My listicle for the book Cannery Row by John Steinbeck gives three quotes that are examples of why you should read Cannery Row.
1. "Its inhabitants are, as the man once said, 'whores, pimps, gamblers, and sons of bitches' by which he meant Everybody. Had the man looked through another peephole he might have said 'Saints and angels and martyrs and holy men' and he would have meant the same thing" (pg.1)
This quote is used in the first paragraph of the novel when the author is describing the people that live in Cannery Row. Throughout the novel we can see that the characters in the novel are not your average main characters. The novel focuses on a group of men who live together to avoid unique troubles, they drink, do not work much, and often lie to get their way. Steinbeck shows through this novel, that although many judge them as bad people and people choose to ignore that they have good qualities. Similar to some other Steinbeck novels, the focus is on "real people" who have obvious flaws. The novel beautifully portrays how although very different all people desire to be accepted and loved.
2. "I bet Mack could of been president of the U.S if he wanted" (pg.84)
I think this quote gives a great example of the humor used in Cannery Row. Mack and his friends are on private property, when approached by the owner of the land and asked to leave, Mack is able to become immediate friends with the land owner and is invited to the man's house. Mack does so through a series of complete lies and the ability to manipulate others very well. This is ironic that Mack's friend unknowingly compares Mack's lies and manipulation to the job of the U.S. president. Ironic humor like this is present through the novel. In addition, humor can be found in the unique situations the characters find themselves in.
3. "Mack and the boys came down to this place happily. It was perfect. If frogs were available, they would be here. It was a place to relax, to be happy" (pg.76)
Although the characters mentioned in this quote have no house or job, they are able to be very content with what they have and the places they go. It is refreshing to read about characters that are not obsessed with the possession of material items, money, and success. Instead, they enjoy nature and the companionship of their friends. Even though the book has little suspense or clear plot, it is full of vivid descriptions, interesting characters, and insight into a community unlike those in other books.
-Eleanor
I think the fact that the book focuses on characters with flaws who enjoy the simpler things in life is a unique and intriguing concept. I also like the author's use of comedy and how it continues to show that these characters are interesting to follow and that not only flawless characters are worth reading about. I would love to read this book!
ReplyDeleteGreat Post! I like how the focus isn't on the characters but on how they are with each other, and that they aren't magical people that can only exist in a book but real people with flaws. I think the use of humor is a nice touch. I've already read a couple of Steinbeck books and I might read this one too
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. All the points that you made are all very convincing and well-written. I like the idea of portraying everyday events of ordinary people, and I also like the idea of a protagonist which is clearly flawed, yet still relatable and interesting to read about. For those reasons, I'll most likely be reading this in the near future.
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