ajacoby's review against another edition
4.0
4 ⭐️ The 4 main characters in this book are complex, well developed and everyone will see themselves in at least one of them. The last third was a bit too drawn out for my liking
borderhopper's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was the second Stegner novel I read, anticipating as good a read as I had with the first (The Spectator Bird). The novel is situated in lives and careers of academics, so it was a bit rarified for those situated here on earth. And also one of the two couple protagonists were from extreme wealth, that being another disconnect, even balanced as it was by the struggling second couple protagonists.
As with the first novel, though, I could forgive a whole lot of cultural distance by Stegner's always beautifully wrought language. I'd likely read it again just for the pleasure his sentences delivered.
As with the first novel, though, I could forgive a whole lot of cultural distance by Stegner's always beautifully wrought language. I'd likely read it again just for the pleasure his sentences delivered.
kristidurbs's review against another edition
4.0
On some levels, a simple story: an unlikely friendship of two couples with husbands in academia in the depression era. Yet Crossing to Safety is also a beautiful and profound novel on the strength of friendship, the ebbs and flows of marriage and family, and the trials of suffering that span geography and time.
janetreads's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I’ve been trying to figure out my thoughts on this book for the last few days since finishing it. Frankly I’d like some friend to read it just to figure out what I’m supposed to do with this story now — although I can’t say whether or not I recommend it. The drive to finish the novel and find out what these characters have done to each other and themselves, as well as my pondering of it after, perhaps points to it being a good novel. On the other hand, it’s one of those books that leaves you wondering “has the author created a story about such a deeply flawed narrator who can’t face his own story? Or is this an author that has somehow become oblivious to the possible inner lives of at least half of his characters?” In other words, do I give Stregner the benefit of the doubt that this novel is not reflective of an author’s troubling perception (or really lack thereof) of women? We know the narrator is unreliable which makes for a challenging and often interesting read. The narrator assumes a sort of omniscient stance while freely admitting that he wasn’t present for certain parts of the story, or he struggles to rexall it all in order, or struggles to recover the details. Throughout I was waiting for the moment when these people would truly & fully emotionally wreck each other. It seemed inevitable. But according to our narrator we never get that. The only “snake in eden” is his friend’s wife’s assertiveness. It seems to take all his academic prowess to hold back from just going ahead and calling her a bitch. At least he’d be honest about his feelings if he had. Instead satiated by his conveniently obedient & calm (&soon crippled, and therefore fully dependent) wife, he avoids confrontations with the gift horse. By the end I was fatigued by a story of friendship inwhich friends seemed to lack a clear understanding of each other; and in which the central binding friendship (between the two wives) is left unexplored — the male narrator does not even seem curious about the friendship. Ultimately I was fatigued by a novel of a safe effacing yet highly self-assured man who claims to have experienced this highest level of friendship and attachment and yet we still don’t know any of these people by the end. Of course if this is all by author’s design I will likely still be pondering the whole thing a couple months from now. We’ll see.
rissaleighs's review against another edition
4.0
I had heard the rave reviews of this book, and steadfastly plodded through as it seemed to drag. I didn't really *like* the characters all that much for most of the book. But part 3 was completely worth the journey.
Perceptive, unapologetically self-conscious....I want to say "unflinching", but rather I think the story owned up honestly to the parts of life that really do make us flinch.
And I was so surprised to find it set partially in Madison, WI, where I am presently working. Interesting to get a 1930s glimpse of some familiar place names.
Perceptive, unapologetically self-conscious....I want to say "unflinching", but rather I think the story owned up honestly to the parts of life that really do make us flinch.
And I was so surprised to find it set partially in Madison, WI, where I am presently working. Interesting to get a 1930s glimpse of some familiar place names.
mg_libros's review against another edition
4.0
Está maravillosamente bien escrito. Pero una de las protagonistas es insufrible y me ha estropeado un poco la historia. Con todo es un gran relato sobre la amistad, el amor y la familia. Recomendable.
rafternorth's review against another edition
4.0
“Leave a mark on the world. Instead, the world has left marks on us. We got older. Life chastened us so that now we lie waiting to die, or walk on canes, or sit on porches where once the young juices flowed strongly, and feel old and inept and confused.”
This was an incredibly well thought out tale of friendship in its purest form. I may be too cynical to appreciate it in the way it may deserve.
Rating: 4 Stars
This was an incredibly well thought out tale of friendship in its purest form. I may be too cynical to appreciate it in the way it may deserve.
Rating: 4 Stars
lindasdarby's review against another edition
5.0
I love, love, love this book. One of my favorite books of all time.