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The Wayward Bus- November 2010
I couldn't find discussion questions for this book. If anyone else can, it would be helpful to the group if you could post them for us. Thanks.
Discussion starts November 1st, doesn't it? Not December?
I used to have general discussion questions for any novel, and I think they would work fine here. No spoilers, either.* What was unique about the setting of the book and how did it enhance or take away from the story?
* What specific themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel? What do you think he or she is trying to get across to the reader?
* Do the characters seem real and believable? Can you relate to their predicaments? To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?
* How do characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story? What events trigger such changes?
* In what ways do the events in the books reveal evidence of the author's world view?
* Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable? If so, why did you feel that way? Did this lead to a new understanding or awareness of some aspect of your life you might not have thought about before?
I corrected they date typo. Thanks !And a big thank you for the general questions.
I will probably start the book either today or tomorrow.
I'm almost done with the book, so I look forward to seeing what the rest of you think.
Want a tantalizing intro to the book? This is the YouTube trailer for the movie version of The Wayward Bus:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F_MR-...
Just watched it. Have to check Netflix to see if they have it. Thanks Sherry! I am about half way done with the book.
I did some checking to see if the film version of The Wayward Bus is out on DVD, and I don't think it is. Let me know if I'm wrong.
I just checked Netflix and they do not have it. That's a shame as it really looked good.
Is everyone reading the Penguin Classics edition ? It has a lot of endnotes. If not, let me know if there is anything you would like clarified, and I'll tell you if there is a note for it in my book.In Chapter 1 Greyhound Bus has a footnote.
The Greyhound Bus Co. was founded in 1914 and adopted its running dog logo in 1926. It was prominently featured in the movie It Happened One Night (1934) which won all five major Academy Awards (best picture, best actor, best actress, best director, best screenplay) the year of its release.
I'm intrigued that it won all the awards and I've never seen it. Has anyone here? I have to see if my library has a copy of it.
I'll be starting this book in a few days, after I finish my current book Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America. As I recall, we don't need to 'worry' about Steinbeck being 'bright-sided'. I am very much looking forward to it. I read this book more than 25 years (I read all of Steinbeck in a short period) and I haven't read Steinbeck since then. And I am reading the same copy that I read so long ago. The front and back covers are worn off, and even some of the title pages are missing. Some real 'old-school' reading here.
If you could, MD, when you finish Bright Sided could you tell us if you liked it in our Book Salon thread?I heard the author on NPR and was interested in the book. I've also read her other book, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. Which I felt was thought provoking.
Thanks !
@Alias -- I have seen It Happened One Night and it is hilarious. Clark Gable at his best.
When the rest of you who are reading this one are reading, do me a favor and think about who you would cast if a modern version of The Wayward Bus were to be filmed.
Alias Reader wrote: "Is everyone reading the Penguin Classics edition ? It has a lot of endnotes. If not, let me know if there is anything you would like clarified, and I'll tell you if there is a note for it in my bo..."Hmm, mine says penguin classics but I don't see any notes in it.
I will be starting the book in the next few days.
Mine is not a penguin classic but an old edition I got from the library without any notes in it.
Julie, did you check the back of the book ? My Penguin Classics has endnotes not footnotes.Marialyce, if I come across any interesting endnotes I'll post them.
Nope - I have a charming old 1947 edition.
I have an edition also 1947 Viking Press -- no notes.
I'm only in chapter 2, so I may change my mind. They mention that Norma will look old before she gets old. So Helen Hunt comes to mind for the part.
Chapter 2Note:
Virgin of Guadalupe: According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to a Mexican peasant name Juan Diego on December 9 and again on December 12, 1531. The Miracle of Guadalupe was formally recognized by the Vatican in 1709, and Juan Diego was canonized in 2002. Annual celebration of "The Queen of Mexico," the protector of the poor and Weak, are still held throughout the country on December 12.
Chapter 1Note:
Newspaper king: William Randolf Hearts (1863-1951) publisher of San Francisco Examiner, built the palatial mansion San Simeon on a vast estate near U.S. Highway 1 along the California coast between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
For a bio on Hearst see this wiki link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_...
