Not on the level of 'Angle of Repose' or 'Crossing to Safety'. Aging and illness are recurring themes in all three books, but the 'mystery' that overshadows this story is far-fetched and dilutes the examination of the couple's relationship. ( )

From GoodReads/Amazon:
"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."

From Me: Yup. What they said. Written in the 1970s when cultural literacy still included familiarity with Shakespeare, the Bible, and great thinkers throughout history. And a great story. Loved this. ( )

2023 - ‘70’s Immersion Reading Challenge

The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner (1976; 1990 ed.) 214 pages.

SETTING: California, Denmark

It comes as a shock to realize that I am just killing time till time gets around to killing me. (p. 89)

Life sometimes feels this way lately, and I’m only 58 years old. Old Joe Allston, a retired miserable literary agent, was 69 years old. Joe has become a cranky old man, trying to come to terms with his life…secret griefs, shames, regrets, his health.

He is riddled with arthritis, along with a fat belly, a balding head, and a stagnant, retired life in the sunny state of California. He realizes he’s only been a spectator in his life, just watching and allowing life to happen, not taking charge and directing it. Joe is envious of his other aging friends. Although, they do have their own pretty serious health issues, some still active and thriving, and the other…as in himself…practically throwing in the towel. He’s depressed and needs purpose. So, he decides to head back to Bregninge, Denmark, where his mother was from. Maybe he could find a bit of her family story. She’s dead. His son, who he had no real relationship with, is also dead. And Joe has no other family besides his adoring and faithful wife, Ruth.

She’s active socially. He’s not…and doesn’t care to be. Their few friends in town are just enough for Joe. She stays by his side through his self-discovery, which I’m not so sure he finds. It seems he just settled…given his age, his health and all, but was more appreciative of at least having a great woman by his side to converse and help him through the rest of his life. They are comfortable with each other.

This story is more contemplative than anything. And probably more appreciated by older folks. There’s a bit of Danish dialogue throughout, which means nothing to me at all, but proves the author can speak Danish. The author also proved that he is very well read up on literary books. I have no idea what or who he was talking about when he brought them up, which was often enough. I did think this was a pretty good story line but just lagged in areas.

The story goes back and forth between present-day and a diary Joe had written 20 years ago when they traveled to Denmark for a couple of months. There, he discovered extreme incest among his mother’s peasant family who resided in a cottage on the Rødding property, a longtime royal family of Denmark.

QUOTE FROM BOOK: I too am fleeing Gomorrah, looking backward toward the good old ways.(p. 34)

Interesting! I never looked at the Bible story of Gomorrah in this way, but it looks like I am also looking backward this year toward the good old days of the 1970’s with my reading challenge, my music, etc. I’m currently stuck in 1970’s, maybe because this world is going to hell in a hand basket. And, maybe because both my parents are gone now. But, God forgive me while I get this out of my system! I’m feeling an awful lot like ol’ Joe Allston at this moment…just kind of floundering around.

SIDE NOTE: Funny! There was a produce boat tied up at the canal, called the Hunden Bider. Since this book was written in 1976, I’m pretty sure the author has never even heard of Hunter Biden. Ha! ( )

Well written by a classic mid -late 20th century American writer. Great first and last chapter detailing the aging of a well read man. This is brought out by the telling of a story from the past to his wife. Great sense of place in the hills of northern CA and the relationship w his wife. The diarywas a trick he didn't need as was the incest bit. But the ending was smooth and heartfelt. ( )

Joe Allston es un agente literario jubilado que vive retirado en California junto a su mujer, Ruth. Sin antepasados ni descendientes, se siente como un espectador que asiste al final de su vida. La llegada de la postal de una vieja amiga le obliga a volver sobre los diarios que escribió veinte años atrás cuando, durante unos meses, viajó con su mujer por Dinamarca para conocer el país del que era originaria su familia. Ruth convence a su marido para que cada noche le lea un fragmento de esos diarios, y así van reviviendo lo sucedido durante aquel viaje, en especial la relación del matrimonio con la misteriosa aristócrata danesa Astrid Werdel-Krarup, que fue su anfitriona en Copenhague. El recuerdo de esta época despierta en ellos sentimientos y preguntas largamente postergados y les lleva a reflexionar sobre aspectos trascendentales de sus vidas.