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Remembering Laughter Audiobook
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(3.05) - 533 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Margaret Stuart, the proud wife of a prosperous Iowa farmer, sets high standards for herself and others. Happy in her marriage, she tries to look the other way when her genial husband, Alec, takes to the bottle. When Elspeth, Margaret’s sister, comes to live with them, the young woman is immediately captivated by the beauty and vitality of the farm and by the affection she receives from those around her. But as summer turns into fall and the friendship between Alec and Elspeth deepens, Margaret finds her spirit tested by a series of events that seem as cruel and inevitable as the endless prairie winters.
Remembering Laughter marked Wallace Stegner’s brilliant literary debut.
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"I am such a huge fan of Wallace Stegner. He falls into the category of "classic" writing and each book is a treat! In Remembering Laughter, he brings the story of a woman whose husband has an affair with her younger sister. It's an entirely new take on sibling relationships that I've not read in any story before. And, as always, he tells it in his unique and utterly fascinating style of writing."
— LuAnn (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“I thought Remembering Laughter a perfect little novel, clean, swift, and assured, and I can still feel the weight of the disaster in it.”
— Wendell Berry, author of That Distant Land -
“There is no use to mention the assurance and calm that Mr. Stegner brings to his first book—it has to be read to be believed.”
— Saturday Review -
“Published in 1937, Remembering Laughter launched the Pulitzer Prize–winning Stegner’s career as a novelist.”
— Library Journal
Remembering Laughter Listener Reviews
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" A lot like Angle of Repose, but not as developed or as meaningful. Good, but not great. "
— Michelle, 2/13/2014 -
" This novella is a poignant, believable parable about the consuming effects of holding a grudge. Interesting read; makes for interesting sermon ideas. "
— Caroline, 2/12/2014 -
" great short-story. First work Stegnar won a price for. "
— Liz, 2/5/2014 -
" I've heard so much about Wallace Stegner and have wanted to read his books for some time... Maybe I started with the wrong book, but it was SO sad and really, not very believable for me. "
— Mom, 1/25/2014 -
" I love Wallace Stegner. This was his first novel, so it was a little unrefined compared to his other books that I've read. It was very depressing, but the writing was good. "
— Christy, 1/18/2014 -
" This is Stegner's first novel, and it is a masterpiece! I love the mega-plot twist. Stick with it; it's worth it. Beautiful work for a first novel. No wonder it launched him to fame. "
— Shaindel, 1/17/2014 -
" Loved this story, just so tragic. "
— Jennifer, 1/13/2014 -
" "Margaret Stuart had kept in her eyes the life that had dried gradually out of her body ..." Beautiful writing. Just ok story. "
— Kate, 12/10/2013 -
" I always love Stegner, and this was no disappointment. Only three stars because it is short and not as developed as his more lengthy books, which I love. I do truly hope to read everything he has ever written at some point! "
— Katie, 12/3/2013 -
" This is his first novel. Nice to know that he definitely had some growing to do. Gives me some hope for my own writing. Not that this is BAD, by any means, but it is more of a sketch and not fully developed. "
— Callie, 11/19/2013 -
" This little book is full of wonderful reflections on life. Stegner creates a story which draws the reader into a dreary world of pain and resentment. It is honest and it is beautiful. As soon as I finished I wanted to start from the beginning and read it again. "
— Becca, 11/14/2013 -
" Short. Sparse. Spooky. "
— Alex, 11/5/2013 -
" short and sweet/sad "
— Brandy, 1/5/2013 -
" I love Stegner's writing. His characters are so vivid and real. "
— Jimcgold, 12/27/2012 -
" Yum. Wallace Stegner. Yum. "
— B, 12/3/2012 -
" One of my favorite authors. Writes in a way that really pulls me in. This is a good short story that says a lot about regrets. "
— LauraLee, 8/5/2012 -
" The weight of this story will be hard to shake. True to form, Stegner's words + imagery take my breath away... "
— Stacey, 7/30/2012 -
" i stumbled across this book after reading a friend's review. simply and beautifully written, with a heartbreaking plot for all characters. "
— Jess, 5/4/2012 -
" For everyone who loves Ethan Frome.... "
— Emily, 12/31/2011 -
" this was a shorter story. I love the connection between characters in Wallace Stegners books. "
— Jennifer, 12/20/2011 -
" Review posted on my own website, ThemisAthena.info. "
— Themis-Athena, 10/11/2011 -
" The weight of this story will be hard to shake. True to form, Stegner's words + imagery take my breath away... "
— Stacey, 6/1/2011 -
" Loved this story, just so tragic. "
— Jennifer, 2/22/2011 -
" a concise, small novel...<br/>Shows why Stegner was a good teacher, if he taught as he wrote. "
— Cindy, 2/5/2011 -
" This novella reminds me of why I like Stegner so much. "
— Jodi, 1/14/2011 -
" this was a shorter story. I love the connection between characters in Wallace Stegners books. "
— Jennifer, 12/5/2010 -
" i stumbled across this book after reading a friend's review. simply and beautifully written, with a heartbreaking plot for all characters. "
— Jess, 8/4/2010 -
" I always love Stegner, and this was no disappointment. Only three stars because it is short and not as developed as his more lengthy books, which I love. I do truly hope to read everything he has ever written at some point! "
— Katie, 4/28/2010 -
" Well written and thought provoking. And sad! "
— Elaine, 3/1/2010 -
" This story between two sisters was sad, yet a lot to learn from painful mistakes. It made you understand what pride, dishonesty and greed can do to hurt family relationships. There is a great moral message in this book. "
— Jennifer, 1/12/2010 -
" This is Stegner's first - a novellette. It had good descriptive language, a bit of human drama, and left me with some things to think about. This was for a bookclub and was a nice short read. "
— Ann, 1/9/2010
About Wallace Stegner
Wallace Stegner (1909–1993) wrote many books of fiction and nonfiction, including Crossing to Safety and the National Book Award–winning The Spectator Bird. Angle of Repose won the Pulitzer Prize in 1972. An American historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist, Stegner was often called the “dean of Western writers” and has left a lasting legacy in the literary community.
About Cassandra Campbell
Cassandra Campbell has won multiple Audie Awards, Earphones Awards, and the prestigious Odyssey Award for narration. She was been named a “Best Voice” by AudioFile magazine and in 2018 was inducted in Audible’s inaugural Narrator Hall of Fame.