favorite steinbeck novel - Democratic Underground

WWW

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Sun Jan-04-04 08:56 PM
Original message

favorite steinbeck novel

The Winter of Our Discontent, probably the greatest novel I have ever read...read it first when Enron was going on...anyone else read it?

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jpgray

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Sun Jan-04-04 08:57 PM
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1. Yeah--the build in that is really great. (nt)

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Red_Storm

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Sun Jan-04-04 08:58 PM
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2. In Dubious Battle

Truly unforgettable and made a big impact on me

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nothingshocksmeanymore

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Sun Jan-04-04 09:00 PM
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3. I would have to say OF MICE AND MEN

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jpgray

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Sun Jan-04-04 09:01 PM
Response to Reply #3

5. Ha, she picked it. Everybody stare!

(uh, itsprettygoodactually)

:)

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nothingshocksmeanymore

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Sun Jan-04-04 09:06 PM
Response to Reply #5

7. It should actually be required reading for Democrats

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aQuArius

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Sun Jan-04-04 10:02 PM
Response to Reply #3

16. Me too! Me too!

I have read "Of Mice and Men" 3 times now and its one (of VERY few tearjerkers I read) that can still make me cry.

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Bronco69

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Sun Jan-04-04 09:01 PM
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4. A tie between...

Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath.

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WWW

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Sun Jan-04-04 09:04 PM
Response to Reply #4

6. Wow how about that ending in

The Grapes of Wrath...never saw that coming...

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BOSSHOG

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Sun Jan-04-04 09:12 PM
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8. Travels with Charlie

I appreciate Steinbeck very much and his time spent with his dog on the road is a very relaxing and revealing work.

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WWW

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Sun Jan-04-04 09:14 PM
Response to Reply #8

9. He and his dog actually stopped

at a drug store near where I live in Maine...

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henslee

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Sun Jan-04-04 09:20 PM
Response to Reply #8

12. yes yes y es... great book for someone going on a roadtrip.

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DODI

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Sun Jan-04-04 09:22 PM
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14. I love that book.

When we had to decide on a honeymoon -- that book lept to mind -- did we go to Florida, no, Carribean -- no. We drove as far West as we could (Colo.) and then came back, staying off the highways as much as possible -- thank you Mr. Steinbeck.

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punpirate

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Sun Jan-04-04 09:16 PM
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10. While the other books are more massive...

... I still like Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday if only because they treat the down and out as interesting and complete characters, as thinking people. The same with Travels with Charly. Steinbeck was enamored of ordinary people and what was on their minds, always. That's a recurring theme in The Grapes of Wrath, Tortilla Flats, The Red Pony, East of Eden and so many other great books of his.

Everyone in this country would benefit from a summer of reading nothing but Steinbeck, if only to remind them of the dire times this country has faced in the past, and how ordinary people came face-to-face with their troubles.

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WWW

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Sun Jan-04-04 09:21 PM
Response to Reply #10

13. I agree completely! n/t

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mac56

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Sun Jan-04-04 11:11 PM
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28. I completely agree.

Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday are my favorites of his.

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WWW

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Sun Jan-04-04 09:16 PM
Response to Original message

11. cannery row

was another great book

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WWW

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Sun Jan-04-04 09:59 PM
Response to Reply #11

15. did anyone ever see the movie? I wish I could get it on dvd. n/t

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BrotherBuzz

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Sun Jan-04-04 10:19 PM
Response to Reply #15

18. Weird thing about the movie is

they combined parts of Cannery Row (pre WWII) and Sweet Thursday (post WWII) into one story...weird, but it worked. I suggest reading both books before seeing the film (DVD).

More weird stuff, I'm reading Renaissance Man of Cannery Row: The life and letters of Edward Ricketts and it turns out Steinbeck underplayed 'Doc' in the books. Really, really cool dude!. Who would have thought Joseph Campbell would have borrowed ideas from Ricketts? Campbell asking for advice? Bunches of other people hung around, too, and I wish I could have been one.

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mac56

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Sun Jan-04-04 11:13 PM
Response to Reply #15

29. Dr. John performed the music in the movie.

Played a cameo part as well, IIRC.

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DemoTex

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Sun Jan-04-04 10:06 PM
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17. "Grapes of Wrath"

Verb Sap! Check six!

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salin

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Sun Jan-04-04 10:25 PM
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19. color me crazy... but... East of Eden.

Loved many - Travels with Charlie, Canary Row, Tortilla Flats.

But one day in Monterey, California dropped in a shop with tons of Steinbeck books and odds and ends. Had recently heard of an event in Salinas that reenacted East of Eden (iirc) over two days, and decided to pick it up. Loved it. Don't know that I would have if I had read it in high school or college. But a little later in life after having become familiar with the area... absolutely loved it.

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WWW

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Sun Jan-04-04 10:33 PM
Response to Reply #19

20. I was forced to read Steinbeck in HS

I was in my albert camus stage and would not read anything else. Faked my way thru the tests. Started reading Steinbeck last year when I was 45, was truly blown away.... please promise me you will read the winter or our discontent, keeping in mind the children of enron and bush et al.

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salin

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Sun Jan-04-04 11:09 PM
Response to Reply #20

27. I will read The Winter of Our Discontent... if you take another stab

at East of Eden. Sounds like a good deal for both of us!

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BrotherBuzz

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Sun Jan-04-04 10:45 PM
Response to Reply #19

22. Color me crazy

but I felt very creepy and uncomfortable reading East of Eden. I'm glad I read it, but unlike the rest of Steinbeck's books I have no desire to re-read it....dark stuff...

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punpirate

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Sun Jan-04-04 11:03 PM
Response to Reply #22

26. Steinbeck's retelling of the Cain and Abel...

... story from the Bible is much more personal and difficult than is august scripture. That might be why it's hard to take. The scenes where Cal attempts to justify his war profiteering make it clear that choices between good and evil are always personal, rather than societal, and that every person has to make such choices, and the times have little to do with those decisions, but, rather, has more to do with what is inside us all.

Yes, pretty dark, but essential.

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nothingshocksmeanymore

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Sun Jan-04-04 10:50 PM
Response to Reply #19

23. Sweet Thursdays is my book for a feel of the area

Mice and Men is it for me because I see so many George's and Lennies all over life!

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rumguy

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Sun Jan-04-04 10:34 PM
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21. Not a novel: The Log from the Sea of Cortez

It's one of my favorite books..

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Kathy in Cambridge

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Sun Jan-04-04 10:52 PM
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24. Do Freepers read Steinbeck or think he was a raging Commie?

I had to read Steinbeck in American literature in high school. I love Of Mice and Men and Grapes of Wrath.

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WWW

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Sun Jan-04-04 10:56 PM
Response to Reply #24

25. He was definitely a communist n/t

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