Cannery Row

Cannery Row is Steinbeck at his best. It is a great example of Steinbeck's humorous side as well as some sad commentary on the state of mankind. Freddy's fate, the drowned girl, and the chapter in which the boy makes fun of friend's father committing suicide make it clear that Steinbeck is trying to do more than just write a feel good novel for his readers recovering from WWII. Steinbeck seems to want to make clear to the... Read Full Review

I was pretty much blown away by this book. Unfortunately, I'm coming late to discovering Steinbeck. I read "Travels With Charley" early on and more recently "Tortilla Flat." Of his fictional works "Cannery Row" has far been my favorite to date.From "Tortilla Flat" Steinbeck has come a long way. "Cannery Row" is more cohesive of the two; it's storyline being more linear. It still reads like a series of vignettes but each... Read Full Review

John Steinbeck strikes again! First in The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men and now in Cannery Row. Living among the sardine canneries of Monterey, California, are Mack, Hazel, Eddie, Hughie, and Jones. Young men with no jobs and nothing to do, just hanging out by the sea, chipping in their two cents. They aren't bad just haven't got a thing to worry about or do. As a result they are always doing things for the people of... Read Full Review