Lovely sentiments are expressed despite the dark nature of the narrator's personality. The Spectator Bird By: Wallace Stegner This tour-de-force of American literature and a winner of the National Book Award is a profound, intimate, affecting novel from one of the most esteemed literary minds of the last century and a beloved chronicler of the West. This portrait of a husband and wife's marriage and a son's pursuit of his mother's memory is a literary masterpiece. A profound novel with a much simpler story than Angle of Repose. The Spectator Bird is a 1976 novel by Wallace Stegner. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. A strange hypothesis, genuinely advanced in the early modern period, was that birds flew to the Moon for winter, and barely more credible was a notion, which haunted the patron saint of British naturalists Gilbert White, that swallows buried themselves in mud. Stegner is a master at giving us such characters. Wallace Earle Stegner was an American historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist. The Spectator Bird, by Wallace Stegner (read July 9, 1999) This was the National Book Award winner for fiction in 1977. The Spectator Bird Quotes Showing 1-9 of 9. Bittersweet and … Instead, I simply felt like the "spectator bird," watching it all from a great distance without being able to truly connect...and care (much). Not his best but still very well written, if a bit depressing for us oldies. It touched me deeply then and still does. All readers should aspire to the standard he sets. The Spectator Bird is a 1976 novel by Wallace Stegner. Stegner needs to be read more often. Another Stegner Masterpiece. A profound novel with a much simpler story than Angle of Repose. The Spectator Bird is a 1976 novel by Wallace Stegner. Joe Allston and his wife, Ruth, live a comfortable life in retirement. The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner is about Joe Allston. The spectator bird This edition was published in 1979 by University of Nebraska Press in Lincoln. ― Wallace Stegner, The Spectator Bird. He has written some twenty other books, including an Further suggestions might be found on the article's talk page. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. The book tells the story of retired literary agent Joe Allston, who receives a postcard from an old friend, a Danish countess named Astrid. Edition Notes "A Bison book." Allston is a strange candidate for this type of journey because he is an ornery, self-depreciating, sarcastic and ever-reluctant character. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. What emerges is a portrait of a man with many questions and a lot of observations. It was such a relief to read a book that didn't depend on violence or technology. FIRST LINE REVIEW: "On a February morning, when a weather front is moving in off the Pacific but has not quite arrived, and the winds are changeable and gusty and clouds drive over and an occasional flurry of fine rain darkens the terrace bricks, this place conforms to non of the cliches about California with which they advertise the Sunshine Cities for the Sunset Years." He is also quite a deep thinker, however. This tour-de-force of American literature and a winner of the National Book Award is a profound, intimate, affecting novel from one of the most esteemed literary minds of the last century and a beloved chronicler of the West. Wallace Stegner’s previous novel, Angle of Repose, earned a Pulitzer Prize. One person found this helpful Please try again. The Spectator Bird is just a beautiful and satisfying read which I plan to revisit in the future and which I plan to recommend to any intelligent readers. The Spectator Bird is a story of people on the cusp of “old age,” questioning the value of life’s work, remembering adventures and opportunities that ended up being near misses. A fine read. Stegner moves the novel's narration back and forth between the present day, as Joe struggles with the physical and emotional degradations of older age, and Denmark, where Joe and Ruth get caught up in the strange, almost Gothic world of Astrid and her ostracized aristocratic family. wisdom, but to scar tissue and callus.”. It won the US National Book Award for Fiction in 1977. Vintage; Reprint edition (March 21, 2017). Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2017. Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2018. At the end of the book, I felt sad because it was almost like losing a good friend. The Spectator Bird (1976) . Editorial Reviews. Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2020. The Spectator Bird is a short novel by Wallace Stegner that won the National Book Award in 1977. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Great place for lunches, after work drinks and your team party! Bittersweet and beautifully written. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! A new website from The Spectator, bringing a quality of argument you won't find elsewhere to America's politics, culture, society and more The Spectator Bird is a story of people on the cusp of “old age,” questioning the value of life’s work, remembering adventures and opportunities that ended up being near misses. Joe initially hides the postcard from his wife, Ruth. Excellent portrait of marriage and growing old together, Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2017. However, it seems clear that eventually, language makes way for ideas. by Wallace Stegner Edward Herrmann Audiobook. Joe Allston is a retired literary agent who is, in his own words, "killing time before time gets around to killing me." Please try again. This tour-de-force of American literature and a winner of the National Book Award is a profound, intimate, affecting novel from one of the most esteemed literary minds of the last century and a beloved chronicler of the West. Wallace Stegner (1909-1993) “The Spectator Bird is a powerful, important work.Because of its themes of aging and identity, it is destined to become even more influential as we move further into this century. Marvelous creation of a totally engrossing character who is as much the plot as any of the incidents. We’re in the midst of a revolution — in my estimation, one less of ideas than language. It won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1977, one of the two most prestigious literary awards in the United States.