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What's your favourite Steinbeck?

37 replies

PleaseTieMyBow · 04/03/2017 16:21

I've read Of Mice and Men and Travels with Charley.
Dd has several on her bookshelf (but she's not here so can't ask her opinion).
So wondered, which would you recommend?

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SpecialStains · 16/04/2017 12:11

I've only read Of Mice and Men and Grapes of Wrath, and loved GoW. Going to download East of Eden and The Moon is Down now!

KateLennard · 15/04/2017 20:08

The moon is down. Definitely.

nocoolnamesleft · 15/04/2017 19:13

It's so hard to pick. Of Mice and Men was one of the first I read, and stayed with me, pushing me to take out the library's entire collection, many years ago. Also rather remember the Moon is Down. Think I might have to do some rereading.

pointythings · 13/04/2017 19:01

The Acts of King Arthur and his Noble Knights. Such a shame he did not finish it, it would have been the ultimate retelling of the Arthur story.

DressageNut · 03/04/2017 19:23

Cannery Row, followed by Grapes of Wrath. Both brilliant and evocative books.

Floisme · 03/04/2017 19:20

I've tried so many times to read The Grapes of Wrath. I want to be the kind of person who can say it's one of their favourite books. But the truth is, I've never even made it out of the dustbowl.

awaynboilyurheid · 03/04/2017 18:21

Grapes of Wrath just re read it its so good and I agree east of Eden is a great read too.

pepperpot99 · 03/04/2017 11:42

Grapes of Wrath is probably the best and most important book I've ever read.
East of Eden is sublime.

Ohyesiam · 21/03/2017 09:42

Cannery Row. It's heart breakingly lovely.

ADisappearingDreamOfYesterday · 21/03/2017 09:40

I think GOW is very relevant today, especially the points about wages being kept low by an over supply of workers

I remember reading the first chapters and putting the book down quite a few times, I'm glad I eventually persevered as it's in my top ten now which has about 500 in it not 10

carrotfaery · 21/03/2017 09:18

Grapes of Wrath is amazing, but my favourite is Cannery Row. My Dad read me funny bits out of it as a child, and I don't know how many times I've read the book since, the characters are like old friends to me! It's one of my favourite books ever.

Tortilla flat is a bit similar and also really good.

HappydaysArehere · 21/03/2017 09:11

Read the Cannery Row books many years ago and remember loving them. GOW once read has never been forgotten but the horror was hard to take - especially the very end.

Earlybird · 12/03/2017 23:39

East of Eden for me - hands down. The story and descriptions were powerful. But I found myself stopping to savour the beauty of the writing time after time.

I also read a compilation of Steinbeck's letters which was breathtaking. Evidently he wrote letters daily as a way of 'warming up' before he sat down to write his books.

Clawdy · 12/03/2017 22:49

Has to be East of Eden. One of those books that stays with you forever.

lilywillywoo · 06/03/2017 16:23

Love Grapes of Wrath

Persemillion · 06/03/2017 14:03

MiddlingMum

I know what you mean and totally agree. I love how strong women are predominant in his books.

MiddlingMum · 05/03/2017 17:27

Persemillion Ma is one of my favourite characters, too. That part where they're crossing something and she does (or doesn't) do something is amazing and thought provoking. One of the most memorable scenes in the whole of literature.

Hope you know the bit I mean, I'm trying to be cryptic for the benefit of Please and anyone else who hasn't read it.

ImperialBlether · 05/03/2017 17:22

Grapes of Wrath for me, too. Incredible book.

Persemillion · 05/03/2017 17:20

Grapes of Wrath, because Ma is one of my favourite characters in literature.

Pinkkahori · 05/03/2017 11:43

Pastures of Heaven - amazing stories.
East of Eden is perhaps my favourite book ever.

MiddlingMum · 05/03/2017 11:39

The Grapes of Wrath. It would be in my top five books ever. I read it about once a year. Harrowing but incredible. Without wanting to spoil anything, there are two or three moments when you really need a box of tissues handy.

Cannery Row is also very good, and I've really enjoyed The Wayward Bus although it's not as "heavy" as some.

badhotfanny · 05/03/2017 08:04

The red pony.

mummytime · 05/03/2017 07:38

Cannery Row, lots of brilliantly awful pictures of how people were living during their he depression. My most memorable is the wife who just wanted Curtains.

Bolshybookworm · 05/03/2017 07:14

East of Eden- it's my favourite book. Such a rich story and the characters are wonderful.
Another favourite is Pastures of Heaven, a set of interconnecting short stories set around a rural community.

BakeOffBiscuits · 05/03/2017 00:07

How old is she? GOW is one of my desert island books but it is pretty harrowing.