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Here is where you can start your discussion :)

Thanks so much, Robbie!

Nice! Now I just have to find time to squeeze this one in. But it's a must read for the Steinbeck canon. sigh. I need another set of eyes...

Meghan wrote: "Nice! Now I just have to find time to squeeze this one in. But it's a must read for the Steinbeck canon. sigh. I need another set of eyes..."

I really wish that you could join us. It's supposed to be one of his best, which amazes me, since I had thought that I had already read all of his best :)

Yeah, everything I've heard said this is the book that rather defines Steinbeck. I think it's because he captures the history of this region so precisely.

I'll admit I struggled with Tortilla Flat. I much prefer his writing style in his novels than in his novelas/short stories. But since I so loved Winter, I'm willing to give it a second chance.

I'll try to pop in. I don't even know if I own it?!

A great prologue, Steinbeck says that the best way to write the book is to open the pages and let the stories crawl in. A very eclectic group of individuals and circumstances. I think I like Hazel best right now.

I thought that the prologue was great, too. As a reader, I felt that I just settled right in to see what would unfold.

Once again, I am amazed with how much description Steinbeck fits into his sentences. However, I don't think the writing in CR is as dense as in The Winter of Our Discontent, which I recently read with some GR friends. It is interesting to see how his writing had matured.

I am not as far in as you, Michelle, so I don't know Hazel yet, but if you like her character, it's likely that I will, too, since we have similar tastes in a number of ways.

What do you think of Lee Chong? I find him to be savvy about how the world works and pragmatic, too. He seems to be a decent person, but it's still early.

I've only read a few chapters, but I am already into the mood of the story and the setting is very vivid to me.

Steinbeck is my favorite author so I may come off as biased at times :)

Meghan wrote: "Yeah, everything I've heard said this is the book that rather defines Steinbeck. I think it's because he captures the history of this region so precisely.

I'll admit I struggled with Tortilla Flat..."

Yes, swing by if you have time. There's likely to be lots of spoilers though. It's a short read so maybe you can squeeze it in at some point and give us your thoughts.

Did you know that there is a sequel to this called Sweet Thursday?

I've heard of the book but didn't know it was a sequel. I will definitely get to it, although it will be a little bit. But it is short so maybe it won't take too long for me to catch up!

I'm not that far in but intend to hit it hard tomorrow. Join in whenever you can. It moves very quickly, too.

Sera wrote: "I thought that the prologue was great, too. As a reader, I felt that I just settled right in to see what would unfold.

Once again, I am amazed with how much description Steinbeck fits into his se..."
Yes, it reminds me so much of Dickens. Lots of rich detail.

As an aside, sorry for the delay in responding. I didn't receive a notification, which I usually get for all my groups. Really strange.

Sera wrote: "I am not as far in as you, Michelle, so I don't know Hazel yet, but if you like her character, it's likely that I will, too, since we have similar tastes in a number of ways.

What do you think of ..." Steinbeck is a favorite of mine as well. Lee Chong is savvy and smart, especially with the guys and their proposed "arrangements". Better to accept what you have to...

I was really curious about Cannery Row, the lab and Doc, and found this interesting write-up

Ack, I'm still on Chapter 4. I've been unable to read the last two nights but I should be able to catch up now.

No worries on the timeliness of the response. I wasn't getting notices either. I saw that my "email me when people reply" box wasn't checked so maybe you have the same issue.

I never thought about the Dickens and Steinbeck comparison that you made. Dickens is another one of my favorites, and I think that the two are both heavy on details when they wrote, but in a good way. You've given me something to think about here.

MichelleCH wrote: "Sera wrote: "I am not as far in as you, Michelle, so I don't know Hazel yet, but if you like her character, it's likely that I will, too, since we have similar tastes in a number of ways.

What do ..."

I've started back up with this and should be able to plow through it this weekend.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Ed Ricketts - how fascinating! The picture of the lab is just how I had visualized it and Cannery Row, too.

I'm curious to see where this one is headed. Steinbeck likes to set everything up before getting into what the story is about. Thus far, I'm finding the journey to get there to be very enjoyable.

It is really interesting reading this right after Daughter of Fortune which is set during the California gold rush. Lots of parallels- I have been making some notes as I read and will comment more. Right now, I have limited Internet connectivity :(

I'm at page 76 and enjoying it so much. Steinbeck rocks!

Looking forward to getting the parallels with DAF. I may have that book somewhere. I'll have to check.

DAF took place in California during the goldrush and the heroine travels all up and down the coast. The development of towns and industries was in its prime, interesting to see in Cannery Row the decline and poverty of the area.

Hazel is a compelling character to me and I think that Steinbeck is so talented at using descriptors- I can completely picture him. I love where he describes Hazel's mind as being like wandering alone in a deserted museum.

I also like Mack's ways and dealings, it takes more energy and effort to manipulate people and situations than to work! I laughed out loud when he said that it was a mistake to think that Doc was celebrate, rather than celibate.

