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The Spectator Bird  By  cover art

The Spectator Bird

By: Wallace Stegner
Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
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Publisher's summary

Joe Allston is a retired literary agent who is, in his own words, "killing time before time gets around to killing me." His parents and his only son are long dead, leaving him with neither ancestors nor descendants, tradition nor ties. His job, trafficking the talent of others, had not been his choice. He passes through life as a spectator. But a postcard from a friend causes him to return to the journals of a trip he had taken years before. The memories of that trip to his mother's birthplace move through layers of time and meaning, and reveal that Joe Allston isn't quite spectator enough.
©1976 Wallace Stegner (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

  • National Book Award Winner, 1976

"Elegant and entertaining. . . .Every scene is adroitly staged and each effect precisely accomplished." ( The Atlantic)

What listeners say about The Spectator Bird

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Powerful quiet

So much personal life that resonated with me
And the quiet became shocking and powerful in a different way
Speechless

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The best narrator ever.

This book was a revelation. This is a writer I’ve never read. His prose is amazing. A recommend him very much. But the narrator is absolutely amazing. His voice is like velvet. I completely fell in love.

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Unexpected and charismatic

I enjoyed this audiobook so much that I orchestrated my entire day around it. Finished it in one day. The charm of the performance softened the morose subject. Men can be so problematic dealing with age related problems. But along with that comes a great reflection on past chapters of your life. This book also is a heartfelt treatise on the friendship of a long married couple.

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Edward Hermann’s reading was so beautiful

Love the whole book. The words used, the story, narrative. I highly recommend. There were times I felt the atmosphere get quieter. And other times the energy felt louder. Amazing

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The narrator

I had a hard time picturing the actual character to the the character on Gilmore Girls

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Beautiful

At first, I found the story confusing. I couldn’t determine where they were nor why but as the story developed, it was beautiful.

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Stegner never disappoints

Stegner writes so brilliantly about the how the threads of history, literature and the environment make us who we are. Such insight.

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Superb Stegner novel, great narration

This is a fantastic, acclaimed novel by Wallace Stegner, made even better by narrator Herrmann. His languid voice perfectly renders the main character's sardonic humor, as well as the Danish accents of other characters (though his Danish is pretty terrible). Highly recommended!

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  • KD
  • 02-28-23

Great Book

Very much enjoyed the story and the reading. It is an insightful rumination on aging and reminiscence with nice doses of humor. Herrmann’s reading was perfect. He captured the tone expertly. Highly recommended.

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excellent narration

When I read Stegner, I hear Edward Herrmann's voice in my head. Excellent book and narration.

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