Highway 99: A Literary Journey Through California's Great Central Valley

by Stan Yogi (Editor)

From the myths of the Yokuts Indians to stories and poems of famous contemporary writers, this ground breaking anthology showcases the best of California's Great Central Valley writings. Unlike New England or the South, the Central Valley has never been recognized as a region of literary significance. And yet this flat farming region, nestled between the Sierra Nevada and the coast, has produced a surprising body of magnificent writing. This anthology includes more than 70 writers, storytellers, and poets, each interpreting the Valley from their own perspective and personal experience. Together, they provide a rich view of the region's physical and emotional landscape. This is American literature at its best - literature as authentic and as powerful as the land that inspired it.

Genres: Fiction, Poetry, Anthologies, American History, Essays, Short Stories

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just have to add this book because of one story in it "Madera" by Franz Weinschenk. Franz use to be my brother-in-law. He married my oldest sister in June, 1953 so I have known him practically my whole life. I was aware of his family's flight from Germany in 1935 to escape Hitler. I knew they had initially settled in New York City but I never did know the story of how they got to California. This is that story and I was mesmerized by it. I felt I was probably prejudiced but I loaned it to my best friend as I thought she might enjoy it. She, also, was fascinated by it and a subsequent story that I have a copy it that's not in the book. It is the story of Franz when he was in the Army and stationed in Germany. He returns to the home of the woman who hid them when the Gestapo was knocking on the door. I had never heard this story before and my stomach was in my throat while reading it. I have the book and the other story if you wish to borrow it.

[Beth Cato · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley of California, and the longer I've been away the more I long to return and be closer to family. It's not a fully positive place though - over development, gangs, allergies, drought. However, I find my home region often as a subject in my writing and also in my reading.[return][return]Highway 99 is a diverse 545-page anthology of essays, short fiction, poetry and plays. It covers well-known explorers such as John Muir commenting on how the valley was one mass of wildflowers in the spring (alas, no more) to Mexican farmworkers and Hmong refugees. The quality is quite high. The more I read, the more I realized how ignorant I am. I enjoyed seeing my hometown mentioned a few times, and several essays on the reason my great-grandparents came to the valley - the discovery of oil a century ago.[return][return]Great book, and one I highly recommend for anyone in or from the Central Valley.

[Jenn Raley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated finding a book devoted to California's Central Valley - a rare thing. This book does a good job of celebrating and exposing the realities of the San Joaquin Valley.

Like any anthology, some of the pieces are really great, while others are not as interesting. My favorites, for the most part, were the essays - especially those at the beginning, which described the long-lost valley as it was before it was turned into farmland, then endless housing tracts.

I had a hard time getting through it, which surprised me. I suspect it was the lack of a driving theme or plot - since each discrete piece of writing was an end to itself, there was nothing driving me to read the one that succeeded it.

I would recommend this to anyone who grew up in the Central Valley, or who lives there now.

[David Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

"To a stranger driving 99," Joan Didion explains, "these towns must seem so flat, so impoverished, as to drain the imagination." Her attempts to then refute the accusation--as well as those attempts by her colleagues--fails in utterly and dismally epic proportions.

Highway 99 disappoints terribly in its attempt to move the reader into some kind of passion for California's Central Valley. Even the selections from the most famous and established authors fall short of that goal. Even the composition of the book--its inner margins reduced so that the words disappear into the spine--disappoints. Only the pictures really provoke any dreamy, wistful imagination.

[Dayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall enjoyable, and the most poetry I've read since high school. My favorite part was the first half, I think. I loved the Native American tales and the first white explorers' descriptions of how things used to look in the Central Valley of California. I wanted more of those stories. This covers so many kinds of industry, too - from the migrant farmworkers to oil field gangs to the processing of the food by various immigrant communities.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

428 pages. Donated 2010 May.

This regional best-seller includes works by Joan Didion, Maxine Hong Kingston, David Mas Masumoto, Richard Rodriguez, Gary Snyder, Gary Soto, John Steinbeck, and others. More than 15,000 copies sold in its first year.

Fabulous collection of short stories, poetry, drama from and about California's Central Valley ... American literature at its best.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this anthology very much. Arranged chronologically, it starts with a Native American legend and includes an essay by Joan Didion and stories of immigrant life through the decades. Some essays I enjoyed more than others, but overall it's very worth reading.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Central California is often neglected in culture and literature. This anthology give a rich selection of central valley writers and their stories.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice compilation of stories, but got tired of it in the end.

[CFAITC]

This anthology, which includes more than 70 writers, provides a rich view of the region's physical and emotional landscape.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible melange telling of the history of our Valley starting with the early Indians. Lots of poetry. A great summary.