
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck is a novel that delves into the lives of the overlooked working-class individuals residing near the fish canneries in Monterey, California. The book presents a series of character studies set in a poor section of Monterey during the Great Depression, focusing on a marine biologist named Doc and his eclectic group of friends, including unemployed men led by Mack, women from a local bordello, a Chinese storekeeper, and various other inhabitants of Cannery Row. Through vivid descriptions and insightful storytelling, Steinbeck portrays the joy and sorrow, hope and despair that lurk beneath the surface of the impoverished characters' lives, creating a beautiful narrative that captures the essence of life amidst hardship.
The writing style of Cannery Row has been praised for its ability to transport readers to the setting of Cannery Row through detailed word portraits of the characters and the environment. Steinbeck's masterful use of language, imagery, and humor brings the community to life, offering a kaleidoscopic view of Monterey in the late thirties and early forties. Despite the seemingly mundane plot, the book is celebrated for its poignant portrayal of genuine characters facing challenges, tender moments, and the formation of a unique neighborhood bound together by kindness and nonjudgmental affection.
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From The Publisher:
Steinbeck's tough yet charming portrait of people on the margins of society, dependant on one another for both physical and emotional survival
Published in 1945, Cannery Row focuses on the acceptance of life as it is: both the exuberance of community and the loneliness of the individual. Drawing on his memories of the real inhabitants of Monterey, California, including longtime friend Ed Ricketts, Steinbeck interweaves the stories of Doc, Dora, Mack and his boys, Lee Chong, and the other characters in this world where only the fittest survive, to create a novel that is at once one of his most humorous and poignant works. In her introduction, Susan Shillinglaw shows how the novel expresses, both in style and theme, much that is essentially Steinbeck: "Scientific detachment, empathy toward the lonely and depressed . . . and, at the darkest level . . . the terror of isolation and nothingness."
Ratings (46)
Incredible (10) | |
Loved It (16) | |
Liked It (16) | |
It Was OK (2) | |
Did Not Like (2) |
Reader Stats (91):
Read It (47) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (35) | |
Not Interested (8) |
3 comment(s)
I first read it in 2019 and at that time I only gave it 3 stars. I'm glad I decided to give it another go as I enjoyed it a lot more then I did then. 4 or 4.5 stars can't decide yet. John Steinbeck was very talented with his pen both how he wrote and the characters and flow of the story. Read a few of his works but far from everything. Need to start reading more of his works sooner rather then later.
confusing
One of the book clubs I belong to chose
Cannery Row for this month. Although I had previously read two Steinbeck novels and was convinced he wasn't the author for me, I decided to give him another chance.
I'm pleasantly surprised by this book. So far, this is the Steinbeck novel that I have enjoyed the most. Perhaps it's because it isn't as depressing as his other works. In this cheerful, humorous, yet reflective style, Steinbeck truly deserves attention. One of the biggest issues I had with his other books was his writing style, which didn't appeal to me at all. However, in this book, it didn't bother me at all. On the contrary, I genuinely appreciated the author's unique humor, which I found very appealing most of the time.
This is a completely different story compared to the ones I've read from Steinbeck so far, although, in a way, it still touches on themes we always find in his books—namely, the lives of workers and farmers, generally poor and uneducated people. In
Cannery Row, Steinbeck presents a truly fascinating picture of this tight-knit little community. I found it much more interesting than in his other books.
The characters are interesting and internally complex. Of course, they are not without numerous flaws, but at the same time, they all try to do good. They are all, in a sense, societal outcasts, living on the margins of normal society, which brings them closer together. It's a very intriguing group. I liked the calmness with which Doc approaches the people around him and their imperfections, and how he can see their true intentions.
I had quite a good time with this book, much better than I expected. Although I still think Steinbeck isn't for me and I probably won't read more of his books, I believe that if you, too, didn't particularly enjoy his other works, you should give
Cannery Row a try because it's a completely different book compared to his others.
About the Author:
John Steinbeck, born in Salinas, California, in 1902, grew up in a fertile agricultural valley, about 25 miles from the Pacific Coast. Both the valley and the coast would serve as settings for some of his best fiction. In 1919…
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