Authors tend to be chroniclers of their time but only the great literary works are able to reach out to a wide audience for each subsequent generation without losing any of its core authenticity despite the so-called "dated" subject matter. John Steinbeck's Cannery Row is one such novel and despite the setting being 1930's Americana, the themes of universal human experience are still emotionally powerful and socially relevant. There is something about stories that revolve around simple, flawed, ordinary people who are just trying to find happiness and survive in this cruel world, that really resonates with me. Steinbeck's Cannery Row consists of vignettes surrounding a bunch of different characters of the lower and middle-class with various racial all living in a small coastal town. There is no complex overarching plot but rather a simple and authentic portrayal of American life where the mundane ultimately transcends into the magical. It is rare to come across a novel that is not bogged down by plot contrivances but rather focuses on intimate observations and establishing verisimilitude to creating a tangible sense of place that feels like home. The way Steinback is able to create a vivid setting and memorable characters with such elegant brevity is a joy to behold. This novel reminds me of films by Mike Leigh who often utilizes a similar aesthetic of constructing stories without a discernible arch plot that follow lower/middle class Londoners as they experience everyday life and relationships. While characters are burdened by the past in which their lives contain sadness, despair and suffering, there also tends to be a lingering sense of hope that maybe the next day will be better. Life goes on.