Crossing to safety wallace stegner 1987 crossing to safety became a literary hit of sorts in australia in 2012 when the first tuesday book club panel unanimously praised it. Crossing to safety by wallace stegner for july we are discussing crossing to safety by wallace stegner this is a novel based very much on the authors life, a story of the lifelong friendship between two couples. How to discuss a book helpful discussion tips generic discussion questionsfiction and nonfiction readthinktalk a guided reading chart also consider these litlovers talking points to help get a discussion started for crossing to safety. Tracing the lives, loves, and aspirations of two couples who move between vermont and wisconsin, it is a work of quiet. Its definitely not a fast paced book, so if youre looking for a page turner, this is not for you. Join the leading website for book clubs with over 35,000 clubs and 20,000 reading guides. Tracing the lives, loves, and aspirations of two couples. Wallace stegners novel about a decadeslong friendship between two couples is just as rewarding on its 25th anniversary as it was when first published. Our group read stegners other novel the angle of repose before i started this blog. Using a series of flashbacks in the mind of a writer, larry morgan, throughout a single day, the novel is a reflection on youth, idealism, and the often unarticulated but lifelong process of compromise one must endure while seeking a stable place in the world. Discussion questions use our litlovers book club resources. Jul 16, 2014 crossing to safety by wallace stegner.
Tracing the lives, loves, and aspirations of two couples who. Nothing in these lives is lost or wasted, suffering becomes an enriching benediction, and life itself a luminous experience. Since the final scenes of their story are in 1972 at sid and charitys vermont home. Crossing to safety is one of his best loved novels, written shortly before his death in 1993. Crossings book club september 4, 2015 celebrity faith. Crossing to safety was a beautiful book about relationships, how they wax and wane, and friendships that last for a lifetime.
Crossing to safety ebook whatcom county library system. One of the finest american authors of the 20th century, wallace stegner compiled an impressive collection of accolades during his lifetime, including a pulitzer prize for fiction, a national book award, and three o. Crossing to safety by wallace earle stegner librarything. Crossing to safety follows two young couples, in their marriages and in their friendship. Wallace stegner gives us plenty of possible answers to that question in his novel crossing to safety. The story of larry and sally morgan and charity and sid langs lifelong friendship, which began during larry and sids teaching jobs at the university of wisconsin in the 1930s. Its the story of two academic couples and can stand as one of the great campusteaching novels, along with lucky jim, williamss stoner, and russos straight man. This was our book club choice and not one i would have chosen for myself for all sorts of reasons, but then thats why i belong to a book club. Crossing to safety by wallace stegner nichole bernier, author of.
Crossing to safety by wallace stegner random house 368 pp. Crossing to safety was the selection for my book clubs august meeting. Crossing to safety is a 1987 semiautobiographical novel by the dean of western writers, wallace stegner. I dont know why it took so long to get to any of his other novels. The questions in this asset support classroom discussions about this novel. Crossing to safety by wallace stegner reading guidebook. If you dont click skip, we will automatically purchase your credits for you using your credit card on file. Crossing to safety by wallace stegner, fiction released 1987. Crossing to safety by wallace stegner by linda40 see profile 081814.
Wallace stegner 19091993 may be better known for his 1972 pulitzer prizewinner, angle of repose, but its his last novel, crossing to safety, which quietly celebrated its 25th anniversary. Crossing to safety wallace stegner introduction bccls. The characters burrow into your heart, and stegners prose, as one critic put it, is prismatic, lush and painterly. I first read crossing to safety, my first book by wallace stegner, in august 20. Save over 20% credits will not expire, so you can use them at any time. In crossing to safety, stegner explores the mysteries of friendship, and it extends stegners distinguished body of work that had already earned him a pulitzer prize for 1971s angle of repose and the national book award for. Larry and sally meet sid and charity in 1938 when larry and sid are english professors in madison, wisconsin. Since then ive read many more books by him, and this is still my favorite stegner. Crossing to safety is a quiet novel about 2 couples who meet in the 1930s as young english professors and follows them to.
What struck me most, that first time reading the novel, was stegners proposition that. Crossing to safety is a 1987 semiautobiographical novel by wallace stegner. His final novel, crossing to safety is the quiet yet stirring tale of two couples that meet during the great depression and form a lifelong bond. Learn about some lasting friendships, book club questions, what our group thought, themes, characters and more. Crossing to safety tells an american tale of two couples who form a lifelong bond extending from the great crossing to safety the books the book club abc tv abc home. Adding to a distinguished body of work that already has earned him a pulitzer prize and the national book awardand on the 50th anniversary of the publication of his first novelstegners new book is an. If you dont want your monthly member credits, visit the site and click skip by the 10th of the month.
