Amazing Stegner and his beautiful last book

I adore Stegner. He develops characters and stories with depth better than anybody. This book is about two couples, Larry and Sally Morgan and Sid and Charity Lang. They meet as young couples in a college in Wisconsin, and the book follows their lives and relationships.

It is by twists and turns heart-warming and tragic. He shows the two sides of character that can be giving and demanding - so much like life. In this book, he digs into how life is complex, we get in our own way, but some people gloriously overcome illnesses or setbacks what would destroy others.

This was his last book, and makes me want to read much more that he has written.

23 people found this helpful

This is life

There is a certain nakedness to Stegner's storytelling, in the sense that it doesn't shy away from uncomfortable subjects like death and troubled marriages. His characters are not always likeable, but they are very real and may even remind you of people you know. This is a book about the life of a friendship between two couples over many years. Stegner explores the joy and excitement of the young friendship, but he recognizes that friendships can die away to almost nothing for long periods of time, only to be reignited by a major event. Stegner's appeal (for me anyway) is in his ability to develop his characters as they age and deal with life's challenges -- as well as to describe their surroundings lovingly and vividly. This story is not predictable, nor does it offer any particular shocks or surprises. However, it is gut-wrenching in its honesty about human beings and the institutions of marriage and friendship.

19 people found this helpful

Love the book

Lush and beautifully written, this story covers many years of two couples. If you like Richard Fords stuff, or Russo, then you will be very happy with this book.

11 people found this helpful

Sooooo Boring

If I didn't have to read this for a book club I would have shut it off 5 hours ago. Literally nothing has happened. There's no conflict, no tension, no story. There is nothing to move the lack of story along. The characters are just so bland. I don't even think it's "beautifully written". It's just so dull and plodding. The people who have given this high reviews have drunk the Kool Aide.

Don't waste you're credits or time. It's awful.

10 people found this helpful

Boring

Skip this one. Yes it is well written & considered a classic but that doesn't make it an interesting read. I usually finish a book in 4 days, this one took 2 weeks. Choose another.

9 people found this helpful

The most beautifully written book I've ever read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely. I am not a literary savant and didn't even recognize many of the references in this book, but I loved this book in every way. The reading was done wonderfully, the book, itself is the most beautifully written book I've ever read. I do not usually love flowery language in books and often loose focus, but the way that this author gives every detail of emotion and experience was spell-binding. I am almost, but not quite to the end so can't comment on it, but cannot imagine that I will be disappointed because I love this book so much.

What other book might you compare Crossing to Safety to and why?

Can't think of any

Have you listened to any of Richard Poe’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

9 people found this helpful

Well written novel , but average story

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I learned about this novel from the " The End of Your Life Book Club" book. When I checked it out, the reviews on it were amazing. Unfortunately I do not agree with the previous reviews. It is a very well written book but I think the story is average. There were times when I just wanted the chapter to end, the details of a certain situation would linger forever. I think the book could have been much shorter and still get the same message out.
Having said that, still, I think there were some concepts, towards the end of the book, that were worth discussing

What aspect of Richard Poe’s performance would you have changed?

Too monotone for me

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I think I would prefer to see it in a movie setting rather than read it in a book and spend that much time on it

8 people found this helpful

Slow but worth the time

Hmmm, how does one review a book like this? It’s the story of two couples: their friendship, marriages, lives, treasured memories and hardships. I found the story a bit slow at times and occasionally disjointed. No huge rising plot. No language frills. No magnificently crafted scenery. That said, there was a rawness to it—a deeply human face that held my attention and my focus, even when I wasn’t reading. I’m glad I read it, but I’m not sure I’d go around recommending it to everyone I know… except perhaps to my sister, to get her take on the family dynamics in the book. There were certainly some ponderous subtleties I could relate to.

7 people found this helpful

Death

This is a story about death and decay. I'm too old to listen to it and gave up after 1/2 hour.

7 people found this helpful

Real characters dealing with life & death.

Unusual characters that feel like old friends.. Adds much to thought & discussion of end-of-life issues in a very personal and creative way.

7 people found this helpful