bobbo49's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't even know until I finished this book that it was semi-autobiographical, an effort by Stegner to come to terms with his own rough childhood and family of birth. Beautifully written as all of his work, the story follows the family from the early lives of the mother and father, through their wanderings westward into North Dakota, British Columbia, Montana, California, Nevada . . . in search of fortune (father) and peace/stability (mother), while the two boys grow into their own struggles for self and identity. Not quite so personally compelling to me as some other Stegner (i.e., those works dealing with the lives and perceptions and struggles of older people like me!), but still a wonderful and insightful read.
mmarlborough's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5 ⭐️ alert! Holy moly. This will stay with me forever and one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. I cried several times and cared for these raw characters immensely.
This is the sweeping family saga about the Mason family in the early 1900s: Bo is the flawed patriarch who spends his life chasing the next big cash fall, Elsa is the kind wife who stands by Bo no matter what, Chet is the eldest son who takes after Bo, and Bruce is the youngest son who is vulnerable.
This is semi-autobiographical, which is so heartbreaking. I cannot believe that I had not heard of this book or author. I can’t wait to read the rest of his works. Stegner created such realistic and layered characters that will remain with me. If you like character driven books, pick this classic up immediately (and DM me how many times you cry.)
✨Trigger Warnings: Racism, Animal Torture/Death, Miscarriage, Child Abuse, Suicide
This is the sweeping family saga about the Mason family in the early 1900s: Bo is the flawed patriarch who spends his life chasing the next big cash fall, Elsa is the kind wife who stands by Bo no matter what, Chet is the eldest son who takes after Bo, and Bruce is the youngest son who is vulnerable.
This is semi-autobiographical, which is so heartbreaking. I cannot believe that I had not heard of this book or author. I can’t wait to read the rest of his works. Stegner created such realistic and layered characters that will remain with me. If you like character driven books, pick this classic up immediately (and DM me how many times you cry.)
✨Trigger Warnings: Racism, Animal Torture/Death, Miscarriage, Child Abuse, Suicide
toniapeckover's review against another edition
5.0
A long, deep exploration of an early 20th century family trying to make a go of it in the American West, always searching for the "Big Rock Candy Mountain" around the next bend. Stegner's eye for details of the time period and his obvious appreciation for the vast landscapes of his settings make the book worth reading, but he also has a genius for understanding and explaining the uniquely American mindsets that arose out of that time and place. (One example is the protagonist's mocking reaction to the 1918 flu pandemic and its accompanying restrictions of social distancing, masks, and quarantines. It felt shockingly real and immediate though the book was written in the 1940's.) The characters are so real and well-considered it's hard to bear with them sometimes (the book is somewhat autobiographical), but ultimately worth it. It's also fascinating to read about the West before it was over-developed and exploited and Stegner has a tremendous eye for detail that makes his scenes sing. I know so much more about every day life at the turn of the last century just by reading this. There's a reason he's one of our literary treasures.
"To have that rush of sentimental loyalty at the sound of a name, to love and know a single place...Those were the things that not only his family, but thousands of Americans had missed. The whole nation had been footloose too long, Heaven had been just over the range for too many generations. Why remain in one dull plot of earth when Heaven was reachable, was touchable, was just over there?"
"To have that rush of sentimental loyalty at the sound of a name, to love and know a single place...Those were the things that not only his family, but thousands of Americans had missed. The whole nation had been footloose too long, Heaven had been just over the range for too many generations. Why remain in one dull plot of earth when Heaven was reachable, was touchable, was just over there?"
featherlynn's review against another edition
4.0
3.5. The writing was good, but it was depressing. One of those books where everybody dies at the end.
happy_stomach's review against another edition
4.0
Stegner proves once again that he can make my heart ache over 500 pages.
daisyq's review against another edition
5.0
Great read. I do like a good multi-generational family saga, and this is very well written.
The characters were all brilliantly drawn. While it's semi-autobiographical, Stegner manages to get inside the actions and motivations of all the key family members, their relationships, and how they affect each other. He makes it easy to understand and care about them, even at their worst moments. Even though it's pretty clear from the outset (or reading the blurb) that Bo's many schemes are doomed, I still wanted him to succeed and never entirely lost sympathy with him.
There's some really interesting settings and set pieces in this; the family moves around a lot. I found their time in Canada and the impact of the post-WWI flu epidemic particularly fascinating.
The characters were all brilliantly drawn. While it's semi-autobiographical, Stegner manages to get inside the actions and motivations of all the key family members, their relationships, and how they affect each other. He makes it easy to understand and care about them, even at their worst moments. Even though it's pretty clear from the outset (or reading the blurb) that Bo's many schemes are doomed, I still wanted him to succeed and never entirely lost sympathy with him.
There's some really interesting settings and set pieces in this; the family moves around a lot. I found their time in Canada and the impact of the post-WWI flu epidemic particularly fascinating.
natesux's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wow that was a journey! some beautiful writing and god i adore the american west. fuck bo mason
maddipayan's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 starzzzzz and i’m running away to a wheat farm in Saskatchewan
chaddah's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0