Rating: 
Summary: Solid achievement, but a bit too long
Review: Angle of Repose is truly an enormously accomplished novel. In the character of Susan Ward, Wallace Stegner has created a complex leading lady--a woman of humble means who marries a man of humble means, yet who nonetheless aspires to status and prestige and the ranks of the glamorous literati. In the character of Lyman Ward, Stegner has created an equally complex narrator--a crippled sixty-something divorcee who has trouble understanding the sea-change in America wrought by the social movements of the 1960s, as well as trouble coming to terms with the emotional and physical effects of his own physical handicaps. The stories of these two individuals--separated by almost one hundred years of time--are woven together remarkably well; the Western backdrop is rendered beautifully and there is no doubting that Angle of Repose is as much the story of the Western frontier as it is that of Susan and Lyman Ward. Nonetheless, the novel falls just short of being a towering work of literature for two seemingly paradoxical reasons: first, the novel is too long--there is far too much down time, with Susan penning endless letters to her best friend (and platonic lover) Augusta Hudson. The plot (or at least the dialogue) appears at times to repeat itself. Stegner would have done well to keep this story moving forward; the narrative point of his novel (that the inability to forgive, to "accept the things we cannot change" inevitably leads to terminal disillusionment) would have been rendered much clearer. Second, the novel seems too hurried toward the end: Stegner has spent so much time drawing out the first 15 years of Susan and Oliver Ward's marriage that the remaining 40+ years are dealt with summarily. Without revealing too much about the plot, it is safe to say that more time should have been spent dealing with the ramifications of the narrative climax. The overall effect is one of a novel teetering on the brink of greatness, yet not quite clearing the hurdle. Still, it's definitely worth a read; judge it for yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: The Past Isn't in the Past
Review: Angle of Repose is two stories in one. First, it is the present- tense story of Lyman Ward, a retired History professor who is researching the life of his Grandmother, Susan Burling Ward. The results of Lyman's research form the narration of the second story contained in the book, that of his grandmother's life and times.
For his research, Lyman draws from a well of letters written by his Grandmother. However, a bone disease has left him unable to type the narrative of his research. He therefore hires a transcriptionist, Shelley, the daughter of a family that has been in long service to the Ward family. The interaction between Lyman and Shelley accentuates the strained relationship that Lyman has with his own son.
Angle of Repose is at its heart a story of the Ward family. Written during the turbulent days of the Viet Nam War, the theme of generational conflict is set in high relief. The title of the book is taken from geological science, and refers to the angle at which a rock rolling down an incline eventually comes to rest. The term finds its fulfillment in the story as Lyman comes to grips with his immediate family's troubles by studying the trials endured by his grandmother and his surveyor grandfather.
This is an outstanding story. The only complaint I can make about it has to do with a dream sequence at the end of the book, although I'm not sure what would the story would sacrifice if the sequence were excluded. That notwithstanding, the character of Susan Burling Ward is one of the most fascinating characters in American Literature, and Angle of Repose is a triumph of American Literature. Simply a MUST READ.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best, ever
Review: This is one of the best novels I have read. Stegner incredibly uses his narrative and creates connections between past and present that had me asking myself continually if I was reading fiction or non-fiction. The title itself invites a hunt through the book searching for its meaning which is found at the end. I love books with symbols that I actually can understand. I nearly cried during the last chapter which is all the more powerful because he is describing anyone/everyone's life. Stegner is so skillful that I don't think the ending would have had nearly the meaning for me if it had not been for the first 500 pages. Not all is entertaining here; I don't like reading letters; but he pulls it off. This is such a fulfilling book.
Rating: 
Summary: Overrated
Review: As usual, compared to most contemporary fiction, this book was pretty good. But among the 100 greatest English language novels ever? Not even close. Others have given plot descriptions so I shall not repeat here but if you are an avid reader this is not one I would rush out to devour - essentially predictable, boring, annoying, but not horribly written which in itself is a treat, will most likely be a better choice than any recently written novel you may pick up but I would certainly not rush out to buy it.