Coca- Cola Girls: The popular cola drink was often advertised on posters featuring fresh faced women in provocative poses drawn by such artists as Leonetto Cappiello (1875-1942)
Wiki link bio of the artist:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonetto...
The race of Amudkins, who preceded the Atomites: Steinbeck coins names for two races. Amudkins or Kin to mud, a term that evokes the Genesis creation myth of Adam and Eve, and Atomite, or the race of people who live in the atomic age.
National Dollar stores: a chain of dry goods stores mostly located in the western U.S. and the target of a strike by San Francisco garment workers in 1938.
Here is a link about the strike:
http://ccsfexhib.wordpress.com/2010/0...
Chapter 3 noteslittle blue enamel bar with white stars on it.
The Congressional Medal of Honor.
To read more about the medal see this wiki link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of...
Eugene Debs: 1855-1926 American socialist leader.
For bio see this wiki link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_V...
Stolen private property: all private oil companies in Mexico, including foreign owned were ordered in March 1938 to sell their assets to the Mexican Govt. effectively nationalizing the petroleum industry.
For more info on this event see this wiki link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_...
Sherry (sethurner) wrote: "Want a tantalizing intro to the book? This is the YouTube trailer for the movie version of The Wayward Bus:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F_MR-...
"
Ha! That was trippy. I'm bummed too that Netflix doesn't have it. Even my local library didn't have it.
EDIT:
I just noticed on my second view of the video that someone made a comment there that said it's never been put out on DVD.
I'm going to start the read on the 1st. I have the Kindle edition, I haven't opened it yet to see if it contains any endnotes.
Alias Reader wrote: "Julie, did you check the back of the book ? My Penguin Classics has endnotes not footnotes"Nothing there either. Guess they have more than one version.
Alias Reader wrote: "Is everyone reading the Penguin Classics edition ? It has a lot of endnotes. If not, let me know if there is anything you would like clarified, and I'll tell you if there is a note for it in my bo..."The Kindle e-book edition is taken from the Penguin Classics and has the same endnotes and so forth. I was happy to see that it was the same as what you had transcribed here, showed me they include everything included in the original print edition.
Alias Reader wrote: "The Greyhound Bus Co. was founded in 1914 and adopted its running dog logo in 1926. It was prominently featured in the movie It Happened One Night (1934) which won all five major Academy Awards (best picture, best actor, best actress, best director, best screenplay) the year of its release.I'm intrigued that it won all the awards and I've never seen it. Has anyone here? I have to see if my library has a copy of it. "
I have never heard of it either. But I'll probably watch it this weekend as
Netflix has it on 'Instant View' streaming... http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/It-Hap...
They also have it for DVD delivery of course.
After reading your post, Mike, I remembered to check my library for the DVD. They have it, so I put in a request for it.
Bobbie57 wrote: "@Alias -- I have seen It Happened One Night and it is hilarious. Clark Gable at his best."Alias Reader wrote: "After reading your post, Mike, I remembered to check my library for the DVD. They have it, so I put in a request for it."
I watched it this morning and agree, it was very funny. I thought Ellie Andrews stole the show from Gable though. I really enjoyed the old time Greyhound Bus scenes and scenarios as well.
Hey Mike -- but you can understand this old woman having a thing for Gable?? Right??
Bobbie57 wrote: "Hey Mike -- but you can understand this old woman having a thing for Gable?? Right??"Heh. Yes, I can see how he was/is very swoon-worthy!
---------------
Tomorrow I'll start the TWB read here.
I just wanted to note for those that are just starting, that I found it a bit hard to get the characters straight in my mind, but after 35 pages or so it seems to be clearer and the story begins to coalesce. So don't give up too soon on TWB. :)
Alias Reader wrote: "I just wanted to note for those that are just starting, that I found it a bit hard to get the characters straight in my mind, but after 35 pages or so it seems to be clearer and the story begins to..."I actually remember this same thing when I read it way back when. This often happens on any book to me actually. I recall stopping, going back and journaling on the side who was who for reference until I had it down in my head. Again actually, I do this automatically on every single book I read now.
