John Steinbeck

Kenshi

I am currently reading Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" and I think it is excellent. I have also read "Of Mice and Men" and "The Pearl" After "The Grapes of Wrath" I will read "East of Eden". What else do you recommend I read by Steinbeck. Should I go for the lot? What is particularily bad,if any?

echomadman

Read the lot tbh, although Cannery Row was always one of my favourites.
I read all his books in the library when i was on the dole.

fjon

Cannery Row, Tortilla Flat and Sweet Thursday (or is it Tuesday?) are my favourites. They're all very similar. It's all good! East of Eden is a long read, but worth it. Never finished Grapes of Wrath - I wasn't in the mood for such a depressing book when I was readin it. Must pick it up again!
I found 10 of his books for €20 on www.thebookpeople.ie Might be worth checking out if they still have them...

Kenshi

What's your favourite book? Is east of eden any good?

Scarinae

I've only read 'Of Mice and Men' and 'The Pearl', I'm told that 'The Grapes of Wrath' is very good if you can cope with the depressing outlook!

RuggieBear

red pony is good

joolsveer

Read everything you can get by Steinbeck he's excellent!

defiantshrimp

Kenshi wrote:

What's your favourite book? Is east of eden any good?

“East of Eden” is my favourite Steinbeck novel for certain and probably the best novel I have read. It is truly excellent! I cannot recommend it enough. You should definitely read it. “Grapes of Wrath” is also a brilliant novel and you should try reading it too. But given a choice between the two I would pick “East of Eden”.

doctor evil

I`ve read Of Mice and Men (did it for leaving and junior cert) and East of Eden. I quite liked the latter even though I found it hard to get into for some strange reason. I thougt the film adaption of Of Mice and Men was very faithful to the book and well performed.

Are his other books good?, what would peeps recommend.

Kenshi

defiantshrimp wrote:

“East of Eden” is my favourite Steinbeck novel for certain and probably the best novel I have read. It is truly excellent! I cannot recommend it enough. You should definitely read it. “Grapes of Wrath” is also a brilliant novel and you should try reading it too. But given a choice between the two I would pick “East of Eden”.

I am currently about 130 pages into "The Grapes of Wrath" out of 400 and it is indeed excellent. I have a brand new copy of "East of Eden" on my shelf saying "read me" and I intend to do so after "The Grapes of Wrath. I also want to read "Cannery Row" and "Tortilla Flat". Have any of you read either of these or "The Wayward Bus"?

OY

defiantshrimp wrote:

“East of Eden” is my favourite Steinbeck novel for certain and probably the best novel I have read. It is truly excellent! I cannot recommend it enough. You should definitely read it. “Grapes of Wrath” is also a brilliant novel and you should try reading it too. But given a choice between the two I would pick “East of Eden”.

Absolutely agree. I read East of Eden before any of his other work and it blew my mind. It is an amazing book that managed to make me really care about its characters and their situations.

Also 'Sweet thursday' is a great great read. Really made me smile.

I do not rate TGOW all that much. It was a good book but not my favorite by any stretch of the imagination.

Read East of Eden please...

boidey

Read all of it if you can, The wayward bus and The winter of our discontent are from quite late in his careeer and both overlooked imo, that said cannery row, tortilla flats, of mice and men are all indispensable reading.
His non fiction writing should also be read, The Log from the sea of cortez has some great characters. Once there was a war is a brilliant collection of newspaper articles written in ww2.

Kenshi

I didn't realise there was any no fiction!

Amazotheamazing

Loved "Once there was a war" and "Travels with Charley" both non-fiction. "The Moon is Down" is great too, but is more of a play really. The Pearl has one of my all time favourite lines, "She loved him because he was a man, half God and half insane". Well worth reading all of the above, IMO

THEZAPPA

loved'once there was a war'

Sleepy

Read 'Of Mice and Men' and 'The Pearl' and tbh, I've never gotten why Steinbeck was so hyped. A plodding, predictable writer with stereotyped characters and little to redeem him imho.

Custom22

Sleepy wrote:

Read 'Of Mice and Men' and 'The Pearl' and tbh, I've never gotten why Steinbeck was so hyped. A plodding, predictable writer with stereotyped characters and little to redeem him imho.