Rating:
Summary: As solemnly beautiful as the Pacific sunset
Review: "Angle of Repose" is the story of a retired history professor named Lyman Ward writing a book about his paternal grandparents' experiences living in the American Western frontier throughout the last thirty years of the 19th Century. He is living in his grandparents' old house in a small town in northern California where, confined to a wheelchair, he nobly struggles to remain independent despite requiring considerable medical and secretarial assistance. A rather curmudgeonly attitude about the relatively loose morality of modern (as of 1970) times as compared to the Victorian sensibilities of his grandparents pervades much of his writing and his discussions with his hippie typist, Shelly.His grandfather, Oliver Ward, was a mining engineer and, because of the transitory nature of the profession, needed to move his family to California, Colorado, Mexico, and Idaho, all the while building his skills by working as a mapper, an inspector, a manager, an irrigation canal designer, and a consultant for the U.S. Geological Survey. His wife Susan (Lyman's grandmother) was a talented commercial artist and writer who worked as a book illustrator and a magazine correspondent. She is portrayed as a supportive, proud woman who stood by her husband through thick and thin and boldly endured life on the rough uncivilized frontier without ever shedding the gentility of her Quaker upbringing. However, their marriage certainly was not always a bed of roses; it was strained by his career setbacks and drinking, tested by her attraction to another man, and nearly destroyed by a tragedy, after which there was too much pain for things ever to be the same again. There are several interesting themes to this novel. The most noticeable is that Lyman, writing in the first person, intersperses the narration of his grandparents' lives with scenes of his own, which allows him to compare various aspects of the generations of the Baby Boomers with the Victorians. Through this narration technique, he is also able to compare the recipes of his grandparents' successful marriage with his own failed one. And most appreciated by me is that the novel gives an uncommon look at the life of an engineer -- a profession which is underrepresented in literature -- who is living and working in unglamorous, dangerous conditions, and whose work is even more significant for his contributions to the construction of civilization in the frontier. And finally, Stegner's prose and masterful descriptions of Western scenery are nothing short of excellent.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: Maslow once said "A first rate soup is more creative than a second rate painting, and that generally cooking or parenthood or making a home could be creative wile poetry need not be." This book demonstrates this sentiment so clearly. Who are truly the artists today? Who are truly the people that are "self-actualizing." Stegner's work really causes one to stop and think. This book is a delightful discovery for me. This is the first book I have ever read by Mr. Stegner and was immediately drawn into the book. He is masterful in his ability to weave a story. His observations are insightful and his metaphors are thought provoking. This book alone makes him one of the masters of American literature. You NEED to read this book. I personally have it on my list of favorites
Rating:
Summary: Gender and Race References a Distraction
Review: I agree with many of the fine reviews this book has received. In many ways this is one of the most truthful and wonderful novels I've read in a very long time. But I have to say, it is hard to take sometimes, because the narrator is so cranky. And it is hard to identify with and entirely trust a narrator and an author that are wedded to racial epithets. ("An afro in the woodpile" for example, among at least two others). And toward the end, the misogyny gets a bit out of hand. Hey, that's just the way it is! The point here is not to trash this novel and Stegner-- this novel is magnificent in many ways. But I got angry several times.
Rating:
Summary: The best of Stegner
Review: If you are only going to read one Wallace Stegner book, it should be this one. But better, read others (like Big Rock Candy Mountain, and Crossing in Safety) first, and save this one for last.
Rating: 
Summary: How can this be so well received?
Review: After having heard so much about this book and having put it down several times over the past few years, I MADE myself read it although it was a chore from beginning to end! What a dry, poorly written book and such rave reviews! If this is a 5 star, what other junk are you reading????? I cannot believe anyone could find this anything but textbook level literature. It was true labor to finish it and I would NEVER suggest anyone to read this when there are such fine authors out there. Never-ending and dull and repetitive for almost 500 pages.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Book!
Review: Loved the descriptions, loved the characters, loved everything. Read it a year and a half ago and I kept thinking about it so I just finished re-reading it. Even better the second time!
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