The Big Rock Candy Mountain

By: Wallace Stegner

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

Length: 25 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Bo Mason, his wife, and his two boys live a transient life of poverty and despair. Drifting from town to town and from state to state, the violent, ruthless Bo seeks his fortune in the hotel business, in new farmland, and, eventually, in illegal rum-running throughout the treacherous back roads of the American Northwest.

Based largely on his own childhood, Stegner has created a masterful, harrowing saga of a family trying to survive during the lean years of the early 20th century. It is the conflict between the hardscrabble existence and Bo's pursuit of the frontier myth and of the American dream that gives the book such resonance and power.

©1938 1940, 1942, 1943 by Wallace Stegner (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Stegner has felt the spell of mountain and prairie, of drought, flood, and blizzard....a harrowing saga." - ( New York Times)
"Stands out beautifully and unforgettably." ( New Yorker)

Wonderful novel

I absolutely loved this book and the narration of it. It is perfectly crafted, lyrical in its prose, and the characters are honestly drawn. One of the best of 20th century American novels.

Both a reading and a book you will not forget

We lived this story throughout its telling, joy, pain, love, hatred.. Writing at its best.

Brilliant!

Would you listen to The Big Rock Candy Mountain again? Why?

I will listen to this again and again

Have you listened to any of Mark Bramhall’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Listening to Mark Bramhall is like listening to Stegner himself. Wonderful.

wow

If you could sum up The Big Rock Candy Mountain in three words, what would they be?

You, know? I feel so sorry for
Elsa. It was a good story, but parts made me mad.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Big Rock Candy Mountain?

When Elsa got cancer

Which scene was your favorite?

Elsa protecting Bruce all the time from his Father.

Who was the most memorable character of The Big Rock Candy Mountain and why?

Elsa, of course

Any additional comments?

Good book

Over long, but gorgeous

this is an excellent portrait of the 20th century and a ringing condemnation of American individualism as a way of life. that said it is moralizing and somewhat treacly. all in all a good work by a writer in training. stegner reused a lot of his short stories in this novel and he doesn't really come into his own for another 20 years , but you can definitely see that he knows what he's doing

Family Troubles

Wallace Stegner confronts the family dynamic in this book, asking the reader to consider how much family impacts day-to-day actions and character. This story revolves around the Mason family, as the family seeks security during the Prohibition and Great Depression in the Western US and Canada. The story dragged during the beginning stages, as there was an awkwardness in the narrative when the children were still young. Bruce, the youngest child, was a difficult youth, and the sections that dealt with his troubles dragged down the story. But once Bruce became an adult, independent from his father, his confidence allowed him to engage in the family dynamic in a more interesting and substantial manner.

Phenomenal

The realism and poetic way this book was written made it absolutely riveting. Stegner made the characters so engaging and honest. One of the very best books I've listened to in a long, long time. So good in fact, I'm starting the journey all over again.

Depressing!

This was such a struggle to get through. I think it is the single most depressing book I have ever read! I found myself hoping it would be over with but it just went on and on.

The only redeeming quality of the entire book was the performance of it.

Excellent writing, but be prepared for tragedy

It's hard to rate this literary masterpiece in the normal way. I love Stegner's writing and this is the fifth book of his I've read or listened to. I had to stop listening to this one after 15 hours, however, because the tragic, violent images were staying with me much too long. In every chapter he sets up the potential for violence, defeat, and tragedy and, in almost every chapter, tragedy happens. At least one character's dreams are crushed. Almost nothing good happens to this family and, when it does, you know it won't last long. This is supposedly an autobiographical novel; I can only hope that Stegner did not personally endure the pain and suffering he writes about. Perhaps he based some of the events on the experiences of others. In any case, he's a powerful writer who creates living and breathing characters, but then he feels compelled to have them defeated over and over again. I could not endure living through that much hardship myself.

An American Masterpiece

One of the best books I have had the honor to hear. Eloquently written and narrated.