GENRE: Classic Lit
HONORS: None
REVIEW: Steinbeck paints a picture of the small sardine strip in Monterey, California during the time of the Great Depression. The story vividly captures the magic of a place off the beaten path, and revolves around "Mack and the Boys" a group who reside in the Palace Flophouse (an abandoned fishing warehouse). Cannery Row is distinctive for the relationships and antics that involve "the Boys", a marine biologist named Doc, a liquor store owner named Lee Chong, and even a gang of whorehouse women. The respect and loyalty to each other are expressed through the series of the zany antics that they get into and the unspoken roles that each had in the community. The time frame is significant because they were all living in poverty, and had a dependence on one another despite their differences.
OPINION: This is a story that builds its charm through the descriptive scenes of the area and attitudes of the time, rather than a dramatic story line. The book isn't the best first story for those who are unfamiliar to the American author, but it is a fantastic portrayal of a period in California.
IDEAS: English curriculum with a focus in local history.
No comments:
Post a Comment