May 25, 2023FatimahS0 rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
John Steinbeck wrote "Cannery Row" as a humorous book that cherished past times. It surrounds the characters of the fishing town Cannery Row, and describes how everyone wants to do something special for one citizen, Doc. Doc is based off…
Mar 13, 2023FloraWest rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A slighter volume that feels like a pretty autobiographical novel. Reminds me a little bit of "Down and Out in Paris and London" but in California. Enjoyed this character study of working people in California very much.
Nov 05, 2022RebelBelle13 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
This is my first Steinbeck in decades. I recall reading something of his as a child, but I can't place specific details. My experience with Cannery Row reminds me why. The work is fine, the reading experience mostly pleasant, but the story…
Apr 07, 2022jwilkens rated this title 0.5 out of 5 stars
This was one of the worst books I've ever read. I read East of Eden and enjoyed it but Cannery Row had absolutely nothing to it. I LOVE the Monterey area and still wasn't interested in any of the characters or the storyline.
May 15, 2021nityarjnd rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck is a captivating read. about defying the norms of society and focuses on life in the present moment. The characters are very charming and memorable, which was my personal favorite aspect of this book. The…
This is a rather enjoyable book; its wry, even sarcastic, humanely tolerant, very diverse (even a gopher gets a chapter) with all sorts of oddballs, and often funny. The book it reminded me most of was Suttree by McCarthy. At the end there…
Jul 05, 2019ea304gt rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Not as intense or profound as Grapes of Wrath, but quite enjoyable. The actual star is the town itself, Cannery Row in Monterrey, CA. As a good Fellini film, stuff simply happens. Lee Chong's magical store, Dora's etiquette whorehouse, a…
What a writer. Very much worth rereading. In fact, I just read about a book titled Beyond Boundaries: Rereading John Steinbeck, edited by Susan Shillinglaw and Kevin Hearle. What a picture of life right after World War II in what was then…
Jan 29, 2019InsJavert rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I admire Steinbeck’s ability to put together words in such a manner as to draw your attention to their use and what those words bring together in your imagination. I was returning home from a trip, and as I was driving along, this story,…
Jun 04, 2016TSCPL_ChrisB rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Cannery Row gives you glimpses of Steinbeck's wonderful scenes, memorable characters, breathtaking settings, humor and heartbreak, but they're just glimpses, and they're all just a bit out of focus
Apr 15, 2016Margush rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This book is a treasure! It's absolutely hilarious, characters are loveable, dialogues are to die for and English... Or dear what an amazing knowledge and masterful use of English language. A very well deserved Nobel prize in literature by…
Oct 24, 2014garycornell rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Great novel with wonderful characters that lived on Cannery Row in the 1930's. John Steinbeck was writing about real people he knew in Monterey at the time. The novel was so popular it was later made into a movie with Nick Nolte and then…
Dec 22, 2013keithwi rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
After reading eleven chapters, it occurred to me that the author's style of writing reminded me of someone else who did a much better job of creating a picture in the reader's mind. Finally, in chapter 12, Steinbeck gives the answer --…
Aug 18, 2013TheIronPaw rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I believe this is the best novel I've ever read (although there may well be others lost in the over 6 decades of books). What a beautiful writing style: so smooth and easy to read that the images and characters of Cannery Row flow right…
Dec 22, 2012becker rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Not too much in the way of plot, but instead you get a wonderful cast of characters with some great dialogue (packed full of great quotes) and a great sense of the setting. If you are someone who enjoys Steinbeck's style, you will not be…
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Cannery Row