Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

I have bitten off way more than I can chew in 2021.

But, nonetheless, here is the thread for our June novellas. I have read Cannery Row and thoroughly enjoyed it's style, and I'm interested in trying to wedge Sweet Thursday into my June plans!

I've started listening to Cannery Row.

I've just finished Cannery Row and enjoyed it more than other Steinbeck books. Maybe it was because there was humor to the storytelling. Mack and the boys sure got into a lot of trouble but they had big hearts. Doc was a wonderful character.

Sweet Thursday is just as good, and continues Doc's story.

Glad to hear that, Rosemarie.

I read Cannery Row a few years ago and can still remember the tales of Doc and Mack and the boys on their adventures of everyday life. For some reason the plans never work out the way they want them to. Everything turns into a disaster. The characters are charming and fun!

This is such an amazing book with lots of sentiment and compassion, presenting eccentric and marginalized people showing their good side. And it has such funny scenes, which made me burst into laughter many times.

Armin wrote: "This is such an amazing book with lots of sentiment and compassion, presenting eccentric and marginalized people showing their good side. And it has such funny scenes, which made me burst into laug..."

Armin did you read both books?

Armin wrote: "This is such an amazing book with lots of sentiment and compassion, presenting eccentric and marginalized people showing their good side. And it has such funny scenes, which made me burst into laug..."

No, I just finished the 1st one this morning.

I really enjoyed Cannery Row myself.

Just finished the June read - I loved re-reading both books, and of the two, Sweet Thursday was my favourite.

John did you like the story better or ??
I have not read Sweet Thursday.

Hi Lesle, Cannery Row was a funny book, with a great cast of characters and I really enjoyed it. Sweet Thursday has many of the same characters, and is also funny...but has a poignancy that Cannery Row lacks. Probably because Steinbeck's friend, Ed Ricketts, ("Doc") had died between the writing of the two books.
Having said that Sweet Thursday is my favourite, I rarely read one without the other.

That is interesting. I would have thought I could read the other much later but sounds as if I shouldnt.
Thanks John!

I recommend Sweet Thursday as well, Lesle.

I just finished Sweet Thursday as well. It's not funny as Cannery row, but more romantic and still pretty good.
I liked Cannery Row more due to its humor.

I'm glad you enjoyed them, Armin. I agree that Cannery Row is the funnier book.

Thanks Rosemarie.
I noticed that there is a movie with Nick Nolte. Has anybody watched it ?

I'm relatively new to Steinbeck having started to read him quite recently. Although I've been avoiding him for years (some of his subject matter I found depressing), I was much tempted to read his Russian Journal. And then I figured out that it cannot be my first Steinbeck reading and that I got to prepare my way. :) So I read Of Mice and Men, Cannery Row, and Sweet Thursday, comparatively shorter ones I could get hold of. And I have to say, they, especially Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday made me fall in love with Steinbeck. I truly enjoyed those two. The Cannery Row is the better one of the two, but I enjoyed the sequel equally. I'm not a sequel fan and often find them disappointing, so me enjoying a sequel is saying much about the author.

Piyangie wrote: "I'm relatively new to Steinbeck having started to read him quite recently. Although I've been avoiding him for years (some of his subject matter I found depressing), I was much tempted to read his ..."

I also never read Steinbeck before, but I find him very pleasant to read. And he's not depressing at all, even if the themes seem to be depressing, he points out the positive and engages you to sympathize with the characters.

Armin wrote: "And he's not depressing at all, even if the themes seem to be depressing, he points out the positive and engages you to sympathize with the characters...."

I'm discovering my mistake, Armin. :)