[1]. was it a suicide? Subscribe Now Finally, a quite important, if absent, character in Stegner's novel is Astrid. The Spectator Bird is just a beautiful and satisfying read which I plan to revisit in the future and which I plan to recommend to any intelligent readers. There is no question that this is exquisite writing. The Spectator Bird . If you like Stegner's writing, you will love this. THE SPECTATOR BIRD by Wallace Stegner ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 21, 1976 Stegner picks up some years later with Joe and Ruth Allson of All the Little Live Things and paraphrases some of the themes of that book as well as the later Angle of Repose. The Allstons took the trip in the wake of the death of their only child, Curtis, with whom Joe fought constantly. Stegner is among the best writers ever. There are only four characters of any importance in The Spectator Bird and one could make a case that only three are essential. Bird migration was once one of those unassailable mysteries that had baffled humankind since Aristotle. Crossing to Safety (Modern Library Classics), Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West, Wolf Willow: A History, a Story, and a Memory of the Last Plains Frontier (Penguin Classics), “Wallace Stegner’s is one of the most beguiling voices of [the] era, and. could he have done more? It follows retired literary agent Joe Allston as he and his wife, Ruth, read his journals from a trip the couple once took to Denmark—a trip which became a turning point in their relationship. The main character, Joe Allston, is seventy years old, living with his wife Ruth, and finds himself growing bored and bitter. Currently caught in our term transition: the London North Eastern Railway (LNER). No matter, his journals and his wife force him to it. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. I recommended it to one of my book groups. I think that this is the third book I’ve read by Wallace Stegner and it is surely my favorite. His parents and his only son are long dead, leaving him with neither ancestors nor descendants, tradition nor ties. Wallace Stegner’s is one of the most beguiling voices of [the] era, and The Spectator Bird is one of his most appealing works.”—Jane Smiley, from the introduction “A fabulously written account of regret, memory and the subtleties and challenges of a long successful marriage. Stegner's companion novel to "All The Little Live Things" is a poignant look back on a trip that he and wife Ruth took to Norway in search of answers to life's biggest questions. It won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1977, one of the two most prestigious literary awards in the United States. The Spectator Bird is a 1976 novel by Wallace Stegner.It won the US National Book Award for Fiction in 1977.. A new website from The Spectator, bringing a quality of argument you won't find elsewhere to America's politics, culture, society and more The book tells the story of retired literary agent Joe Allston, who receives a … Wallace Earle Stegner was an American historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist. Stegner needs to be read more often. The lessons of life amount not to. Other articles where The Spectator Bird is discussed: Wallace Stegner: The Spectator Bird (1976), which won a National Book Award, has a similar two-narrative structure that alternates between a contemporary account of an aged literary agent upset with American culture and his flashback of a visit to Denmark he and his wife made 20 years… published by Doubleday, Garden City, N.Y. Genre Fiction. The spectator bird This edition was published in 1979 by University of Nebraska Press in Lincoln. For example, one short sentence, describing the end of a rain storm: Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2015. Should have delayed these comments until after the discussion to hear what others thought. Listen to a sample Listen to a sample ... move through layers of time and meaning and reveal that Joe Allston isn't quite spectator enough. His parents and his only son are long dead, leaving him with neither ancestors nor descendants, tradition nor ties. The main character confronts regrets for his past and gains a deeper understanding of himself. I'm a senior, but I read this book decades ago. THE SPECTATOR BIRD (Book) : Stegner, Wallace : This tour-de-force of American literature and a winner of the National Book Award is a profound, intimate, affecting novel from one of the most esteemed literary minds of the last century and a beloved chronicler of the West. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. by Wallace Stegner . By the end, there are some revelations, but typically, no real answers to those big, immortal questions we all seem to struggle with. The main character, Joe Allston, is seventy years old, living with his wife Ruth, and finds himself growing bored and bitter. He is 70 years old, difficult to deal with, and a former literary agent who has no goals in life. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Spectator_Bird&oldid=974081911, National Book Award for Fiction winning works, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 21 August 2020, at 00:31. His voice is as honest and authentic as you'll ever encounter. Please try again. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Told through the pages of an old journal that he kept on the Norwegian trip, Joe spends a series of evenings reading it aloud to Ruth at her behest. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2017, The book came as promised In a really good condition, My book is not dilivered can you refund my payments, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 24, 2014. His novel, The Spectator Bird, won the National Book Award in 1977. The Spectator Bird, one of the funniest saddest books you'll ever hear, finds the perfect reader in Edward Herrmann. The book tells the story of retired literary agent Joe Allston, who receives a postcard from an old friend, a Danish countess named Astrid. Joe Allston's mother had emigrated from Norway as a teen, then struggled to provide for herself and son as a domestic worker before meeting an untimely demise. This book left me with thoughts about marriage and the nature of growing older. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Published: 2017-03-21 Paperback : 224 pages. The Spectator Bird is a short novel by Wallace Stegner that won the National Book Award in 1977. The Spectator Bird (eBook) : Stegner, Wallace : Retired literary agent Joe Allston passes through life as a spectator until he discovers the journals of a … Wallace Stegner (1909-1993) was the author of, among other novels. Download The Spectator Bird Study Guide. The Spectator Bird, by Wallace Stegner (read July 9, 1999) This was the National Book Award winner for fiction in 1977. The Spectator Bird. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. Unable to add item to List. It is brutally honest despite the narrator's unwillingness at times to discuss his emotional side. The Spectator Bird (1976) Wallace Stegner (1909-1993) “The Spectator Bird is a powerful, important work. He is 70 years old, difficult to deal with, and a former literary agent who has no goals in life. The narration was also excellent, also. The Spectator Bird (eBook) : Stegner, Wallace : Retired literary agent Joe Allston passes through life as a spectator until he discovers the journals of a … Bittersweet and beautifully written. Weekly magazine featuring the best British journalists, authors, critics and cartoonists, since 1828. This is a great read for understanding the mind of no longer working but active older adults. Please try your request again later. The book tells the story of retired literary agent Joe Allston, who receives a postcard from an old friend, a Danish countess named Astrid. ANALYSIS . His job, trafficking the talent of others, had not been his choice. The Spectator Bird is a 1976 novel by American author Wallace Stegner. See guidelines for writing about novels. Stegner's most enduring character is an Everyman and because of this, his journey is one that all of us can relate to. The only other Stegner work I've read was the book by him which won the Pulitzer Prize, Angle of Repose, which I greatly liked when I read it in May of 1972. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. Superb. It is written with humorous insight. I quite understand why author Wallace Stegner was given the National Book Award for this book. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. However, he soon reveals to her not only its existence but that of a diary Joe kept twenty years before, when Joe and Ruth met Astrid while visiting Denmark. I recommended it to one of my book groups, Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2017. All the reasons for wanting to like it were there, but I just could "not quite arrive." Well, I really tried and wanted to like this one by one of my favorite authors, but I could never quite get there. After his only son dies, Allston struggles with questions not only about his relationship with and the causes of his son's early death (was it an accident? Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2020. Stegner should have been as well known and highly regarded as Updike and a slew of other big names who were his contemporaries. Reprint of the ed. The Spectator Bird By: Wallace Stegner This tour-de-force of American literature and a winner of the National Book Award is a profound, intimate, affecting novel from one of the most esteemed literary minds of the last century and a beloved chronicler of the West. The only other Stegner work I've read was the book by him which won the Pulitzer Prize, Angle of Repose, which I greatly liked when I read it in May of 1972. Listening to Herrmann read was as though there were nothing between me and the author; as though Wallace Stegner were communicating his novel directly to me with no intermediary. tags: heartbreak , hurt , life-lessons , scars , wisdom , wounds. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. ), but also begins to wonder who he really is, which leads him to Norway and a search for Self. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Joe Allston is a retired literary agent who is, in his own words, "just killing time until time gets around to killing me." This is a lovely gastropub in the heart of the City of London! Joe initially hides the postcard from his wife, Ruth. His novel, The Spectator Bird, won the National Book Award in 1977. Instead it was a book I didn't want to put down, built around one human being in "contact with other people" in his the past, as well as in the present. Something went wrong. Try again. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. About The Spectator Bird. “Most things break, including hearts. Wallace Stegner’s is one of the most beguiling voices of [the] era, and The Spectator Bird is one of his most appealing works.”—Jane Smiley, from the introduction “A fabulously written account of regret, memory and the subtleties and challenges of a long successful marriage. less? Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Because of its themes of aging and identity, it is destined to become even more influential as we move further into this century. He passes through life as a spectator. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2017. The … He has passed through life as a spectator, before retreating to the woods of California in the 1970s with only his wife, Ruth, by his side. This article about a 1970s novel is a stub. It transpires that Joe became romantically involved with Astrid—to what degree Ruth hopes to find out—and still has unresolved feelings about her. The gavage, in fact, mimics the birds’ natural pre-migratory behaviour; following the seasons, they gorge themselves with food in preparation for their long flights.This had been remarked at least as early as 400 BC, when, says Kolpas, ‘well-fattened geese were deemed sufficiently worthy to be presented as a gift when Agesilaus, king of Sparta, visited Egypt’. The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner 5,954 ratings, 4.00 average rating, 691 reviews The Spectator Bird Quotes Showing 1-9 of 9 “Most things break, including hearts. Joe initially hides the postcard from his wife, Ruth. But when they get a postcard from a long-lost friend, they are forced to examine a trip they made to Denmark twenty years earlier after the death of their only child. Another Stegner Masterpiece The Spectator Bird is a story of people on the cusp of “old age,” questioning the value of life’s work, remembering adventures and opportunities that ended up being near misses. The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner is about Joe Allston. There are only four characters of any importance in The Spectator Bird and one could make a case that only three are essential. The novel is both an intriguing, witty observation of Americans returning to the "old country" during post-World War II Europe, as well as a deep meditation on the blessings and frustrations of a long marriage. 61 were here. The gavage, in fact, mimics the birds’ natural pre-migratory behaviour; following the seasons, they gorge themselves with food in preparation for their long flights. 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