Sorry I'm a day early, but it being Sunday I have more time. With that.... ******WARNING*********SPOILERS AHEAD***********WARNING*****SPOILERS AHEAD*****
Tried to make it shorter, might have gotten carried away a bit. Apologies for any typos. : )
*What was unique about the setting of the book and how did it enhance or take away from the story?
The story took place in 2 settings: the bus and the diner. I found both of the settings to be somewhat enclosed ( a sort of disconnection from the outside world or society) this reminded me of Heart of Darkness and Lord of the flies and to a certain extent Gilligan’s Island (I’ll get to that one later). This allowed the characters that maybe would not associate in society to get acquainted and converse with one another. This also brought out the good, the bad, their likes and dislikes, their fears, prejudices and beliefs. The setting enhanced the story because we get to see the characters and how they each deal with the stress of the bus breakdown, how they deal with inconveniences in life and how they deal and react with one another.
* What specific themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel? What do you think he or she is trying to get across to the reader?
Through the characters of Jose, Mildred, Mr and Mrs Pritchard I got the feeling that they were tied down due to the morals, structure and in a way restraints of society. Each in their own way was not happy with their lives, wanted more freedom or some type of change. They conformed to the norms of society to what they believed was to fit in and ‘belong’, worried at what others would say or think about them. Don’t know if this was a criticism of Steinbeck on people and the masks that they wear out in Public, or if it was just an experiment on how different people would relate to stress in an enclosed environment.
* Do the characters seem real and believable?
I can see the different characters in the story , meeting people like them at one point or another in my life. The Pritchard’s trying to keep up the façade of a perfect marriage, Mrs Pritchard trying to be an interesting person to her acquaintances, thinking of ways of showing off to those same acquaintances. Mr Pritchard keeping himself busy in the office as not to go home and deal with his life. At the same time being a hard worker for the Co, going to the ‘right’ places and doing the ‘right’ things to fit in with the other business men. Norma the shy, insecure woman who fantasizes of a more exciting life, glamour and fame. Kit or Pimples being the male counterpart of Norma in reference to insecurities of themselves. Van Buren the cranky, grumpy old man with his negative thinking and argumentative nature contradicting anything you will say.
*Can you relate to their predicaments?
I’ve traveled for pleasure and for business and have met delays and difficulties in both. I can understand with their feelings and frustrations with being stuck somewhere , not being able to get to your destination.
*To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?
See question on characters seeming real and believable.
*How do characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story?
Juan, Mildred, Alice, Mr. Pritchard all seem at some point of the story to have some type of minor (or major) breakdown. Each of them deals with it in their own way. Norma has an awakening, getting confidence from Camille in herself and in what she feels will be a better and more exciting life. Alice drinks herself to unconsciousness.
*What events trigger such changes?
Juan is stressed by the breakdown of the bus, the stress of the inconvenience of the clients and their complaining. He gets the bus stuck as an excuse to just walk away from everything and leave it all behind to start again. His mind changes with his encounter with Mildred.
Mr. Pritchard has been aggravated from the beginning not wanting to go on the ‘vacation’ to begin with. At the point that the bus breaks down, Mrs. Pritchard’s required pampering (feeling bad/tired, needing to lie down). The realization finally of where he knew Camille from, then forcing himself on Mrs Pritchard.
Mildred dealing with her reaction (desires towards) to Juan. When the bus gets stuck thinking she’ll again need to deal with her Mothers manipulations. The stresses of not being as free as she wants to be. Later gives in to her desires when she encounters Juan in the Barn.
Alice , insecure in herself, tired of her life and scared of losing the little life she has and Juan. Seems to be a miserable person and only gets any kind of happiness in making others as miserable as well. Lies to Juan on what caused Norma to leave and stresses in thinking or knowing that Juan wants to leave also. Once she is alone in the Restaurant she uses liquor as her escape and numbs herself till she finally passes out.
* In what ways do the events in the books reveal evidence of the author's world view?
I guess that all people have their hang-ups and issues. Get them in stressful situation and everyone reacts differently.
* Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable?
