Review: Cannery Row

Every now and then I get a craving for some John Steinbeck.  There's something about his ability to instill a sense of time and place that draws me to his novels.  I know from past experiences with his work that I can expect interesting and engaging characters and an enjoyable read.  Cannery Row is no exception.

Set in Monterrey, the story follows a cast of characters that vary from prostitutes, to Lee Chong, a grocery store owner, Doc, a Marine biologist, and Mack, the leader of a group of moneyless, family-less, ambition-less men in search of food, drink and contentment.  

Though the story covers a variety of themes such as friendship, contentment, and prejudices, in many ways the story is simply about throwing a really great rollicking party. 

Mack and his band of buddies have been squatting near Cannery Row for quite some time, getting by with what little money they can scrape together from odd jobs, and such, wheeling and dealing with Lee Chong for steaks and pints of "Old Tennis Shoes" their choice brand of cheap Tennessee whiskey.  When they can, they like to help Doc, the local marine biologist and resident nice guy, collect various lab samples, which, being the nice guy that Doc is, pays them quite handsomely for.

One day Mack and the boys get it in their heads to throw Doc one hell of a birthday party.   However, in order to fund such an event, they'll need to acquire some sort of paying gig from none other than Doc himself, all while keeping the party a surprise. 

As simple as that may sound, that is pretty much the story in a nutshell.  A bunch of semi-drunk, totally broke, yet effortlessly content guys planning a party for a genuinely nice guy.  I guess that might sound a bit popcorn-ish, but Cannery Row is a great story.  Steinbeck is most known for his darker, tragic novels, but Cannery Row certainly doesn't fall into that category at all. While Cannery Row is set in the same time frame as Steinbeck's most famous works such as The Grapes of Wrath, and Of Mice and Men this novel doesn't have the strong sense of tragedy that is in those novels.  I guess the best way to put it is that Cannery Row is like, Steinbeck-light.

It was nice to read a story about regular people who genuinely love life, and are content with what they have, and don't crave more.  The strength of this novel lies in the fact that Steinbeck presents some interesting concepts, but doesn't hit you over the head with them, and instead fits them nicely into the story in an organic way.

If you are looking to read some Steinbeck but are daunted by his "darker" works, then allow me to un-daunt you.  Cannery Row is a great read.  It features many of Steinbeck's signature traits, and skills, minus the tragedy...ok, a bit of tragedy, but of the comedic sort.  Plus, it is a story about a sweet party written by Steinbeck.  You can't really go wrong here.  Lots of fun, some good laughs, and engaging characters make this a great read. 


Grade: B+

Review Quickies

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Cat's Cradle is a classic by Vonnegut. At it's heart this is a book about human nature. The narrator of the story is trying to write a book about what people were doing the day the A-Bomb was dropped. Through this we meet Felix Hoenikker the guy who developed the bomb. Hoenikker is an eccentric who has no interest in humanity, and only cares to tinker and experiment with his pet projects. Somehow, Hoenikker had three kids, and they play a role in the story as well, as holders of the catastrophic ice-nine. Mix in a sex-queen, a Caribbean dictator, religion controlled by the government, and the end of the world, and you get some great reading.

I loved this book, and it should pretty much be on everyone's bookshelf.

Grade: A



Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck

When Steinbeck was sixty, he decided to take a mega-road trip with his french poodle, Charley. The vehicular mode of transportation for their journey was "Rocinante" a powerful truck equipped with a camper top. Together he and Charley travel to my home state of Maine, then across the US to my adopted home of Seattle, down to Texas, through the south, then back up the Atlantic coast, home to New York. Through the journey Steinbeck tries to "find America".

This book as basically the literary equivalent of my dream. For years I've envisioned a day when I'll hop into an RV, or something similar, and road-trip around the states. Of course, that shit ain't gonna happen any time soon, so for now, Travels with Charley will have to suffice. This is a great summer read, and it is sure to make your feet itch for some exploring.

Grade: B

Review: The Long Valley

The Long Valley by John Steinbeck

The Long Valley is a collection of short stories by my newly crowned Favorite Writer, John Steinbeck. With this set of short stories, he wrested the title from David James Duncan. Don't get me wrong, Duncan still has a nice cozy spot in my heart, but Steinbeck has the ability to evoke a feeling of familiarity in me. Not a familiarity in the sense that I feel like I've already read what he is writing, but a familiarity in the characters, and the settings. I feel like I know those people, and that I can relate to them, and their lives. Steinbeck puts me there, in the character's shoes with an ease that is baffling.

