The Open Book's classic bookclub just finished reading
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. I have always been a Steinbeck fan, but my admiration has deepened with this odd book. The opening line is " 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." From this line Steinbeck goes on to tell a story of the people of Cannery Row, some of whom are down and out, som
e of whom are dreamers, some of whom are whores. It is a beautiful mish mash of a story held together by the glue of the Chinese grocery owner and Doc, the collector of marine and other specimens. Some of the other memorable characters are Mack, Eddie, Dora (the town madam) and an enigmatic character known only as "The Chinaman". Steinbeck once said that he wanted the book to have the qualities of a tide pool. I think that he succeeded, because the stories change as the time passes and you read on. This is a great book to read on a lazy summer afternoon.
The Open Book's classic bookclub just finished reading Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. I have always been a Steinbeck fan, but my admiration has deepened with this odd book. The opening line is " 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." From this line Steinbeck goes on to tell a story of the people of Cannery Row, some of whom are down and out, som
e of whom are dreamers, some of whom are whores. It is a beautiful mish mash of a story held together by the glue of the Chinese grocery owner and Doc, the collector of marine and other specimens. Some of the other memorable characters are Mack, Eddie, Dora (the town madam) and an enigmatic character known only as "The Chinaman". Steinbeck once said that he wanted the book to have the qualities of a tide pool. I think that he succeeded, because the stories change as the time passes and you read on. This is a great book to read on a lazy summer afternoon. 
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