I have read quite a few Steinbeck novels now and I disagree. He is celbrated because he is simply one of america's finest modern Novel writers. There are not many writers that can, with such conciseness, describe happenings and characters in such a human and fully believable way. His characterisation in "The winter of our discontent" I found to be a great example of this skill. Once again in "Of Mice and Men" he somehow manages, in ninety pages or so, to create such depth. He confronts us with moral dillema. He is always engaging to read. He cuts out the unnecessary and gives us what matters most. If you are a fan of flowery writing then steer clear perhaps however, you will miss out on so much.

In terms of his books plodding, I never felt this. The same applies to predictability.

*The Pearl was an adaptation of a Mexican Folk tale. Like many folk tales, it could be viewed as being predictable I suppose. However, thats not really the point of the book. Its not about the plot advancing in my opinion. Its more of a study of man really.

boidey

Sleepy wrote:

A plodding, predictable writer with stereotyped characters and little to redeem him imho.

That would explain the Nobel Prize then. From the Nobel citation, "realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humour and keen social perception"
Read this

Now if you were to say that about, say the likes of fredrick forsyth, ye wouldn't here a peek from me.

carpocrates

Trawl through any of the dross currently populated waterstones shelves and then turn to read the grapes of wrath and you'll be instantly illuminated as to why Steinbeck is a first rate writer. (although now i think of it if you consider people like Chekov, Dante and Dostoevsky first rate that would make steinbeck second rate, which is probably right but sounds really insulting...) His characters and sitautions are perhaps felt to be a little plodding and predictable because they've been ripped off so many times since. Everything in both of the above books is steeped in Christian symbolism essential to understand steinbeck, who was an intensly spiritual man in all kinds of unexpected ways for someone who rarely mentions spiritualism. Alongside this the grapes of wrath communicates a humanism and even socialism whihc was both brave and insightful. More than anything you get the feeling from him that he believed what he wrote and even lived it. This is a rare thing in artists.

Sleepy

There was a reason I added 'imho' to the end of my post

I realise I'm in the minority in my disdain for Steinbeck. Was just curious to see was I alone!

I just found his books to be incredibly over-simplistic. Most of his characters seemed very one-dimensional to me. Either good, stupid, mean, smart etc. I felt his stuff lacked the complexity of real life.

Then again, it could have just been all that Christian symbolism that put me off!

Custom22

Sleepy wrote:

I just found his books to be incredibly over-simplistic. Most of his characters seemed very one-dimensional to me. Either good, stupid, mean, smart etc. I felt his stuff lacked the complexity of real life.

I think I understand you. His books are simplistic in the traditional meaning of the word. The writing is at least. The characters do embody some very basic human traits as well. But this does not mean that they are simply one dimensional. I think that he strove for this "simplicity" to be honest. It makes it easier to communicate the story. This is not true for all of his work. For instance, "The Winter of Our Discontent" while still undeniably "Steinbeck", is nevertheless quite complex. His charaterisation may be simplistic (there's that word again) but it is never basic.

I think that if you do not like "Of Mice and Men" then you pretty much don't like Steinbeck full stop. Maybe try read it again if you are arsed. Even just to see if you "get" what all the acclaim is about... sorry, I could'nt think of a better way to put it.

impr0v

echomadman wrote:

Read the lot tbh, although Cannery Row was always one of my favourites.
I read all his books in the library when i was on the dole.

You really should be reading Bukowski when you're on the dole!

chump

I wouldn't be a huge reader, but I've read quite a few of Steinbecks books, and he is definetely my favourite author. I particularly liked East of Eden, you feel lost though when it's finished!

the dice man

Sleepy wrote:

I just found his books to be incredibly over-simplistic. Most of his characters seemed very one-dimensional to me. Either good, stupid, mean, smart etc. I felt his stuff lacked the complexity of real life.

Then again, it could have just been all that Christian symbolism that put me off!

in his shorter books the characters are pretty simplistic as there isn't a need to expand apon them. would the message from of mouse and men for example be enhanced with another 400 hundred pages and more complex characters?

steinbeck is definitly one of my favourite american authors. there's very few authors who can completely finish a story as perfectly as he can

Setun

Cannery Row was incredible, was sad to finish it though because you get caught up in the story and with the characters. A great book, well worth a read.

