2023 Reading John Steinbeck Throughout the Year

[ForestGardenGal]

This might end up being my least popular review ever, but popularity has never been my goal in reviewing books, so here goes:

My review of Steinbeck's oft beloved Of Mice and Men:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Feel free to suggest how I might see things differently!

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

ForestGardenGal wrote: "My review of Steinbeck's oft beloved Of Mice and Men:http..."

Honest review never hurts anything. I did not care for the ending but I understand the why. Not saying it would be my choice just understand the choice he made for what he thought was best.

[ForestGardenGal]

Lesle wrote: "ForestGardenGal wrote: "My review of Steinbeck's oft beloved Of Mice and Men:http..."

Honest review never hurts anything. I did not care for the ending but I understand the why. Not say..."

@Lesle
Well said, and thank you. I also understand the why, and do think Steinbeck is a pretty great author, I just think great authors occasionally get a pass on books that contain issues which should be thoroughly discussed.

Also, I think our group just got spammed. Repetitive promotion posts in several threads by a David Corro. Just in case you didn't see it already.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Thanks. I've just blocked that member.

[Luís]

I finally finished with The Wayward Bus.

I can imagine very well, with hindsight, the sulfurous Jane Mansfield, in the 1957 film, coming to set fire to this small ephemeral coach company... although this tale is not, I think, the most Steinbeck's great novel, it is both entertaining and disturbing enough to leave an impression on the reader. There is Shakespeare in Steinbeck, director of human comedy.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Luís wrote: "I finally finished with The Wayward Bus..."

It is a very entertaining yet odd bunch on the bus. Your thoughts are well stated Luis!

[Luís]

Lesle wrote: "Luís wrote: "I finally finished with The Wayward Bus..."

It is a very entertaining yet odd bunch on the bus. Your thoughts are well stated Luis!"

Thank you, Lesle.

[Chad]

I’m almost through Cannery Row. I first read it decades ago. Throughout there are just so many little nuggets of pure gold. One and two line paragraphs that just resonate with me so much. In one way I feel like John Steinbeck is such an American writer and then I also feel like he is just a very human writer. Like a good western novel, his female characters are lacking here. Without a doubt. The females in this one either work in the local whore house and are barely mentioned or are wives who lay awake at night crying for whatever reason. That aside though, what a great little novel. Just a really entertaining, easy, thought provoking short read.

[Luís]

Chad wrote: "I’m almost through Cannery Row. I first read it decades ago. Throughout there are just so many little nuggets of pure gold. One and two line paragraphs that just resonate with me so m..."

I liked the book, but less than others by him.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I liked Cannery Row for the reasons you mentioned Chad, as well as the sequel, Sweet Thursday.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

I also liked Cannery Row and I do enjoy Steinbeck. You are right Chad he is not much on character building in this one. He is down to earth in his writing for me though.

[Chad]

I read the sequel to Cannery Row this weekend - Sweet Thursday. Not as good as Cannery Row, but good. In this one, I felt that the amazing simplicity of Stienbeck’s storytelling became a little too simple and dated for me. I didn’t like the courtship or the forced courtship. It felt awkward to me. I thought that the end was fantastic and it may have brought a slaty drop of liquid into my eye. No one saw it though, so it can’t be proven.
I think stories like this translate well into almost any culture.