Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Tortilla Flat
Book Review: Classic Steinbeck
Summary: 5 Stars
"Tortilla Flat" tells the story of a group of friends who spend their time drinking wine and doing little else - except for thieving, cavorting with various women, and occasionally fighting with each other. Yet through all of these adventures, and some mishaps, they remain the truest of friends. They have formed a bond that even their conflicting desires and greedy natures cannot break.After returning from WWI, Danny (the main character and leader of the gang) finds himself an heir to two houses from his grandfather. His friends quickly take up residence in first one house and then in Danny's house. They look out for each other, these six grown men, who vacilate from wisdom to foolishness, and bcome better men for having such friends.
As usual, Steinbeck's prose is at times sparse, at other times poetic. His characters are vividly drawn, and their sometimes larger-than-life antics are alive. "Tortilla Flat" may be hard to get into at the beginning of the novel, but once you've entered their world, you won't want to leave it.
Book Review: Didn't identify with these guys
Summary: 3 Stars
I've read a lot of Steinbeck this year, and though his command for the language is wonderful even if he were writing a clothing catalogue, I didn't understand why these people were so "cool." It was like Cannery Row but with an ending that suited them.Book Review: Energizing and spirited life of the Monterey paisanos
Summary: 5 Stars
Tortilla Flat is the lively tale of Danny, a down on his luck paisano in the slums off Monterey, and a cadre of housemates that join him after he inherits his grandfather's property.
The novel operates in short story fashion, covering a sequence of their misadventures as the band grows. Despite a willingness to backstab each other for a jug of wine, you are drawn in to their fraternity, and cheer them on as the search for windmills to fight. Although not as explicit as Cervantes, the mock gallantry in the face of adversity makes for an endearing tale.
Although cited as a lesser work of Steinbeck's, it was certainly solid enough to keep me coming back for more.
Book Review: Entertaining... at first
Summary: 3 Stars
I read about half of this book and just could not keep enough interest to finish it. While the writing is wonderful, there is just not much development of the story. Halfway through the book we have the same characters in the same place doing the same things. I suppose that's a theme of the story itself, but it was just a little too hopeless for my taste. If you want vintage Steinbeck, read 'The Grapes of Wrath.'Book Review: Equal parts tedium, humor and sterotype
Summary: 3 Stars
For someone who allegedly spent a measurable amount of time with the Paisanos of this story, you'd think Steinbeck would do more about developing them as characters. The one-dimensional qualities of Danny and his crew ("We get drunk! We pine over women! We chase them!") gets kind of tired and though there are funny moments in the book, even those moments become cliched and border on cultural sterotype. Around twenty pages in, take note of a trend. Paisanos get money... they get drunk.... they get money.... they get drunk. To be fair, there is something positive to be said about the Paisanos in their comraderie, solid sense of right and wrong, their good humor about life. Steinbeck's prevailing image of this cultural group during the early part of the 20th century, however, is one of a motley bunch of do-nothings bent on getting drunk at any opportunity. If you like reading about a bunch of happy-go-lucky drunk Mexican immigrants and want a laugh or two, this is your book.