Kenshi

I've now read "of mice and men, GOW and the pearl. GOW was ok. I thought it was a bit boring though. I'm amazed I finished it actually!

Reaver772

His short stories are brilliant but the longer books aren't as good imho

BLITZ_Molloy

East of Eden is my favourite book of all time.

Can't say I like all of his stories though. Always hated The Pearl. And I don't know how I got through Log from the Sea of Cortez.

obj99

Would agree with most of what's said above and highly recommend East of Eden. Steinbecks a superb writer although I have to say I didnt enjoy The grapes of wrath half as much.

Psychedelic

I know it's an old thread but John Steinbeck is the king of literature and fans of his will enjoy this, a nice letter he wrote to his son on the subject of love:

In November of 1958, John Steinbeck — the renowned author of, most notably, The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, and Of Mice and Men — received a letter from his eldest son, Thom, who was attending boarding school. In it, the teenager spoke of Susan, a young girl with whom he believed he had fallen in love.

Steinbeck replied the same day. His beautiful letter of advice can be enjoyed below.

New York
November 10, 1958

Dear Thom:

We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.

First—if you are in love—that’s a good thing—that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second—There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you—of kindness and consideration and respect—not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.

You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply—of course it isn’t puppy love.

But I don’t think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it—and that I can tell you.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

If you love someone—there is no possible harm in saying so—only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.

Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.

It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another—but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.

Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I’m glad you have it.

We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.

And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens—The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Love,

Fa

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/01/nothing-good-gets-away.html

WoundedRhino

The Grapes Of Wrath is one of my two favourite books, I've actually only ever read one other of Steinbeck's, Of Mice And Men, I really enjoyed that too so definitely need to read a few more of his.

Grievous

WoundedRhino wrote: »

The Grapes Of Wrath is one of my two favourite books, I've actually only ever read one other of Steinbeck's, Of Mice And Men, I really enjoyed that too so definitely need to read a few more of his.

Cannery Row, The Pearl and Tortilla Flat are all excellent.

Cannery Row has a great mythic feel to it and the characters are wonderfully drawn.

mickoregan

I love all of Steinbecks work. His masterpiece I feel is East of Eden.

The Pastures of Heaven is an oft overlooked gem.

To a God Unknown is one of my all-time favourite books.

Incidentally, though thoroughly deserved IMO, I think the Nobel was more by way of an apology from the literary establishment who had to a large extent denigrated his work over the years.

robbie7171

Kenshi wrote: »

I am currently about 130 pages into "The Grapes of Wrath" out of 400 and it is indeed excellent. I have a brand new copy of "East of Eden" on my shelf saying "read me" and I intend to do so after "The Grapes of Wrath. I also want to read "Cannery Row" and "Tortilla Flat". Have any of you read either of these or "The Wayward Bus"?

The grapes of wrath is a monster, but well worth the effort. Tortilla Flat is my favourite of Steinbecks....

Grievous

The Grapes Of Wrath is great.

How about that ending? A great kick in the gut and even though you think you would want a different ending, you know the author's ending is the most fitting.

Queen-Mise

I love Cannery Row - absolutely fell in love with it. I think it was the first Steinbeck book I read. Read a few others, can't remember now. Might read them again.

That letter was brilliant...

Grievous

Cannery Row is a charming piece of work. Like most of Steinbeck's work, it has a mythic quality to it.

crybaby

Love his books have always had a soft spot for Cannery Row.

Only just discovered he wrote a sequel to it called Sweet Thursday. Must read Cannery Row again and then the sequel.

Queen-Mise

crybaby wrote: »

Love his books have always had a soft spot for Cannery Row.

Only just discovered he wrote a sequel to it called Sweet Thursday. Must read Cannery Row again and then the sequel.

I read Sweet Thursday. As far as I can remember it didn't have the magic of Cannery Row - still readable though as any Steinbeck book is.

Psychedelic

Grievous wrote: »

The Grapes Of Wrath is great.

How about that ending? A great kick in the gut and even though you think you would want a different ending, you know the author's ending is the most fitting.

Oh that ending blew the head off me when I read it, almost brought me to tears, the only book that has ever done that. Very shocking, poignant and haunting moment but also one of hope and belief in the human spirit.