For the year this was written I found the implied actions and some of the characters surprising. The character of Camille being a stripper, they way she references everything that has happened to her. When the men relate to her, her knowing how they would react and what would be happening. Her reaction to Mr Pritchard at the end of the book where she is straight forward and basically tells him like it is. The Details of Mrs. Pritchard’s physical issue. Mildred also being a strong character for a woman at that time. Her way of thinking , her openness to her sexual desires and experimentations. Her giving herself to Juan taking the risk that there would be nothing else afterwards, just the physical release with no commitments or obligations. This did not make me uncomfortable, but I was surprised that it would be detailed in a story at the time.
*If so, why did you feel that way?
Was not uncomfortable.
Did this lead to a new understanding or awareness of some aspect of your life you might not have thought about before?
Try to remember that different people will react differently to different situations in their lives. That we all have our hang-ups , insecurities and different points of view. Never judge lest I be judged also. Most Important to me, to be myself and not get stressed trying to fit in or keep up with anyone.
Ok, Back to Gilligans Island. Thinking on the characters of the story , the setting. As in Gilligans Island in the wayward bus there were different types of people in an isolated location. On both stories it was a trip and where they ran into issues and they got stranded. For wayard it was the diner and the bus, for Gilligans it was the island. Although Gilligans island was a comedy and not a drama.
Juan and Kit (Pimples)- Skipper and Gilligan
The Pritchards – The Howells
Camille and Norma – Ginger and Marianne
Horton (salesman)- The Professor
Ok, so I have some characters left over, but that similarity came to my mind. Although Gilligans was a comedy, hence there were no conflicts, no one was trying to hit on Ginger, everyone was civil. : )
Wow, Jorge! I'm glad to see you really thought about this book and have a lot to share. I am going to read your post in its entirety when I finish the novel.
Mike wrote: I actually remember this same thing when I read it way back when. This often happens on any book to me actually. I recall stopping, going back and journaling on the side who was who for reference until I had it down in my head. Again actually, I do this automatically on every single book I read now.------------------
I make a character list, too. But for some reason I couldn't figure out who was who until I was 40 or so pages in.
It took me quite awhile to figure out who Norma was. Now I know she is 21 and likes Clark Gable. Steinbeck confused me when he noted she will look old before her time. I thought she was older. And for some reason I thought she might be Juan & Alice's daughter. But I now see she is just their employee.
I also was very confused by Ernest Horton. Perhaps because he isn't named until page 35. I was confusing him a bit with the Mr. Pritchard.
And for some reason, I think it is the names, I was confusing the mother & daughter of Pritchard. Mrs. Pritchard isn't given a name for a number of pages so this added to my confusion. I don't know why but I associate Mildred as an older women than Bernice name wise. I guess because I had an older aunt named Mildred. And Bernice I associate with some short story. I thought it was Bernese cuts her hair. Which was about a young girl. But I see no such story on Amazon.
Oh well, as you can see from this ridiculous post, I was confused !
Kudos to me for this nomination:-)! Gonna be a good one. I love the character pick-ums idea for a modern movie adaptation Sherry suggested.
I just started the book today. I always thought I was bad at remembering who was who, but I must be doing well this time because I know who norma is. I read two chapters and they are just starting to mention the bus passeners though, so maybe the confusion is on the way. :-) I know what you mean about Mildred sounding like an old person's name Alias!
We would think of Mildred being an old person's name now, but probably not that rare a name in that time period.
In my mind Mildred just seems older than Bernese. Both are old fashion, but like I said in my post it's the connection to my aunt and the short story that make me think one is a more mature name than the other.I think I am up to chapter 7 or so.
I finished the first chapter this morning. I loved getting (re)introduced to Norma the most. The Clark Gable fantasy was great. I liked the descriptions of Alice's intense hatred of flies and how she suspected all the young woman that had worked there would intentially let them fly in. I laughed in Norma's fantasy of Gable entering the place as the flies "flew in and out with impunity".
<>Alias, one of the things I really enjoy about compiling family history is the old names - It is hard for us to imagine a bitty baby name Beulah, or Hermine, or Mildred - but my list if full of such names. The setting of the story is about 1947, and I think names like Norma and Mildred were very common indeed.
