Matthew's Reviews > Cannery Row
Cannery Row (Cannery Row, #1)
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Matthew's review
bookshelves: 2021, audio, classic, historical-fiction, library, favorites
Feb 10, 2021
bookshelves: 2021, audio, classic, historical-fiction, library, favorites
"Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream."
- The first line of Cannery Row
I always enjoy Steinbeck. I don’t think I have read a single one that is not 5 stars. I am glad to finally read Cannery Row and discover that it is not an exception to the 5-star rule.
Cannery Row is one main storyline interspersed with slightly related anecdotes every other chapter. Each story is a snapshot into part of the life of a citizen of Cannery Row. The writing is perfect and drew me in and held me. Some parts felt like a little bit of filler, but they really are not. They all serve to enrich the story and the atmosphere. Every second of this story was an absolute treat!
Characters! I want to meet them all: the good, the bad, the silly, the sweet, the criminal, the questionably moral, and the seemingly righteous. Every time I read Steinbeck, I love getting to know the people he creates. And, I figure based on how he writes and what he writes about he probably knew someone just like every one of his characters. While with some of his other stories there have been obvious villains, this is a book you will leave loving very character you meet no matter what they are like.
If you have been wanting to try Steinbeck but are not ready to commit to a larger tome like East of Eden or Grapes of Wrath, Cannery Row would be a great place to start!
- The first line of Cannery Row
I always enjoy Steinbeck. I don’t think I have read a single one that is not 5 stars. I am glad to finally read Cannery Row and discover that it is not an exception to the 5-star rule.
Cannery Row is one main storyline interspersed with slightly related anecdotes every other chapter. Each story is a snapshot into part of the life of a citizen of Cannery Row. The writing is perfect and drew me in and held me. Some parts felt like a little bit of filler, but they really are not. They all serve to enrich the story and the atmosphere. Every second of this story was an absolute treat!
Characters! I want to meet them all: the good, the bad, the silly, the sweet, the criminal, the questionably moral, and the seemingly righteous. Every time I read Steinbeck, I love getting to know the people he creates. And, I figure based on how he writes and what he writes about he probably knew someone just like every one of his characters. While with some of his other stories there have been obvious villains, this is a book you will leave loving very character you meet no matter what they are like.
If you have been wanting to try Steinbeck but are not ready to commit to a larger tome like East of Eden or Grapes of Wrath, Cannery Row would be a great place to start!
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Reading Progress
August 10, 2020
– Shelved
August 10, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 8, 2021
–
Started Reading
February 8, 2021
– Shelved as:
2021
February 8, 2021
– Shelved as:
audio
February 8, 2021
– Shelved as:
classic
February 8, 2021
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
February 8, 2021
– Shelved as:
library
February 10, 2021
– Shelved as:
favorites
February 10, 2021
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-29 of 29 (29 new)
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Kandice
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rated it 5 stars
Feb 10, 2021 11:48AM
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Thanks, Vince! East of Eden is so great and I think you will love this one, too!
It's funny you should mention that - right after I finished, I looked up Cannery Row on Wikipedia and was like, "What!? A sequel!?". I will definitely be checking it out.
I was just talking to my wife about Steinbeck and the fact he has no duds! Just awesome literature!
Thank you, Joe! So far with Steinbeck, all I can say is,"What's not to love!" Is the cover you have as a screensaver the edition I have here?
It would not be a bad decision, Heather! 😃
😃😃😃😃😃😃
Yes - so good! I am also glad you are a fan, Terris!
Thanks, Brandice! Glad to hear it! :)
Interesting - I am looking forward to the sequel and will see if my experience is the same.
Interesting - I am looking forward to the sequel and will see if my experience is the same."
Yeah, it's why I said I was probably in the minority. It's possibly because I was in such a mood that the second one caught me even more. Either way, I loved the two books together.
Thanks, Eileen!
We shall see! Hopefully I am with you on this! 😃
Awesome review Matthew!
Thanks for the info - definitely sounds like it is worth checking out!
I think this one sounds like it would be the perfect Steinbeck starter for you, Eric! I hope you enjoy! :D
I think one of the criticisms of the second one is that it's not quite as "literature-worthy" as the first one, and while I can see the point, I really enjoyed the fun Steinbeck obviously had with the second one. I'm not exactly a book "snob" so I didn't care if it was literature or not, lol!
Awesome review Matthew!"
Thanks, Karen! I hope you enjoy!
I think one of the criticisms of the second one is that it's not quite as "literature-worthy" as the first one, and while I can see the point, I really enjoyed the fun Steinbeck obviously had with the second one. I'm not exactly a book "snob" so I didn't care if it was literature or not, lol!
Glad you enjoyed, too, Sue! With all this praise for the movie I will need to watch it sooner than later!
I think one of the criticisms of the second one is that it's not quite as "literature-worthy" as the first one, and while I can see..."
Your comment appeared twice! Poltergeists in my reviews! 😁😁😁
If it does have a greatly different feel from standard Steinbeck, I can imagine it might rub fans the wrong way. Hopefully my track record of enjoying it all of his work holds true and I can just enjoy the fun! 😃