Book review: "Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs"

I don't typically gravitate toward Western books, nor do I usually select collected works, but I was pleasantly surprised by Wallace Stegner's "Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs." Notably, this was also Inkberry Books' book of the month for November.

It's not a particularly long book-it clocks in at just under 230 pages-but somehow it still feels a bit heavy. Divided into three parts, "Where the Bluebird Sings" is a collection of sixteen essays, many of which have been previously published over the years. They cover personal moments from Stegner's past, reflections on Western habitats and witnesses of the West.

Part One, "Personal," was by far my favorite. It is colorful, nostalgic and immersive. Reading about Stegner's childhood echoed sentiments from "Never Summer: A Thousand Rainbows" with his description of life constantly moving about, and a story about one of his camping trips reminded me of fishing stories my grandfather has shared with me. As its subtitle suggests, this section is incredibly personal, and that is where its beauty lies.

My second favorite part was "Witnesses," in which Stegner discusses Western literature, some behemoths of the genre and his own experience with it. As a bibliophile, this was interesting from an industry sense. Given that my entire physical literary context has been that of the 21st century West, I had little to no idea that the genre was often seen as "simple" and perhaps even pedestrian. And, by extension, Western publishing houses and even bookstores were not necessarily seen as equal to those on the East Coast. Moreover, it was just fun to read Stegner's thoughts on the impact of writers like John Steinbeck and others.

Third place goes to Part Two: "Habitat." Of course it's important for a book about the West to focus on what makes it so unique, and I thought it was interesting that Stegner argues that it is the land itself that makes the West unique. In fact, while you find pockets of the East Coast or Midwest out in the West, the same does not happen in reverse. I thought that it was important to talk about the aridity of the land, the fact that water access shaped the West, and that the lack of water is making it difficult to stay as more and more people move here. But it was a difficult section for me to get through. It wasn't nearly as engaging as parts one or three.

Overall, I think this is a book that appeals to a very particular audience, and I'm not sure that I fall into that category of readers. I liked the history, the descriptive anecdotes and the literary discussions, but since I am a Western literature novice, it didn't quite have the pull I was looking for. That said, I do enjoy reading beyond my comfort zone, so I'm very glad to have received the recommendation.

If, however, you are a fan of nonfiction and of the West, I think this is an excellent contender for your next book. Happy Reading!