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 reader that the tragedy that often is the reality of life is always lurking somewhere in the background. Despite some of the gloomy chapters, Steinbeck does an excellent job of creating memorable characters who move through their lives in a laid back manner that reflects the character of Cannery Row itself. In fact, the town of Cannery Row becomes as much a character in the novel as Doc. Mr. Lee, or Mac and the boys. By having the fickle moods of Cannery Row change as portrayed by the weather and scenery Steinbeck uses the living element of the town to move the reader through the story. I highly recommend this novel.

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 leading to the next to put together the tale, and what a tale it is. It hangs on to a thread of realism and captures a greater sense of what it is to be human, the interrelatedness of a community, despair, and hope, magnifying all of humanity within a microcosm of Cannery Row. Again, there is a characteristic band of Monterey merry men, but this time there is the offset of people with jobs and responsibilities. Doc, who is based on Steinbeck's great friend Edward Ricketts, leader of the Oceanic Biological Institute, is an endearing character. Steinbeck paints a portrait of someone you would want to meet, instantly respect, and be lifelong acquaintances. There is a strong sense of familiarity here.Chapter 2 is some of the finest writing I've come across. A beautiful two-page poem. "Mack and the boys, spinning in their orbits. They are the Virtues, the Graces, the Beauties of the hurried mangled craziness of Monterey and the cosmic Monterey where men in fear and hunger destroy their stomachs in the fight to secure certain food, where men hungering for love destroy everything lovable about them."Truly elevated writing with a sense of melancholy that presents itself as part of life, hanging in the balance with the parties, grocery stores, tidal pools, whorehouses. Great book. Now on to Tom Joad.

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 Monterey. From Doc, the owner of Western Biological, to Lee Chong, the owner of the grocery store. The only problem is that things often go wrong for Mack and his boys. Lee is wary every time one comes in the store, and Doc knows something is up every time Mack comes by asking if he's got any specimen orders to be filled. Throughout the book, the crew runs into problems but somehow for better or worse they get through it. A wonderful book about the simpleness of the poor life. A well written book with a good steady plot that lets you hear the Chinese man and his wet shoes go squishing by every morning, see the tall cannery buildings and smell the salty ocean air. John Steinbeck has yet another great book that brings you into Monterey and love the characters, even if you don't want too.