the places I've lived have made me who I am today.

It is a novel that can touch the hearts of those who have lived through different stages of life and are seeking to understand their own personal growth and development.

A beautifully written book that vividly portrays a life lived in my hometown of Salt Lake City. Stegner's descriptive prowess is such that I can clearly envision my city as it was in 1979. Moreover, through the recall of the main character, I am transported back to the city of his youth in the 1920s. It is truly fascinating to witness the city before my time, during my time, and then know how it is in 2024.

However, beyond the remarkable descriptions, the story holds a powerful recall of a man's connection to a city during his tumultuous childhood. The author masterfully weaves together the fabric of the city's history and the protagonist's personal journey, creating a narrative that is both engaging and deeply moving.

The book not only offers a glimpse into the past but also makes one reflect on the passage of time and the changes that a city and its people undergo. It is a testament to the power of literature to capture the essence of a place and a time, and to evoke emotions that resonate long after the final page has been turned.

Stegner is without a doubt a master novelist. Even though I read this novel intermittently over the course of a year (and it's only around 300 pages), I relished the experience of dipping in and out and uncovering the genius within a single sentence. This story continues the journey of Bruce from Big Rock Candy Mountain. He is back in town and has to relive, especially his almost wife. Instead, he chose to become an ambassador.

The canyon breeze had died down, the trees stood still, and the street stretched out before him. It was not simply empty but blurred and ambiguous, like a double exposure. He felt bewildered in the strictest sense, half lost in a half-remembered wilderness. He was beguiled by familiar-seeming landmarks, just as he had been as a boy prowling the willow bottoms of the Whitemud, following destinationless and overgrown paths that cattle had pushed through the brush. This vivid description paints a picture of his confusion and disorientation.

He was beginning to discover that memory had no calendar. Inside, everything was simultaneous. A sense of time had to be forcibly imposed on it. This profound thought reflects on the nature of memory and how it doesn't adhere to the linear progression of time. It shows how our memories can blend and overlap, making it difficult to distinguish between different moments in our lives.

Recapitulation takes readers back to a significant character from Stegner's renowned early novel Big Rock Candy Mountain, which is set in the late 1800s and extends to around 1931. This book is narrated from the perspective of Bruce Mason. At the end of the earlier novel, he was the sole survivor of a family of four. In Recapitulation, Mason returns to Salt Lake City, the last place the entire Mason family resided after a series of relocations from rural areas and small towns in Saskatchewan and Montana before settling in Utah's large city.

An aunt, one of the last remaining connections to the Mason family, passed away approximately 45 years later (around 1976), and Bruce Mason decides to return to Salt Lake City for the funeral. Upon his return, he observes that the city has changed drastically in many aspects. However, the layout of the streets and the scents of the local foliage evoke numerous memories. The book is like peeling an orange, as Mason, who has since gained public recognition as an ambassador to some Middle Eastern countries, commences a series of recollections related to the places he frequented and the people he knew during high school and college.

In each scene, the sensory images of the bygone era flood back to him, and he senses the Bruce Mason of that time and the experiences he had. Like any young man, he was a blend of ambitions and uncertainties about his future. The recapitulation perhaps refers to his retrieval of both past experiences and the people who were significant to him during this period. Mason had a challenging family life, largely due to his father's reckless behavior. He also witnessed tragic moments with an older brother who died prematurely and a mother who loved him but endured great suffering in the latter part of her life due to her husband's escapades and a battle with cancer.

Nonetheless, Bruce Mason also had some remarkably good moments in this city. He excelled in college, met a group of friends who shared a passion for tennis, singing, and hanging out together, and befriended at least two young women. Forty-five years later, Mason reflects on all of this, and we experience it through the adventures of his younger self as seen by the now much older man. Stegner skillfully描绘s the city as it flourished in various seasons before, but struggles to make sense of his earlier experiences and their significance to the man he is today. He takes care of the funeral arrangements but also encounters a few surprises, especially when he discovers that his aunt has kept a package for him all these years.

We anticipate that some of the mysteries of his youthful days will be resolved, but Stegner delves deeper and takes the reader on this journey of self-discovery. I enjoyed reading the book but found that I read it too quickly the first time. So, I went back to the beginning and took my time during a second reading. This time, I gained a better understanding of who Mason was at a younger age and the meaning of his various relationships. Despite all the challenges, part of this visit is a homecoming to the last place his family lived, for better or worse, and he needs to come to terms with those final family experiences.

I recommend that readers first read Big Rock Candy Mountain to understand the Mason family and the era they lived in. However, this more recent book still offers its own rewards and showcases a mature writing style that benefits from all of Stegner's previous experiences and writings. I'm glad I took the time to read this book, and I missed it when I turned the final page for the second time. Stegner is a master of writing, and I have derived great pleasure from reading four of his books and look forward to reading more.

Stegner Doesn’t Disappoint


I truly relished reading "Recapitulation." It was quite remarkable to see how Bruce Mason managed to accomplish so much through his energetic efforts in both work and study. What I really loved was that he had a wonderful friend by his side and his poor mother who wholeheartedly supported him. I awarded the book 4 stars. However, I must admit that I thought it was a bit too wordy at times, which slightly affected my reading experience. Additionally, I didn't particularly enjoy the relationship that Bruce had with Nola. It seemed a bit complex and perhaps not as engaging as other aspects of the story. I also have a feeling that some readers might not find this book as appealing. Maybe they would prefer a more straightforward narrative or a different type of character development. Nevertheless, overall, it was still an interesting read that offered some valuable insights into the life and struggles of the protagonist.

Stegner once again achieves great success in penning a miraculously insightful story. The protagonist of this story is a man, who could potentially be any one of us. He revisits his youth, family, and friends 45 years after leaving both his home and the town of his youth. The story is profound and, during the reading process, I found myself reflecting back on my own youth, both literally and emotionally. It's as if Stegner has a magical pen that can touch the deepest chords of our hearts and make us relive those precious memories of our past. The details he provides about the man's journey back in time are so vivid that it's easy to imagine oneself in the same situation. This story not only makes us think about our own youth but also about the passage of time and how it affects our relationships and our sense of self.