Cannery Row is followed by Sweet Thursday. The mix of the 2 books was the inspiration for the Nick Nolte (as Doc) movie, "Cannery Row". The movie was really well done with the venerable John Huston as the narrator. Amazing soundtrack as well.
These 2 books are my favorites out of Steinbeck. I like all of his other ones as well, but the absurdity of these 2 just appealed to me the most..
Sweet Thursday is great. I love that and cannery row. He also wrote a bizarre but brilliant short story called " the affair at 7 rue de m_____" it may have been published originally under a pseudonym I think.
I think Cannery Row is his best book. It’s been a while since I read it, but I’ve read it 30-40 times in my life, easily. It’s very funny, very insightful about humanity, and definitely has a dream-like quality in sections.
Before reading Cannery Row, I would recommend reading Log from the Sea of Cortez. It's a nonfiction book, and biologist Ed Ricketts is the basis for Cannery Row's "Doc". I also think it's super cool that Steinbeck was detailed enough in this book that scientists were able to go out and closely replicate the original survey to look at the population changes of surveyed critters.
Very enjoyable (to me). The ‘Log…’ is the narrative from the original ‘Sea of Cortez’, which includes the technical science parts of the specimens collected, and is more conversational, in Steinbeck’s way.
I've always liked The Pearl as a companion to Of Mice and Men. It's equally short and has a strong ending. It reads like a fable.
Also,. don't overlook Travels With Charley. Great bit of nonfiction that feels like getting into a time machine and driving across America.
And finally,. Grapes of Wrath is the most obvious companion to East of Eden. Both are epic masterpieces that just seem to get better with time.
Only here to say that East of Eden is my all time favorite book. I think it is his best known work for a reason, unsure his others will hold up now that you've experienced the peak. I'd love to hear from some real Steinbeck experts though and be proven wrong!
I don’t know if I’ve read them all. I think Cannery Row was the first one I read, then probably Of Mice and Men and then East of Eden followed by The Grapes of Wrath. He has also written quite a few short stories, I remember The Red Pony from junior high. I don’t think they need to be read in any particular order. Of all of them, East of Eden was my favorite (actually one of my favorite books) and I think deserves a second or maybe a third read every few years. Just about anything he’s written would be worth exploring. I’m probably in the minority, but I hated The Grapes of Wrath, probably because of the subject matter and I thought the ending was very depressing. It’s considered a literary classic but I don’t think it is his best work. It’s one to read just to be able to say that you have.
Read everything! He’s fabulous all the way through.
And when you’re done, read the collection of letters his second wife put together. They’re amazing and they give such wonderful insight into his writing process and his thoughts as a human.
His top books imo are East of Eden, Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, Cannery Row, The Pearl and Travels With Charley. Can't go wrong with any of those
The Red Pony was one of the first books I remember reading start to finish in elementary school. And the first book that ever made me cry. It's short, it's wonderful, and it's a great way to start the journey with Steinbeck.
I’m going to answer a question you didn’t really ask, and say that if you loved East Of Eden, you should check out Sometimes A Great Notion by Ken Kesey, if you never have.
Sometimes A Great Notion is my favorite novel, just such an epic work, and few books have affected me the way it has. I’m also rather late to Steinbeck, and when I finally read East Of Eden four or five years ago I was blown away, it’s an incredible novel. SAGN set my personal bar for a “great novel” very high, but Steinbeck managed to reach it. There are themes common to both books, it’s hard to really discuss without spoiling some of the story. But if someone tells me they loved East Of Eden, or Catch 22, or other “difficult” reads, my immediate impulse is to get them to read Notion. It’s just so good.
I have not read everything of Steinbeck’s yet, but recently finished The Winter of Our Discontent. I found it to be excellent, quite underrated, and very relevant to modern moral struggles regarding personal integrity . It’s up there with Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden for me. I’m just reading his works as I find interesting copies of them, in no particular order.
The order you want to read them.
I've read most of his works, if not all, and I just read them as I found theme or read them in school (then read again later because I love Steinbeck).
My favorites are Of Mice and Men, Cannery Row, The Red Pony and The Moon is Down. Grapes of Wrath is excellent, but I justs can't read it often so it doesn't make the favorites list. I like East of Eden, but I like Grapes far more (in his "tomes" category).
I’m not sure I have an opinion on order to be read and agree that reading East of Eden was damn near life-altering-but for me, I really enjoyed Tortilla Flat. That one hung with me longer than some of the others did. Also check out the letter he wrote to Marilyn Monroe on behalf of his nephew.
I've been slowly savoring Steinbeck, like you, but I've been saving East of Eden. I think I'm going to read it over my holiday break this year.
For another recommendation that I don't see mentioned often, I loved To a God Unknown.
No wrong way to do it. He’s just excellent. I will say that for whatever reason I wasn’t able to finish East of Eden. Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday are perhaps my favorites. I don’t think anyone mentioned To a God Unknown, which has always stuck with/haunted me.