Dec 05, 2008 not only a book of a lifetime, crossing to safety is a book that comes at the end of a long lifetime of writing. Not only a book of a lifetime, crossing to safety is a book that comes at the end of a long lifetime of writing. Crossing to safety is a semiautobiographical novel by wallace stegner about two couples in an enduring friendship. The book beautifully captures loves glory, grandeur, pain, and evolution. The first time i read wallace stegners crossing to safety, i was in my late twenties and hungry for insight into what made for a solid relationship, and what. This study guide consists of approximately 30 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the end of your life book club. Crossing to safety by wallace stegner, paperback barnes. It made a deep impression that has lingered over the years. The washington post book world, crossing to safety has, since its publication in 1987, established itself as one of the greatest and most cherished american novels of the twentieth century. Written from the perspective of the aging larry morgan, crossing to safety is a beautiful and deeply moving exploration of the struggle of four people to come to terms with the trials and tragedies of everyday life. Like some others ive loved, its hard to put my finger on a reason, but i loved it. Two young couples, sid and charity and larry and sally, from different backgroundseast and west, rich and poorbefriend each other in 1937 madison, wisconsin, in an evocative and insightful portrait of family and friendship.
In crossing to safety, will and his mother begin their book club one day while they wait for his. As in many book clubs, our conversations bounced around between the characters lives and our own. Jul 02, 2012 crossing to safety by wallace stegner for july we are discussing crossing to safety by wallace stegner this is a novel based very much on the authors life, a story of the lifelong friendship between two couples. This is an excellent book for a book discussion group. Crossing to safety by wallace stegner crossing to safety by. Crossing to safety modern library classics paperback. Actor david oyelowo discusses being christian in hollywood, and his secret to marriage success with wife, jessica. The language was beautiful and there was not a single sentence i would have taken out. Washington post book world, crossing to safety has, since its publication in 1987, established itself as one of the greatest and most cherished american novels of the twentieth century.
Crossing to safety by wallace stegner nichole bernier, author of the unfinished work of elizabeth d. Sep 02, 20 crossing to safety was the selection for my book clubs august meeting crossing to safety by wallace stegner, fiction released 1987 bottom line. The first time i read wallace stegners crossing to safety, i was in my late twenties and hungry for insight. Years ago i read angle of repose and immediately put it in my top 10 books ever. Tracing the lives, loves, and aspirations of two couples who move between vermont. Dec 07, 2012 wallace stegner 19091993 may be better known for his 1972 pulitzer prizewinner, angle of repose, but its his last novel, crossing to safety, which quietly celebrated its 25th anniversary. Crossing to safety is an oldfashioned novel about a traditional subject, friendship, and what it means in the lives of four people who experience it over several decades. Having an english degree and being an avid reader, im surprised i had never heard of stegner. In january, our open book club will read and discuss crossing to safety by wallace stegner. Crossing to safety wallace stegner, 1987 random house 368 pp.
Crossing to safety by wallace earle stegner book resume. It is an indepth study of relationships and the many things that drive peoples behaviour and relationships. Crossing to safety a lot of readers raved about this book, and it was the latest selection in my book club. Which would have been a shame, because it was a wonderful book just not my usual sort, and it took me a bit to get into it and adjust to its style and pacing. Tracing the lives, loves, and aspirations of two couples who move between vermont and. This is the kind of book the apt first selection for will schwalbes the end of your life book club, by the way that reminds you why reading is. Crossing to safety topics for discussion wallace stegner this study guide consists of approximately 44 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of crossing to safety. Larry morgan and his wife sally are young westerners who, one day in depressionpoor 1937, arrive in madison, wisconsin, where larry is to take a oneyear teaching post at the university of wisconsin. A member credit can be redeemed to purchase most books on the site. All of the initial 2012 edition copies sold out around australia and this tale of the friendship between two couples became a talking point at book clubs everywhere. The end of your life book club by will schwalbe excerpt. First tuesday book club the cookcrossing to safety tv. The washington post book world, crossing to safety has, since its publication in 1987. The chapter where larry tells about the beginning of sid and charitys relationship reminded us of this book.
Crossing to safety tells an american tale of two couples who form a lifelong bond extending from the great depression to the 1970s. Book club s pick for june, and i would never have read it otherwise. Book clubs pick for june, and i would never have read it otherwise. Add to club selections add to possible club selections. There they wait out the years of ww ii, and there it becomes increasingly clear in the best sections of the book, which are rich, sure in tone, and reminiscent of, say, the reverberant delicacies of the good soldier that the good sid is in reality a weak and intellectually hapless man, and that wife charity is in. Crossing to safety modern library classics and millions of other books are. Introduction by terry tempest williams afterword by t.
Crossing to safety by wallace stegner i absolutely loved this book. The end of your life book club crossing to safetyseventy. You can lie in your morning bed and fill whole notebooks with schemes and intentions. Though a quiet read which takes place in the course of one day. Sierra club board of directors for a term that lasted 19641966.
Stegner takes a long look backat four decades of a foursomes lifein a novel that at moments is beguiling, though at others it labors for its theme. Crossing to safety by wallace stegner reading guidebook club. Crossing to safety ebook by wallace stegner rakuten kobo. Crossing to safety modern library classics by wallace.
The setting was idyllic, i felt as if i was in the story. Crossing to safety by wallace stegner fab book club. It gained broad literary acclaim and commercial popularity. First tuesday book club the cook crossing to safety tv episode 2012 on imdb. Wallace stegner, who also wrote short stories, essays, biographies and histories. Crossing to safety was the selection for my book club s august meeting crossing to safety by wallace stegner, fiction released 1987 bottom line.