Cannery Row - SPOILER-FREE

[Renata]

This begins a group discussion of our Classics book selection, Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, nominated by Peggyzbooksnmusic.
Here you can comment, without spoilers, on any aspects of the book, either before, during, or after reading it.

[Cheryl]

I read this decades ago, I believe more than once, along with its companions. I'm not a fan of Steinbeck's epics, but this (three?) little books were accessible and appealing. Iirc, they were more 'slice-of-life.' I'm looking forward to this reread.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

I nominated this title by John Steinbeck as he was one of my late Mom's favorite authors. She is the one who inspired my love of reading as a young child. Cannery Row & Tortilla Flat were her favorites. In the 1970's when I was in my twenties I read The Grapes of Wrath & Of Mice and Men. Loved both of those.

I've just read the first 2 chapters of Cannery Row and am reminded how much I love Steinbeck's characters development and dialogue.

[Cheryl]

Right, Tortilla Flat, and also Sweet Thursday, those are the three I'm thinking of that go together.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Cheryl wrote: "Right, Tortilla Flat, and also Sweet Thursday, those are the three I'm thinking of that go together."

Cheryl; Glad you posted this as I wasn't aware of the title Sweet Thursday. Hope to read someday although TBR list is huge so who knows!

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Just finished this today. Rated 5 stars and on my Favorite Shelf.
Link to my review with some of my favorite quotes included:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Cheryl]

The intro. to the Penguin Classics edition says that The Pastures of Heaven, which I've never heard of, belongs with this too... making a total of four books.

[Amy]

Excited for this one! Never read it before. Question: Are we reading just Cannery Row? Or also Sweet Thursday (the sequel)?

[Cheryl]

Just Cannery Row.

[Alexander]

I read Of Mice and Men last month - first time reading Steinbeck - and I really liked it. I'm excited to read more of him!

[Cheryl]

Yay!

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

I read this decades ago when I was a young kid. I recall it was not a favorite of mine. I am starting my re-read of it today. I am curious how I will feel about it as an adult.

[Jan]

This an interesting case study of the inhabitants of the area. None of them are entirely respectable. They drink too much, or work too little, or both, drive drunk, accidentally mistreat animals due to drunken stupidity, damage a lot of property due to drunken stupidity.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

Jan wrote: "This an interesting case study of the inhabitants of the area. None of them are entirely respectable. They drink too much, or work too little, or both, drive drunk, accidentally mistreat animals du..."

When I first read this book as a teen, my reaction was, frankly, ick ick, wow, what a terrible way to live, and some of these guys are absolutely awful people in my opinion, even though some of them might only be lazy, corrupt and do petty crime. I am sure Steinbeck got his depiction of Cannery Row life in this era perfectly correct. It seems to me men enjoy reading about this kind of ‘carefree’ hobo life and the other dangers of underclass life, with maybe some wistfulness, more than women do, but maybe I am being sexist. My original gut reaction as a young girl might not be so strong now that I am an adult in reading about these men, idk. I am looking forward to see if the book strikes me differently in my re-reading it.

[Quinty (Taylor's Version)]

I've had this on my shelf for ages. I think I got this in a bundle of school books or something but never had to actually read it in school. Since this book seems to be liked here, I'm hoping I will enjoy it too.

[Marla]

I tagged along on a work trip with my sister a few years ago to Monterey, CA and they gave us all copies of Cannery Row because we were staying on Cannery Row. I'm thinking it is time for me to read it.

I'm a slow reader when it comes to books like this, so we'll see how I do.

[Monica]

I am reading this and I am almost done. At the same time I read Until the coffee gets cold. Although Cannery Row doesn’t really have a proper plot, I am finding it amazing. John Steinbeck knew how to write and his books are remarkable. This can’t be said of most books, I am afraid.