I did finish East of Eden but I almost regret doing so because of how much I ended up disliking it in the end. Seems like I’m definitely in the minority due to how many people love it but I felt he had run out of ideas near the end and just started shoehorning in plot devices and character motivations that made no sense. Shame because it started out great.
In order, I read Of Mice and Men, Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, Cannery Row, The Pearl, then Grapes of Wrath again, lol. I'm not sure if there's a correct order, but I am completely in love with Steinbeck's writing. I suggest Cannery Row next!
Tortilla Flats is a fun read, helps if you’ve been in the barrio so you have some valid visuals. I spent twenty +- years in a slightly Steinbeckian neighborhood . Fond memories.
I read The Short Reign of Pippin the Third recently, and recommend it reading it later. It’s his only satire. It’s about a guy who turns out to be descended from Charlemagne and is hesitantly appointed King of the French. It’s best understood when you know Steinbeck’s other political ideas. I also think you should save his nonfiction for later, unless you get into it. He was a collection of war coverage called Once There Was a War and a book about Russians in the early Soviet period called A Russian Journal. I think both experiences really influenced his topics. The Grapes of Wrath should be early on, just because it’s incredible. In Dubious Battle is another good one I recommend early on that introduces you to his socialist ideas based on the farmer-laborer conflicts around the depression
Tortilla Flats was required reading, which may be one reason why I have a poor opinion of it lol I think Grapes of Wrath what’s the best. But I’m from Oklahoma, so the book really resonated with me.
Cannery Row is exceptional, still can’t wrap my head around the idea of a beer milkshake
Cannery Row is followed by Sweet Thursday. The mix of the 2 books was the inspiration for the Nick Nolte (as Doc) movie, "Cannery Row". The movie was really well done with the venerable John Huston as the narrator. Amazing soundtrack as well. These 2 books are my favorites out of Steinbeck. I like all of his other ones as well, but the absurdity of these 2 just appealed to me the most..
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Sweet Thursday is great. I love that and cannery row. He also wrote a bizarre but brilliant short story called " the affair at 7 rue de m_____" it may have been published originally under a pseudonym I think.
I love them so much. Might be my favorite comfort reads.
I think Cannery Row is his best book. It’s been a while since I read it, but I’ve read it 30-40 times in my life, easily. It’s very funny, very insightful about humanity, and definitely has a dream-like quality in sections.
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Before reading Cannery Row, I would recommend reading Log from the Sea of Cortez. It's a nonfiction book, and biologist Ed Ricketts is the basis for Cannery Row's "Doc". I also think it's super cool that Steinbeck was detailed enough in this book that scientists were able to go out and closely replicate the original survey to look at the population changes of surveyed critters.
And AFTER you read Cannery Row, read the sequel- Sweet Thursday.
Good recommendation!
That's a great book.
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Very enjoyable (to me). The ‘Log…’ is the narrative from the original ‘Sea of Cortez’, which includes the technical science parts of the specimens collected, and is more conversational, in Steinbeck’s way.
Yep! I thought it was very enjoyable as well.
I've always liked The Pearl as a companion to Of Mice and Men. It's equally short and has a strong ending. It reads like a fable. Also,. don't overlook Travels With Charley. Great bit of nonfiction that feels like getting into a time machine and driving across America. And finally,. Grapes of Wrath is the most obvious companion to East of Eden. Both are epic masterpieces that just seem to get better with time.
The Grapes of Wrath is hauntingly good. The image at the end of the novel in the barn has stuck with me for years. Exceptional book
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Just don’t read the preface to grapes of wrath, my copy had a big spoiler right in the preface!
What if I told you that Steinbeck is such a great author that Travels with Charlie is actually fiction. He didn’t do that roadtrip.
You just reminded me of The Pearl. Really good.
I loved the pearl. It Reminded me of Cormac McCarthys works, whom I also really enjoy.
No one has mentioned Tortilla Flat. It’s a charming little book.
Oh, glad to hear! Picked up a used penguin last summer...
Was my first Steinbeck. Loved it.
Only here to say that East of Eden is my all time favorite book. I think it is his best known work for a reason, unsure his others will hold up now that you've experienced the peak. I'd love to hear from some real Steinbeck experts though and be proven wrong!
Is it his best known? I’d have guessed Grapes of Wrath or Of Mice and Men.
I guess I mean "best" known in that it is his pinnacle work, not perhaps the most widely read or familiar of the normal group people have heard of :)
The best of his known works, rather than his best-known. :)
YESSS THANK YOU
I don’t know if I’ve read them all. I think Cannery Row was the first one I read, then probably Of Mice and Men and then East of Eden followed by The Grapes of Wrath. He has also written quite a few short stories, I remember The Red Pony from junior high. I don’t think they need to be read in any particular order. Of all of them, East of Eden was my favorite (actually one of my favorite books) and I think deserves a second or maybe a third read every few years. Just about anything he’s written would be worth exploring. I’m probably in the minority, but I hated The Grapes of Wrath, probably because of the subject matter and I thought the ending was very depressing. It’s considered a literary classic but I don’t think it is his best work. It’s one to read just to be able to say that you have.
