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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not awful, but not great by Steinbeck’s standards. Not a whole lot happens, but it also feels like it doesn’t have a ton to say. I only found myself invested in a couple of the characters, and even then wasn’t all that compelled. Being Steinbeck though, there is still great prose throughout.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
A wonderful little tale about how unhappy we all really are. I enjoyed where it ended up but felt it took a bit too long to get going. Overall it ranks up there with some of his best.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book reminded me of less tragic version of 'As I lay dying' by Faulkner. There is not much action in the book, plot isn't that interesting. However, most of the 'action' happens inside people's minds. Steinbeck brilliantly portrays subtle interactions between characters, their thoughts about the interactions and their hopes, dreams and beliefs.
The Wayward Bus is another gem of a short novel by Steinbeck. Like a number of other Steinbeck works, this novel is set in Salinas Valley, particularly at a gas station/convenience store/restaurant/car repair place called Rebel Corners. The owner of Rebel Corners owns an old bus named "Sweetheart" which he uses to transport customers between two Greyhound bus stops. As the story begins we learn that Sweetheart has broken down, resulting in the six people being stranded at Rebel Corners with the two owners, Juan and Alice Chicoy, and their two young employees, "Pimples" Carson, and Norma. The six waiting passengers consist of a wealthy businessman named Elliott Prichard, his wife Bernice, and their college aged daughter Mildred; Ernest Horton, a war vet and salesman; Van Brunt, and old curmudgeon; and a young lady whose name we don't know (she made up the name Camille Oaks while at Rebel Corners) and who has a background in adult entertainment.
The first half the novel takes place at Rebel Corners while the bus is being repaired. The six stranded passengers are allowed to sleep in the owners' and staffs' bedrooms while the latter sleep on the floor. The characters are all unique and all currently have issues in life which we gradually learn about, and there are some interesting interactions and conversations as they all get to know each other and the staff, and co-exist in the cramped quarters. The staff have their own personal issues - there is marital tension between the Chicoys and the junior staff members have self-esteem issues and don't know what they want out of life. These issues are magnified with the arrival of the six passengers who add tension to the their lives in a number of ways.
The second half of the novel takes place on Sweetheart as Juan drives the passengers and junior staff members through a storm to their Greyhound connection. The plot takes a wayward (!) course which results in swelling tension as the inner turmoil for some of the characters starts to bubble up and you wonder how this is all going to end up.
Despite the novel's short length Steinbeck's characters are really well developed (per usual) and not surprisingly most have a dark streak to them. This isn't the feel good story of the summer. Very little happens in the way of action but the novel is hard to put down as the way the characters are unveiled is mesmerizing. And Steinbeck's writing is always fantastic. Always. 4.5 stars.
The first half the novel takes place at Rebel Corners while the bus is being repaired. The six stranded passengers are allowed to sleep in the owners' and staffs' bedrooms while the latter sleep on the floor. The characters are all unique and all currently have issues in life which we gradually learn about, and there are some interesting interactions and conversations as they all get to know each other and the staff, and co-exist in the cramped quarters. The staff have their own personal issues - there is marital tension between the Chicoys and the junior staff members have self-esteem issues and don't know what they want out of life. These issues are magnified with the arrival of the six passengers who add tension to the their lives in a number of ways.
The second half of the novel takes place on Sweetheart as Juan drives the passengers and junior staff members through a storm to their Greyhound connection. The plot takes a wayward (!) course which results in swelling tension as the inner turmoil for some of the characters starts to bubble up and you wonder how this is all going to end up.
Despite the novel's short length Steinbeck's characters are really well developed (per usual) and not surprisingly most have a dark streak to them. This isn't the feel good story of the summer. Very little happens in the way of action but the novel is hard to put down as the way the characters are unveiled is mesmerizing. And Steinbeck's writing is always fantastic. Always. 4.5 stars.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars. Steinbeck’s writing just pulls me allll the way in.