ALL THE LITTLE LIVE THINGS by Wallace Stegner

Finished Su 4/29/12

This is rather a dated, and almost nostalgic look at the Cultural Divide which existed in the America of the late 1960's. Written in 1967, Pulitzer Prize winning author, Wallace Stegner, relates the story of a retired, conservative couple living in rural California who must learn to deal with a hippie commune on their property, and also to emotionally support a young married couple tragically affected by pregnancy and cancer. The novel is well written, and examines some of the cultural issues, such as 'Free Love', 'Work and Play', 'Marriage', 'Study and Achievement' which galvanized the nation at that time. The only problem that I found with the novel was that book reviewers promised some kind of a violent climax, and that never really materialized. Instead of 'going out with a bang', it only ended with a sputter. Obviously, THE ANGLE OF REPOSE is Stegner's more important work.

 Joe and Ruth Allston (Curt-son who died in a surfing accident, or suicide).
...... John, Marian, Debby Catlin
...... Lucio, Fran, Julie LoPresti
...... Jim Peck
...... Tom, Dave Weld
...... Cattarh the Cat (The Allston's)