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happylilkt's review against another edition
5.0
In this frame narrative, author Stegner subtly illustrates his thorough knowledge of the turn-of-the century American West with his masterful storytelling.
Lyman Ward, crippled and abandoned by his wife, secludes himself at the home of his grandparents and decides to research and write the biography of his grandmother, Susan Ward (the second narrative). While I found Susan Ward's story the most compelling, Lyman Ward's narrative is reminiscent of the style of Stegner's novel [b:Crossing to Safety|9820|Crossing to Safety|Wallace Stegner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166065576s/9820.jpg|1488871] which I very much enjoyed.
Stegner's prose is magnificent, his characters rich, and the story alternates between charming, hopeful, and heartbreaking, but is always honest (sometimes awkwardly so).
I would be cautious in my recommendation because it can be at times very raw, but for the mature reader it is, I think, well worth reading.
Lyman Ward, crippled and abandoned by his wife, secludes himself at the home of his grandparents and decides to research and write the biography of his grandmother, Susan Ward (the second narrative). While I found Susan Ward's story the most compelling, Lyman Ward's narrative is reminiscent of the style of Stegner's novel [b:Crossing to Safety|9820|Crossing to Safety|Wallace Stegner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166065576s/9820.jpg|1488871] which I very much enjoyed.
Stegner's prose is magnificent, his characters rich, and the story alternates between charming, hopeful, and heartbreaking, but is always honest (sometimes awkwardly so).
I would be cautious in my recommendation because it can be at times very raw, but for the mature reader it is, I think, well worth reading.
diane_m's review against another edition
Did not care for style. Read a couple of pages.
trin's review against another edition
2.0
This fits into the category of "Books I feel I ought to like but really, really don't." I mean, it's about the American West, and there's an interesting female character, and my mom adores both the book and the author...but god, I found it a horrible slow slog, relentlessly depressing and bleak, and just...unpleasant, really. Also, this book has one of the most fucking bizarre endings I have ever encountered—Stegner actually does an "And it was all a dream!" thing, which, on the one hand, I kind of admire him for, but also...WTF?
I think I said almost exactly this when we read this book for my Junior Seminar in college. And yet my professor still loved me! Rodney should have been an English major, man—apparently being blunt and rude and crass is considered "refreshing."
I think I said almost exactly this when we read this book for my Junior Seminar in college. And yet my professor still loved me! Rodney should have been an English major, man—apparently being blunt and rude and crass is considered "refreshing."
savaging's review against another edition
2.0
There are some insightful comments about Thoreau and free love at the end, but whew, it just is not worth the slog.
The other danger of reading this novel: so many people love it that when you don't, you have to question if there's something wrong with you.
The other danger of reading this novel: so many people love it that when you don't, you have to question if there's something wrong with you.
frostap's review against another edition
5.0
Wow.
When my dad told me the premise of "Angle of Repose", I was skeptical; it sounded slow and more than a little boring. I'm glad I picked it up, though, because it is definitely my favorite book of 2012 (and may be one of my lifetime favorites).
Stegner develops his characters gradually, through letters, actions, imagined conversations, experience with the narrator, newspaper articles, etc., which makes them some of the msot round, authentic characters I've read. The story itself was touching (not a word I usually use to describe books I actually like), but also raw and true. I kept thinking of East of Eden while reading this, and liked this infinitely more (perhaps because the female protagonist wasn't insane).
I have to stop reading books about good marriages that go bad, but this one is just perfect.
When my dad told me the premise of "Angle of Repose", I was skeptical; it sounded slow and more than a little boring. I'm glad I picked it up, though, because it is definitely my favorite book of 2012 (and may be one of my lifetime favorites).
Stegner develops his characters gradually, through letters, actions, imagined conversations, experience with the narrator, newspaper articles, etc., which makes them some of the msot round, authentic characters I've read. The story itself was touching (not a word I usually use to describe books I actually like), but also raw and true. I kept thinking of East of Eden while reading this, and liked this infinitely more (perhaps because the female protagonist wasn't insane).
I have to stop reading books about good marriages that go bad, but this one is just perfect.
novabird's review against another edition
1.0
Imagine that you are new to the neighbourhood and invited to tea by your next-door neighbour, when instead of engaging in conversation, the neighbour pulls out a photo album and begins a monologue on all the people that are in the various photographs they show you, pointing to this one and that saying 'how they are related,' and such. None of whom you know and some you partially recognize from wider social circles. This is how I felt while reading, "Angle of Repose." So instead of feeling physically and mentally trapped in another's 'telling, about the world they once inhabited, you decided to politely excuse yourself after an hour or 50 pages in this case. Later on you discover, through overhearing the neighbour in their backyard, that they frequently dreamily talk to themselves in long monologues. How does one begin to break through such self imposed isolation? Surprise interruption, really loud exclamations and who knows how that person would respond to such interference? Better off to leave well enough alone, and leave, "Angle of Repose," unfinished. Yet, (rarely do I do this)I did read the last chapter to see if the tone changes or there are any unexpected turns of events. There are none. Not my cup of tea.
charliekusiel's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
book_concierge's review against another edition
5.0
What an extraordinary book. So full of ideas. He builds slowly to his conclusion, but IS it a conclusion? My book club was left with so many questions (makes for a great discussion). A joy to read, but a book to be savored.
First read in Sept 1998 for Book Club #1. I originally got it from the library, but liked it so much I bought it. In February 1999 I recommended it to Book Group # 2 and read it again.
b0hemian_graham's review against another edition
4.0
closer to 3.5/5, as the first half was so long and tedious, but the second half picked up and made up for it.