Cannery Row, by John Steinbeck

Most of us are introduced to John Steinbeck through his darker works, assigned to traumatize us in junior high or high school. I was required to read “The Pearl” first, and I promise you, the pearl costs the people who find it an awful lot. I won’t give away the plot of Of Mice and Men, but let’s just say that puppies, a woman, and a retarded man all share an unpleasant experience. I won’t even begin to list the ways in which The Grapes of Wrath can be sour.

Don’t get me wrong, I think all of the above are important, moving works that every reader should try at some point, but they don’t tell you everything about Steinbeck. There is a warmer, funnier side of his work that hints at his naturalistic outlook without leaving you devastated.

Cannery Row is a great introduction to Steinbeck’s positive side: his genuine affection for good-hearted people who are poor but happy. It’s a quick read about homeless itinerant workers, prostitutes, and other down and out folk in Depression-era Monterey, California. They’re a rowdy batch, kept somewhat in line by the guidance of Doc, a kind marine biologist. They suffer tragedy and make mistakes, particularly when money or alcohol are around, but this isn’t a sad book. It’s a story full of gentle humor about friendship and the power of community, even when the community is Skid Row. It features one of the great party scenes in all of literature.

If you like this side of Steinbeck, try Tortilla Flat, or the sequel to Cannery Row, Sweet Thursday, or his nonfiction trek through America, Travels with Charley. These books round out the philosophy of Steinbeck’s darker books and will give you a full appreciation of one of America’s best authors. No matter which title you choose, I think you’ll find that this is a writer whose work ages well. Steinbeck still has plenty to say about our contemporary world.

Check the WRL catalog for Cannery Row

Or try Cannery Row in large print