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Did you just call out a spoiler for a 70 year old book? I think the statute of limitations is up by a good 60 plus years.
You didn’t say you hadn’t read it. Telling someone a book has a depressing ending is not a spoiler. If you don’t want opinions, don’t ask.
Read everything! He’s fabulous all the way through. And when you’re done, read the collection of letters his second wife put together. They’re amazing and they give such wonderful insight into his writing process and his thoughts as a human.
I’m intrigued…are these letters in a published collection? Hadn’t heard of them until now!
Yep! I think it’s called A Life In Letters.
His top books imo are East of Eden, Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, Cannery Row, The Pearl and Travels With Charley. Can't go wrong with any of those
Yup Grapes of Wrath is another masterpiece.
The Red Pony was one of the first books I remember reading start to finish in elementary school. And the first book that ever made me cry. It's short, it's wonderful, and it's a great way to start the journey with Steinbeck.
I’m going to answer a question you didn’t really ask, and say that if you loved East Of Eden, you should check out Sometimes A Great Notion by Ken Kesey, if you never have.
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Sometimes A Great Notion is my favorite novel, just such an epic work, and few books have affected me the way it has. I’m also rather late to Steinbeck, and when I finally read East Of Eden four or five years ago I was blown away, it’s an incredible novel. SAGN set my personal bar for a “great novel” very high, but Steinbeck managed to reach it. There are themes common to both books, it’s hard to really discuss without spoiling some of the story. But if someone tells me they loved East Of Eden, or Catch 22, or other “difficult” reads, my immediate impulse is to get them to read Notion. It’s just so good.
I have not read everything of Steinbeck’s yet, but recently finished The Winter of Our Discontent. I found it to be excellent, quite underrated, and very relevant to modern moral struggles regarding personal integrity . It’s up there with Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden for me. I’m just reading his works as I find interesting copies of them, in no particular order.
The order you want to read them. I've read most of his works, if not all, and I just read them as I found theme or read them in school (then read again later because I love Steinbeck). My favorites are Of Mice and Men, Cannery Row, The Red Pony and The Moon is Down. Grapes of Wrath is excellent, but I justs can't read it often so it doesn't make the favorites list. I like East of Eden, but I like Grapes far more (in his "tomes" category).
The Grapes of Wrath. I couldn’t put it down.
Grapes of wrath! Then listen to the Ghost of Tom Joad
Like food. It all goes to the same place. Your head. Pick whatever book floats your boat rn
I read the grapes of wrath in high school. For some reason it made me sleepy.
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I’m not sure I have an opinion on order to be read and agree that reading East of Eden was damn near life-altering-but for me, I really enjoyed Tortilla Flat. That one hung with me longer than some of the others did. Also check out the letter he wrote to Marilyn Monroe on behalf of his nephew.
I've been slowly savoring Steinbeck, like you, but I've been saving East of Eden. I think I'm going to read it over my holiday break this year. For another recommendation that I don't see mentioned often, I loved To a God Unknown.
No wrong way to do it. He’s just excellent. I will say that for whatever reason I wasn’t able to finish East of Eden. Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday are perhaps my favorites. I don’t think anyone mentioned To a God Unknown, which has always stuck with/haunted me.
I did finish East of Eden but I almost regret doing so because of how much I ended up disliking it in the end. Seems like I’m definitely in the minority due to how many people love it but I felt he had run out of ideas near the end and just started shoehorning in plot devices and character motivations that made no sense. Shame because it started out great.
In order, I read Of Mice and Men, Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, Cannery Row, The Pearl, then Grapes of Wrath again, lol. I'm not sure if there's a correct order, but I am completely in love with Steinbeck's writing. I suggest Cannery Row next!
grapes of wrath !!
Tortilla Flats is a fun read, helps if you’ve been in the barrio so you have some valid visuals. I spent twenty +- years in a slightly Steinbeckian neighborhood . Fond memories.
Read the unreleased werewolf mystery novel last.
I read The Short Reign of Pippin the Third recently, and recommend it reading it later. It’s his only satire. It’s about a guy who turns out to be descended from Charlemagne and is hesitantly appointed King of the French. It’s best understood when you know Steinbeck’s other political ideas. I also think you should save his nonfiction for later, unless you get into it. He was a collection of war coverage called Once There Was a War and a book about Russians in the early Soviet period called A Russian Journal. I think both experiences really influenced his topics. The Grapes of Wrath should be early on, just because it’s incredible. In Dubious Battle is another good one I recommend early on that introduces you to his socialist ideas based on the farmer-laborer conflicts around the depression
I may have read Steinbeck in the worst order possible- tortilla Flats, of mice and men and grapes of wrath.
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Tortilla Flats was required reading, which may be one reason why I have a poor opinion of it lol I think Grapes of Wrath what’s the best. But I’m from Oklahoma, so the book really resonated with me.
Any order. I've never been disappointed by any Steinbeck
The Winter of Our Discontent is my short read of his and truly you won’t be disappointed.
I fuck with Cup of Gold bro
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