The Spectator Bird
Registered by 
valpete
of Walnut Creek, California USA on 12/28/2022
This book is in a Controlled Release!
valpete of Walnut Creek, California USA on 12/28/2022 This book is in a Controlled Release!
5 journalers for this copy...
My book for the 2022 Roundabout
I love Wallace Stegner's writing. I hope everyone else will, too. Happy journeys, little book!
Arrived today! This will be a nice break from my self-imposed obligation in January of playing catch-up in the Wayward Children series.
***(22nd Jan, 2023)***
A very unfortunate DNF after a third of the way thru....it is my cross to bear with "classics"; I also encountered the same difficulty with Crossing to Safety. Stegner is definitely a master of manipulating the mundane and elevating the everyday, but I could not sympathize with, or relate to, any of his characters. My loss completely!
It has international travels ahead, so should head out sooner than later.
***(22nd Jan, 2023)***
A very unfortunate DNF after a third of the way thru....it is my cross to bear with "classics"; I also encountered the same difficulty with Crossing to Safety. Stegner is definitely a master of manipulating the mundane and elevating the everyday, but I could not sympathize with, or relate to, any of his characters. My loss completely!
It has international travels ahead, so should head out sooner than later.
Journal Entry 4 by 
Cross-patch
at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, February 3, 2023
Cross-patch at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, February 3, 2023
Arrived today. Thank you valpete and echode. Looks good to me
Journal Entry 5 by Cross-patch at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, March 10, 2023
Cross-patch at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, March 10, 2023
Well, it worked for me. Thoughtful, beautiful prose and a visit to a whole new world for me. I found the marked content to be fascinating but not for me; I found myself wishing to take up a different pen to highlight my own. Unheard of vandalism in the Cross-patch household. Thank you, Valpete, for the introduction.
Journal Entry 6 by Cross-patch at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Friday, March 10, 2023
Cross-patch at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Friday, March 10, 2023
Released 3 mos ago (3/10/2023 UTC) at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to the next in line.
Journal Entry 7 by 
greenbadger
at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 15, 2023
greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Arrived with me, thank you.
Journal Entry 8 by greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 28, 2023
greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Joe Allston is a rather miserable, bitter old man who sees himself as a spectator on life, a literary agent who doesn't write himself, less successful than his friends. But as the book progresses he starts reading an old diary to his wife, about a trip to Denmark, and another side of him is gradually revealed. I started off really not enjoying this book and I think if it had been longer I might have given up, but it's a slow-burner, towards the second half I found myself getting much more engaged with Allston and his story and I did end up liking it.
Journal Entry 9 by greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 29, 2023
greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Released 2 mos ago (3/29/2023 UTC) at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posted to Poodlesister.
Journal Entry 10 by Poodlesister at Walthamstow, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, March 31, 2023
Poodlesister at Walthamstow, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, March 31, 2023
This is with me now. Thanks for the postcard and BC supplies!
Journal Entry 11 by Poodlesister at Walthamstow, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, April 27, 2023
Poodlesister at Walthamstow, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, April 27, 2023
I really enjoyed the writing style. Like greenbadger I got more into the book as it progressed. I found myself getting fond of the slightly miserable old git even with his “of the times” mild sexism. There were some really funny moments too.
Journal Entry 12 by Poodlesister at Book Roundabout , -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Thursday, April 27, 2023
Poodlesister at Book Roundabout , -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Thursday, April 27, 2023
Released 1 mo ago (4/28/2023 UTC) at Book Roundabout , -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
I’m hoping to send this on to estelle1086 in the next couple of days.
