Books like All the Little Live Things

Once again, Wallace Stegner’s beautiful, descriptive prose drew me in to this novel from the beginning. It was like a lovely walk in a forest, with streams, birds singing, and maybe a waterfall. Then, just when I was completely soothed into the atmosphere, it was like a rock fell from beside the waterfall and startled me into a story. The story of Joe Allston and his wife, Ruth.In their mid-60’s and retired now, the Allstons left the East coast and are in California, in mourning. I chose the word ‘mourning’ rather than ‘grieving’, because their feelings were a combination of grief, regrets, disappointment, and guilt among others. Their son died and no matter how hard they had tried, they felt stuck in the deformed relationship they had experienced with their son.A young man, Jim Pitt, comes along and wants to build a small camp at the bottom of their property. Is this a chance for redemption for both? Joe’s back goes up when young Pitt’s values and attitude clash with his own, but Ruth wants to give him a chance, so Joe reluctantly agrees.A young couple named Marian and John move in to the next-door cabin with their 6 year old daughter, Debby. For Joe, Marian is the daughter he wished he could have had. Joe and Ruth become close to the couple and their daughter very quickly.There are neighbourhood problems that crop up – a land development on the hill across from them. Another neighbour is having problems with their 16 year old daughter.As these pains and pleasures blossom into the story one by one, the links to the past come through, sometimes like thorns, other times like bright green leaves. And then Marian becomes ill and the balance shifts once more.This story is interesting, engaging, and magnificently moving. For me, it is Wallace Stegner’s ability to mold and shape words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs like a master sculptor that breathes life and energy and emotion into it.I enjoyed experiencing the nuances and literary references that spiced these pages, but it was the story itself and how brilliantly it was written that made me feel everything so deeply. I recommend this read to anyone who enjoys high quality writing that goes down like the finest ambrosia.