My take on the women in Steinbeck in general, and The Wayward Bus in particular, is that he never has a very high opinion of them. They all seem slightly dim, often overly emotional and manipulative, much more than men. Alice with her preoccupation with sex with her husband, hatred of women who she sees are potential competitors, and drinking habit, is an example. The only exception that stand out for me is Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath. It's the one thing that makes me a little crazy about Steinbeck.
Sherry (sethurner) wrote: "My take on the women in Steinbeck in general..."That thought had never struck me about Steinbeck's depictions of women but I guess it's true for the most part. But I can think of some where this is not the case IMO. Off the top of my head there is the wife and mother in The Pearl, the mother in The Red Pony and a couple of different female characters in The Moon is Down.
Sherry (sethurner) wrote: ">Alias, one of the things I really enjoy about compiling family history is the old names - It is hard for us to imagine a bitty baby name Beulah, or Hermine, or Mildred - but my list if full of s..."
It's what was popular for the times, 60 years from now nursing homes will be filled with Brittanys, Madisons, Emmas, Emilys and Avas : D
I found many of the characters both male and female to be somewhat superficial. Appearances meant everything and the face you put to the world better be a good one or else you will be doomed to failure. I got the impression that perhaps Steinbeck was trying to make a commentary of the artificial nature that people sometimes exhibit. This book, IMO, had a very 1940's ish Hollywood type feel to it. I did not get the overwhelming feeling that Steinbeck was depicting women harshly, only that he was saying that looking into a mirror at your outer self does not reveal your inner core.
I'm still around chapter 7 and I have to say I don't care for Alice one bit.
I'm in the middle of Chap 5. So far, I am a bit disappointed. I read this book about 25 yrs ago and I loved it then. Not so much now. Perhaps it is another case of "You can never go home again." But maybe it will turn around for me. I am finding that the writing is as superficial as the characters. I agree with Marialyce about the superficiality of the characters. Surely there are more interesting things to say about Mr. Pritchard than to say he was no different from his comrades ("five hundred Mr. Pritchards were there with him"). It is the author's job to find those distinctions among us. It seems to be cliched and trite (and perhaps spiteful) that Steinbeck made Mr. Pritchard a victim of such generalities. There are people I don't care for, but it is not because I categorize them to be "effective clones" of others. Ultimately, it just doesn't ring very true to me. I find this to be true: The more you know about people, the more unique they become.
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Please read this post before you begin to post in this thread.
Author:
When: The discussion will begin on November 1, 2010. Though you may comment before that date. In addition, this thread will not be closed, so you can comment on the novel whenever you wish to.
Where: The monthly book discussion will take place in this thread.
Spoiler etiquette: The book has 22 chapters. Please list the chapter # at the top of your post. Also if giving away a major plot element, please put SPOILER WARNING at the top of your post.
The book is only around 260 pages, so if you really don't like to read spoilers you may want to read the book before reading this thread.
Book Details:
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Penguin Classics (March 28, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0142437875
Synopsis from the back jacket
As he set to work on this novel, Steinbeck wrote to his editor: "My bus is something large in my mind. It is a cosmic bus holding sparks and back firing into the Milky Way and turning the corner of Betelgeuse without a hand signal." Steinbeck's vision comes wonderfully to life in this imaginative and unsentimental chronicle of a bus traveling California's back roads, transporting the lost and the lonely, the good and the greedy, the stupid and the scheming, the beautiful and the vicious away form their shattered dreams and, possibly, toward the promise of the future.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wayw...
This wiki discusses the novel.
It does contain spoilers.
About the author:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ste...
Born: John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr.
February 27, 1902
Salinas, California
Died: December 20, 1968 (aged 66)
New York City, New York, United States
John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. (February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American writer. He wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath (1939) and East of Eden (1952) and the novella Of Mice and Men (1937). He wrote a total of twenty-seven books, including sixteen novels, six non-fiction books and five collections of short stories.
In 1962, Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Amazon Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Wayward-Bus-Pen...