Questions About The Spectator Bird

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Spectator Bird, please sign up.

Answered Questions (2)

How does this book compare with Crossing to Safety which I enjoyed?

Gretchen Guzman It deals with some of the same issues: marriage, aging, change. I have to say that I enjoyed Crossing to Safety more. Not sure why. Both are excellent…moreIt deals with some of the same issues: marriage, aging, change. I have to say that I enjoyed Crossing to Safety more. Not sure why. Both are excellent.(less)

flag

I have failed in my research to find if this is autobiographical in any way. Stegner writes with such presence of character he must have experienced Denmark or at least some aspects of the plot. I know he taught at Stanford and lived nearby in the hillsides, and appreciated his wife. Anyone know any background on the plot as it relates to the author’s life?

Andrew Queisser Just finished this book and loved it. Apparently he was a tennis player and I found this (https://www.vqronline.org/essay/persp...

Stegner wanted to wr…moreJust finished this book and loved it. Apparently he was a tennis player and I found this (https://www.vqronline.org/essay/persp...

Stegner wanted to write a story about crossing the Atlantic on the Stockholm. “I had to write that up and, having written it, I began to cobble on the basis of that. We did live in Denmark for six months so I had a notion of the country. I did run across the trail of a Danish nobleman, a great breeder of horses, who was thrown in jail for incest which struck me as a nice theme, and we did meet Karen Blixen. So I was pulled into the Gothic tale, by a succession of recollections that didn’t come all at once.”(less)

flag

Unanswered Questions (3)

Looking for questions for bookclub about spectator bird by Wallace Stegner?

Answer

Flag

what's the title mean?

Answer

Flag

I am curious what other readers saw in Stegner's writing about "safety" in his writings, particularly the "place of safety" referred to and the safe spectator life of Joe in The Spectator Bird and the "safety" alluded to in the title of the later book. Any thoughts?

Answer

Flag

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more