And what's with the couple living in the old boiler!

What I love about this book is how many interesting characters that there are and how Steinbeck portrays each of them in unique ways.

Mack, Hazel and the gang are so funny, because some of them have real skills and yet, yes, they try to avoid work at all costs. Mack and his friend who is great at fixing cars (Gay?), at least, could be real successful if they put their minds to it. I love the story about how he was able to get the old truck up and running.

I really liked that the old truck has its story in the book. It's true that things like cars and houses have their own history, but again, Steinbeck is unique in how presented the story of the truck in the book. The truck becomes like its own character.

The couple living in the old boiler is hilarious. The poor woman wants to hang curtains, but they have no windows - oy.

It's it interesting as to how many people in the story make a home in the most unexpected of places?

Yes a boiler and The Palace, so ironically named - I hadn't thought about it, but I agree the truck is like another character, cranky and old but still workable!

It was Gay....and what an adventure with the truck, the man with a gun, the mama dog with the tick and the frogs. Only Steinbeck could put all those together. And poor Gay, always getting beaten by his wife.

Doc seems to be the constant and steady presence for everyone; the one and only person who is completely trusted in their community. He isn't perfect however and seems to drink quite a bit, as the story progresses, glimpses of his flaws seem to pop out here and there.

What do you think about the dead girl in the reef Doc found? Foreshadowing around the disastrous party and tough times to come?

I just read about the body in the reef, which is where I left off. I am hoping to finish it today.

Doc is great but the alcohol does seem to be a problem, and he is also a womanizer. Mack and the gang think that Doc is lonely and they are probably right. Doc is such a likeable character. He is a kind man and a real bedrock to the community.

I loved the whole frog adventure. You are correct in how many authors wouldn't be able to pull it off.

I'm still not getting alerts when you post. I've been reading that GR has been buggy lately. It has to be a difficult site to run.

Hmmm, perhaps something to report?

It is a little buggy and makes me nervous because I interact a lot, I wouldn't want to miss someone's posting or comment. It's funny because I do get notifications from discussions that I participated in months back. Bugs and all, I still love GR.

No, nothing to report. Of course, once I mentioned it here, I received notice of your last post.

I finished the book yesterday and loved it.

Let me know once you're finished.

By the way, I have a horrible crush on Doc. It was unclear but he sounds like he was a hottie, too.

Meghan wrote: "Yeah, everything I've heard said this is the book that rather defines Steinbeck. I think it's because he captures the history of this region so precisely.

I'll admit I struggled with Tortilla Flat..." Maybe another Steinbeck buddy read? I am also ready for more!

Sera wrote: "I thought that the prologue was great, too. As a reader, I felt that I just settled right in to see what would unfold.

Once again, I am amazed with how much description Steinbeck fits into his se..."
I have added
The Winter of Our Discontent, hopefully to read this year...

Maybe Sweet Thursday in September? If so, it will be my 3rd JS this year.

If other folks want to join in, we can pick something different - maybe , which is a collection of short stories. I'm open - love this guy.

MichelleCH wrote: "Sera wrote: "I thought that the prologue was great, too. As a reader, I felt that I just settled right in to see what would unfold.

Once again, I am amazed with how much description Steinbeck fit..."

Good call - it's his final work.

Sera wrote: "No, nothing to report. Of course, once I mentioned it here, I received notice of your last post.

I finished the book yesterday and loved it." Finished it too, and yes Doc is something else, he's smart and so good to everyone, with refined tastes to boot.

Another side observation, in
Daughter of Fortune the brothel ladies also helped out when the town was hit hard by a sickness. It made me wonder if this was common theme in reality or with writers.
..so glad we read together and could bounce ideas back and forth.

Sera wrote: "Maybe Sweet Thursday in September? If so, it will be my 3rd JS this year.

If other folks want to join in, we can pick something different - maybe , which is a co..."
Sounds great!

Have you finished the book? If not, don't keep reading...







So what's the deal of no follow-up on the dead body? What was the purpose of that find? I have no idea.

I thought that the second party was great. I loved the gifts that the people gave Doc, especially the beautiful quilt. Again, Doc is such the good guy by buying booze and food, getting into a fight and letting folks trash the place.

Yes finished...the dead body was odd. I was expecting Doc to report it, creepy too. That was some party! I loved that it all came together in the end.

I'm wondering if the sequel ties into the body somehow. It will be interesting to see.

Agree!

I read this last spring, and I had never read anything by Steinbeck before. While I wouldn't want to get to know these characters I enjoyed being in their world. I especially loved the frog hunt. The details made you feel like you were really there.

Steinbeck is the master of description. I would have loved to have met Doc. But then I probably would have developed a crush a him and he would have broken my heart thereafter.

I remember in our discussion on it one member said it was so gritty you could taste it. Doc was really the only upstanding character in the novel. However, Mac did make me laugh. My favorite part had to be the frog hunting.