Cannery Row by John Steinbeck Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Cannery Row
Book Review: A wonderful tale of the human spirit
Summary: 5 Stars
Grapes of Wrath might be Steinbeck's most recognized novel, but Cannery Row is his best by far; Its skim story - throwing a party for one of the characters - is just an excuse for Steinbeck to demonstrate his awesome power in creating and shaping such human, loveable characters. A must, for all reader.Book Review: A work of genius
Summary: 5 Stars
The clearest distillation of Steinbeck's greatness as a writerBook Review: Ahh...Flophouse Philosophy with a Jug of Old Tennis Shoes
Summary: 4 Stars
A little more than halfway through John Steinback's `Cannery Row', a biologist gives the following speech about a group of bums relaxing in the shade of a tree:"Look at them. There are your true philosophers...I think they survive in this particular world a lot better than other people. In a time when other people tear themselves to pieces with ambition and nervousness and covetousness, they are relaxed. All of our so-called successful men are sick men, with bad stomachs, and bad souls, but Mack and the boys are healthy and curiously clean. They can do what they want. They can satisfy their appetites without calling it something else."
...a manifesto that rings particularly poignant in this, the beginning of a new century, the riches and ruins of the `New World Order' .
In style the book resembles Steinback's earlier 'The Pastures of Heaven,' alternating between characters and situations to construct an overall glimpse of a working community--but the characters of 'Cannery Row' are less eccentric and the writing is more polished, and where in 'Pastures' Steinback sought to show the cracks and flaws within the small-town facade, the theme of this particular book is the true meaning of wealth.
Wealth is often confused with material possessions/excess, rather than spiritual and physical health. Thus we have a vast American middle-class working countless crushing hours to obtain that new SUV and thus gain the illusion of success--which, of course, keeps out economy 'growing' and the shareholders happy, not to mention the fastfood chains and the hospitals busy. Nor is this a new manifestation of public consciousness in the high-speed information era: Steinback undoubtedly saw it taking place in the steady urban sprawl of southern California, and wrote his reaction on the printed page.
The wealth Steinback champions in 'Cannery Row' are simple, subtle values: the respect of friendship, giving unconditionally, forgiveness, accepting others for who they are, enjoying what you have rather than fretting about what you do not, minimizing negative stress through selfless actions and negotiations...all 'shown' rather than 'told', the mark of real talent. I give 'Cannery Row' four stars because it is a bit on the light side, and not quite in the league of Steinback's five-star masterpieces (Grapes, Winter), but this is certainly a worthy read in and by itself.
Book Review: America, cooked and canned
Summary: 5 Stars
Open up this novel and you'll smell sardines. You'll hear the sweet sad music from Western Biological late at night, taste "Old Tennis Shoes" whiskey, see the rusting boilers on the vacant lot and feel, well you'll feel a part of the rich marine soup of Cannery Row. A dozen unforgettable characters, a wonderful setting and a story that doesn't seem to go anywhere but carries you along all the same.This is a novel about relationships. Of men with men, men with women, people relating to their environment and finding where they fit in the framework.
It's a small can of California, and you can open it again and again to tase the unique flavour. And, best of all, when you are done, Steinbeck has a dozen more short novels, every bit as rich and powerful as this one. Several share the same setting and characters.
Open it up and dive in!
Book Review: American Folklore at its Best
Summary: 5 Stars
Steinbeck has a way of telling a tale of thecomman man which breathes life into the mythos
which support our culture. America has long had
an affinity for the exploits of those who live
on it's fringes. The drifters, the con men, the
dreamers and searchers doomed to anonymity were
it not for the likes of authors such as Steinbeck.
This is a simple tale, but told so well it can be
read again and again...