But I'll stop gushing about Steinbeck and instead gush about The Long Valley. This collection of twelve short stories would make a good introduction to Steinbeck and his style, or a make a solid reintroduction to Steinbeck for those who haven't read his work since high school. Each story is great in its own way. There weren't any that I disliked, and they ranged enough in content so that I was never bored of the short format. Steinbeck often does more in ten to twenty pages than another author will do in their entire career. Some were strange (The Chrysanthemums, Johhny Bear) and others were dark, (The Raid, The Vigilante), but they were all great, and were great examples of the short form.

For me the best part of this collection was the inclusion of The Red Pony a novella told in four parts. It comprises nearly half of the book, and is essentially four short stories linked together by the same four characters. Each part is good for different reasons, but I think what made them good to me was that in each of the stories, I could find a similar parallel in my own life. I think that is Steinbeck's true talent, his ability to take basic human issues and struggles, and put them into story in a way that is lasting.

I wouldn't necessarily say that The Long Valley is essential Steinbeck, that would be Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and The Pearl, but The Long Valley is great stuff, and I think it is still a must read. I couldn't really find anything to complain about, and I give this one my highest recommendation.

Grade: A+

Top 5 books of '09

I love to read.  For the past few years, whenever I finish a book, I have always written them down on the calendar when I finish.  It is my dorky way of keeping track of not only how many books I read, but how long it takes me to read them too.  To further my dorkiness, at the end of each year, I always take stock of the books I've read, and create a mental ranking of the top five.  This is the first time my top 5 rankings will be in some form of print.  So, without further rambling; my top 5 books of 2009...

5. Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay. 

I read a lot of fantasy each year, but this year, I didn't seem to read too much good fantasy.  Ysabel stands out from the crowd. A bit of a coming of age story with some Celtic/Pagan magic involved, set in the south of France during modern times. 
Kay crafted another solid novel here, as I was a huge fan of his book Tigana as well.  The characters are well fleshed out, and Kay keeps the story moving with absolutely no lags in the action.

4. East of Eden by John Steinbeck

This novel has been on my radar for a long time, since Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors.  I typically buy used books however, (budget limitations) and after finding a used copy in great condition, I began reading this epic novel.  The book truly is epic, it spans three generations, has a large cast of characters, and covers a fair bit of ground.  This book has love, betrayal, lust, death, anger, joy, wit and power.  It doesn't disappoint and is one of Steinbeck's best works.  For me it wasn't my favorite Steinbeck read, (more on that later), but it still easily makes the list.

3. The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

I first discovered Banks as a sci-fi writer.  His novel Use of Weapons easily stands out as an all-time favorite book of mine.  I knew that Banks was also a fairly prolific non-genre writer as well, and when I stumbled across The Wasp Factory on a bargain shelf, I picked it up.  This is one of those books that defies description, but I will try anyway.  The main character, Frank is a weird guy, he's killed three people under strange circumstances, and gotten away with all three.  He lives an unconventional lifestyle on a small Scottish island with his reclusive father.  The story tracks Frank's strange life, while chronicling the three murders, and builds the tension as his even crazier brother, recently escaped from a mental health facility, slowly makes his way back towards the island. 

This book was a strange one, it was often unsettling and slightly disturbing.  Banks is a master of keeping the reader engaged, and the way the story was unveiled and the past kept hidden until just the right moment, made the book a standout.

2. GraceLand, by Chris Abani

This is another coming of age story set in Lagos, Nigeria.  The story follows Elvis, who also happens to be an Elvis impersonator, as he struggles to get by in the strife ridden slums of Lagos. 

This was a total wild card book for me, as I likely would not have picked it up had it not been recommended to me by my girlfriend.  Abani set the tone for the book early on as he painted a vivid picture of the city of Lagos and it's inhabitants.  He also weaved two story threads for most of the book as he alternated telling of Elvis' current life in the slums of Lagos, and his younger years in the village of Afikpo.  By the end, the threads come together and the novel came to a satisfying, and realistic end. 

1. The Pearl by John Steinbeck

 

I have to admit first off, that this one is a re-read.  That being said, it was still the best book I read this year.  This was my second reading of The Pearl, the first read came on a road trip with my brother eight years ago.  I really love this book.  Steinbeck tells such a great story, and I love every word of this novel.  Each scene from the book comes to life so clearly in my mind's eye and I loved how vivid the whole story is.  I found myself noticing different things on this read through.   I loved Juana's strength, and how she held herself and her family together as the story unfolded.  This is a timeless classic for me, and well deserving of my top book of 2009.