Cannery Row

[My Friend Jack]

Thanks to a recommendation from someone on the Reading FC site, I read this book a few weeks ago. Most enjoyable, although not the sort of thing I would usually try. I mentioned it to a colleague recently, who said that one of Steinbeck's books (I can't remember which :confused: ) was her all-time favourite.

Anyway, this is certainly a refreshing change from my usual diet of sci-fi, fantasy and biogs!

[Harriet]

I haven't read this, but I've read 'Of Mice and Men', also by Steinbeck. I've also actually been to Cannery Row in Monterey California where Steinbeck lived, so sometime in the near future I want to read the book!

[Fred Ricketts]

The Grapes of Wrath opened my eyes to the Great American Novel and Steinbeck about 15 years ago. After TGOW I worked my way through all his novels and ended up feeling bitter and twisted that we hadn't been pointed in his direction at school. Coming from a farming background (dad, grandad & before), I related more to Tom Joad and his family than any English middle-class/boarding school tosh I'd read up to that point. Read them all - you won't be disappointed.

This has been my maiden post. Hi everyone.

[Mad Dog and Glory]

Welcome aboard, Fred!

I'm completely with you about The Grapes Of Wrath, except that I was lucky enough to read it in my teens. It had a huge influence on me, and is one of the most remarkable novels of the century.

As a result, I wanted to read everything else Steinbeck wrote. Like many others, I read Of Mice And Men first. Cannery Row takes a clear second place in my affections to The Grapes Of Wrath. I absolutely loved it, as a teenager, and read it voraciously. I wonder how I would react now.

Interestingly, my father, in his 70s, discovered Steinbeck for the first time last year, and read virtually everything he wrote in turn. So it's never too late.

[Fred Ricketts]

Slightly off topic, but something that I often wonder about, MD. Are you likely to re-read Steinbeck's novels? I'm 42 in a couple of weeks and I read about 30 books a year. Even if if I've loved a book and it has had an affect on me, I won't read it again. I can't do it. Do any BG posters re-read books?

Any older posters remember a cartoon character from (I think) the early 70's who used to hold a mouse in his hand too tightly and then moan, 'Once I had a little friend but he don't move no more!'? When I read 'Of Mice & Men' and the character (Lenny?) did the same thing I realised just how far Steinbeck had reached into popular culture. Or have I got it wrong?

[Mad Dog and Glory]

Slightly off topic, but something that I often wonder about, MD. Are you likely to re-read Steinbeck's novels? I'm 42 in a couple of weeks and I read about 30 books a year. Even if if I've loved a book and it has had an affect on me, I won't read it again. I can't do it. Do any BG posters re-read books?

This very topic was discussed here: http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showthread.html?t=33&page=1&pp=15. You'll see that this board is divided on the issue.

I read TGOW a couple of times when I was young, but I haven't re-read a book for years, so the answer is probably no.

[Tess]

The Grapes of Wrath is one of my favourite novels and I was considering re-reading it recently. However I recently purchased a set of 8 Steinbeck novels (for £7!) so I shall probably work my way through those instead. The set includes Cannery Row so I may start with that.

The Grapes of Wrath opened my eyes to the Great American Novel and Steinbeck about 15 years ago. After TGOW I worked my way through all his novels and ended up feeling bitter and twisted that we hadn't been pointed in his direction at school. Coming from a farming background (dad, grandad & before), I related more to Tom Joad and his family than any English middle-class/boarding school tosh I'd read up to that point. Read them all - you won't be disappointed.


The Joads are some of my favourite characters, their determination and spirit makes them truly memorable and I genuinely missed them when I had finished the book.

[belinda]

Go for it and read it again. I've read it in total about three times now and each time I get something out of it again.

My husband has a bit of a thing about my book collection and the rule now is for every bag of books that comes into the house an equal number must go out. The Steinbeck six inches had remained intact throughout all purges.

[Tia]

I agree with the general consensus that Grapes of Wrath is one of the best. I'm surprised no one has mentioned East of Eden! (I'd say it's way better than Cannery Row at least.) I really like Steinbeck... but just in case you come across Travels With Charley, be warned: his fiction is way better than his non-fiction!

P.S. This is my first post. It's so exciting...he...he... Is there a place in these forums for new people to introduce themselves?

[Bill]

Yes, Tia. In the Discussion Point at the top of the front page. There's a sticky thread called Please Introduce Youself! and we'd love you to contribute to it.

Here's a direct link: http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showthread.html?t=727

[Tess]

I agree with the general consensus that Grapes of Wrath is one of the best. I'm surprised no one has mentioned East of Eden! (I'd say it's way better than Cannery Row at least.)

East of Eden is a fatastic novel, Steinbeck is an absolute master of character portrayal and I was enthralled by the intertwining stories of all the different personalities in the book.

[willow]

Hi

Until recently I taught in Special Needs (Learning Difficulties coupled with Emotional and Behavioural problems). I taught mostly disaffected 15 - 16 year old boys and 'Of Mice and Men' was a surefire winner. Due to their reading ability I read most of it with some of the better readers helping out and this took a good 6 weeks. We finished with a showing of the film.

The students could totally identify with the characters and loved the story. I think this actually earmarks Steinbeck as a GREAT writer - his universality. He deals with human problems that are still relevant today.

I have read TGOW as I lived in Oklahoma for a year. I haven't read 'Cannery Row' but am now inspired to do so.

Willow

[Cathy]

Am I the only person in the world who didn't like Grapes of Wrath but loved everything else? I think it was the general misery of it that got to me, all that dust, and all they eat is dough! And I didn't even know what dough meant but it sounded horrible. And horrible slow deaths... I guess that was kind of the point of it. I love East of Eden though, and Of Mice and Men and Cannery Row, and the sequel which I think is called 'Sweet Thursday'. It took me about 6 months to get to the end of Travels with Charley, and I don't know why I perservered that long. And now I'm plodding my way through Villette. By the way, if you can think of a reason I should continue with Villette, let me know on the pre-1900 board!!! ;)

[My Friend Jack]

I read OMAM a couple of weeks ago. Thoroughly enjoyed it - that's of his I've read. Will certainly move onto TGOW and EOE before long.

[Emily]

I just finished East of Eden last week and I absolutely loved it, maybe even more than Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. I think what I like most about Steinbeck is the fact that he wasn't afraid to tackle really big issues and themes, such as the Depression and the huge Biblical background that he explores in East of Eden.
What someone said earlier about re-reading books, how can you not?!?! I've got a certain set of books that I read again and again because I love them so much, but also if you've read a book a few years (or decades!) ago, then you might find you have a totally different response to it now than you did then - you might hate something you loved, love something you hated, or just find something else in the book. Although it's always exciting to discover a new book you like, you're missing out if you forget the old ones.

[crussell216]

I finished reading 'Cannery Row' during a recent stay in hospital. Having only read 'Of Mice and Men' and parts of 'The Grapes of Wrath' I'm still a Steinbeck virgin I suppose, but what I have read I have enjoyed extremely. One point of 'Cannery Row' I chuckled at was when Doc was driving to collect octupi from the coast and discussed hitchhikers from the driver's point of view (the business man who critisises Doc's drinking at the wheel). In 'On the Road' Kerouac discusses hitchhiking from the hitchers point of view ('make them feel like they didn't make a mistake picking you up'). I was quite amused by the two writers opposite perspectives with regard to hitchhikers in America. 'Cannery Row' was terrific and I felt a tremendous warmth from the comradeship and togetherness of this small rural American community.