bese199's review against another edition
5.0
Found this book in a thrift store and was intrigued that it was marked a 'classic' though I had never heard of the author. Originally published in 1938, it does have some dated slang and racist dialogue that jars, but the writing is beautiful and insightful. It is one of the best novels I have ever read. I could not put it down.
mjsteimle's review against another edition
2.5 stars. This is a character-driven rather than a plot-driven book. It follows a family through decade of searching for the "good life." At times it was really engaging and at times it really dragged. I wasn't convinced that I would finish it until I was about half way through. I like Stegner's Crossing to Safety and Angle of Repose much better.
8/21/2017 Even though I didn't like this book the first time I read it, I was determined to read it again since I'm reading all of Stegner's works in order and this novel is semi-autobiographical. But...I just couldn't finish it. I find Bo to be such an infuriating character, and spending time reading this book is pretty much forcing myself to spend time with someone I really dislike.
8/21/2017 Even though I didn't like this book the first time I read it, I was determined to read it again since I'm reading all of Stegner's works in order and this novel is semi-autobiographical. But...I just couldn't finish it. I find Bo to be such an infuriating character, and spending time reading this book is pretty much forcing myself to spend time with someone I really dislike.
mary412's review against another edition
3.0
At one time I decided that this story was just too sad and I wanted to quit listening. But something drew me back and I'm glad I listened to the whole book. Stegner is a masterful writer. His characters lead hard lives, maybe that's how he captures the feel of the west.
columbiatch's review against another edition
5.0
Based on the early life of the author, the story takes place during the 1st third of the 20th century. The Mason family (Bo, Elsa and their sons Chet and Bruce) live a nomadic life as they move from one state to another in order to pursue Bo’s get rich schemes. Stegner does a magnificent job in writing his flawed characters as they struggle through poverty and prosperity. He tackles many American themes including the dark side of the American dream, the destructive impact of reckless pursuit of wealth and individualist ambition, and how one generation shapes the next.
Stegner’s prose takes on several different styles to suit the narrative, especially when comparing sections told from the POV of each members of the Mason family. Elsa and especially Bruce’s sections are more introspective and often take on a lyrical style. Bo and Chet’s sections are more descriptive and read like genre fiction – the Bo’s bootlegging trips and Chet’s boyish adventures with his friends and his teenage romance. Whatever style he writes in, Stegner is wildly successful. The 1st chapter which is set in a train describes Elsa’s feeling of nausea and discomfort so well that reading it gave me anxiety. Given that the book is semi-autobiographical, with Bruce as the stand-in for the author, it is natural that Stegner uses him to ruminate his relationship with his family.
Stegner’s prose takes on several different styles to suit the narrative, especially when comparing sections told from the POV of each members of the Mason family. Elsa and especially Bruce’s sections are more introspective and often take on a lyrical style. Bo and Chet’s sections are more descriptive and read like genre fiction – the Bo’s bootlegging trips and Chet’s boyish adventures with his friends and his teenage romance. Whatever style he writes in, Stegner is wildly successful. The 1st chapter which is set in a train describes Elsa’s feeling of nausea and discomfort so well that reading it gave me anxiety. Given that the book is semi-autobiographical, with Bruce as the stand-in for the author, it is natural that Stegner uses him to ruminate his relationship with his family.
summerbeecher's review against another edition
5.0
This has been on my TBR list for years and years as Crossing to Safety and Angle of Repose are two of my favorite books. WHY has it taken me so long to get to this book. I LOVED it and it broke my heart over and over again. I know that many parts of the book are autobiographical and Stegner does a masterful job of making each individual a sympathetic character - despite their obvious flaws.
I know he wrote this early in his career and some reviews I read said he was too wordy in the descriptions - I just couldn't get enough!! The way he describes people, relationships, places, feelings - all of it came alive to me in such a vivid and nearly tangible way. It also helped that I have lived in Minnesota and UT and know the lands in between - the Dakotas and Idaho, so I'm familiar with many of the places where the vignettes took place.
I feel like Bo, Elsa, Chet and Bruce are members of my family and cheered with their victories and felt tears fall down my face at their losses. I will not wait long before reading another Stegner novel. "Recapitulations" is now on my list as Bruce Mason returns to Salt Lake City in his sixties.
I know he wrote this early in his career and some reviews I read said he was too wordy in the descriptions - I just couldn't get enough!! The way he describes people, relationships, places, feelings - all of it came alive to me in such a vivid and nearly tangible way. It also helped that I have lived in Minnesota and UT and know the lands in between - the Dakotas and Idaho, so I'm familiar with many of the places where the vignettes took place.
I feel like Bo, Elsa, Chet and Bruce are members of my family and cheered with their victories and felt tears fall down my face at their losses. I will not wait long before reading another Stegner novel. "Recapitulations" is now on my list as Bruce Mason returns to Salt Lake City in his sixties.
cozylittlebrownhouse's review against another edition
4.0
Reading this book was like walking on a treadmill - I kept reading and reading and reading, and didn't feel like I was getting anywhere at all. That being, said, I still liked the book, but in a different way than I normally like books. I found this novel to be extremely depressing, and I think that was part of the reason why it took me so long to finish, even though I would read chunks of 50-75 pages at a time. The characters are all tragic in their own ways, yet it makes for an interesting family saga.
At the very least, if I ever find myself out of work and our nation back in Prohibition, I have learned quite a bit about bootlegging. ;)
Interesting book, but slow-paced and just a downer.
At the very least, if I ever find myself out of work and our nation back in Prohibition, I have learned quite a bit about bootlegging. ;)
Interesting book, but slow-paced and just a downer.
imyerhero's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I’d never heard of the author – and all I’d heard about the book was a brief “just read ‘Grapes of Wrath’.” Considering I’ve never been able to get into “Grapes of Wrath” past the first 2 sections, that wasn’t encouraging. But fortunately, I loved this book. I love stories about people’s lives which don’t seem to have a specific point – a moral point even…they just tell about a lifelong journey without prettying it up at all. I cared for each and every one of the main characters in this book, and while Stegner created their lives to be tragic and painful, I felt resolution by the end. Life isn’t meant to have a specific point. It just is. Bruce could never completely understand it, and that’s what made it not completely tragic, but completely beautiful.
andreagraves's review against another edition
2.0
There are some really cool characters in this, but I'm having a hard time holding on to this story when it's
so doomsdale, and finding out that it continues to stay that way, not to mention it's a LONG book. It's one
of those books I wish there was more editing done and cut down. It just keeps dragging on and on.... I've
read 1/3 of this book, which I think congratulations should be in order for that. There is a ::slim:: chance
I may come back and dig in and try to finish it, but the bottom line is this: I'm not being entertained by this
book. At. All. If that's not happening, what's the point?
so doomsdale, and finding out that it continues to stay that way, not to mention it's a LONG book. It's one
of those books I wish there was more editing done and cut down. It just keeps dragging on and on.... I've
read 1/3 of this book, which I think congratulations should be in order for that. There is a ::slim:: chance
I may come back and dig in and try to finish it, but the bottom line is this: I'm not being entertained by this
book. At. All. If that's not happening, what's the point?
kemilyh1988's review against another edition
5.0
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. Will probably read all of Stegner now. Still the best book I've read in 2016. Coming of age, western expansion, family drama, bootlegging, what is not to love?