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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
A literary gem that resonated deeply with me.
The narrative, enriched by Steinbeck's faithful companion, Charley, is more than just a travelogue—it's a poignant exploration of the American spirit and the diverse tapestry of its people.
Through Charley's eyes and Steinbeck's prose, I felt a deeper connection to the places and people they encountered, each chapter unveiling new facets of American life.
It allowed me to virtually traverse the country, meeting characters from all walks of life. This mental road trip was both exhilarating and humbling; a window into the myriad experiences that shape the American landscape.
A timeless adventure that spoke to my heart and soul at a core level.
The narrative, enriched by Steinbeck's faithful companion, Charley, is more than just a travelogue—it's a poignant exploration of the American spirit and the diverse tapestry of its people.
Through Charley's eyes and Steinbeck's prose, I felt a deeper connection to the places and people they encountered, each chapter unveiling new facets of American life.
It allowed me to virtually traverse the country, meeting characters from all walks of life. This mental road trip was both exhilarating and humbling; a window into the myriad experiences that shape the American landscape.
A timeless adventure that spoke to my heart and soul at a core level.
adventurous
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Believe or it not, this is my first Steinbeck book. I was given this book as a gift. I was even more intrigued to read it after learning Steinbeck was sick when he wrote this and knew he was dying. In fact, it was because he knew he was dying that he undertook this trip to see his country one last time. I wondered how much of an effect this had on his observations. Steinbeck called this his journey one of "self-discovery."
This book surprised me in a good way. Steinbeck made some very astute observations about America and I found myself laughing at some of his witty remarks. The book uses the landscape as symbolism in many ways throughout the book and often connects it to Steinbeck's state of mind when he encounters the landscape. For example, the desert symbolizes the inability of humans to conquer every inch of the Earth.
Steinbeck gave his thoughts on a wide range of topics - environmentalism, race and politics, and Americans in general. Travels with Charley was written in the 1960's, but I found a lot of the book was relevant to today. I truly enjoyed reading this book.
This book surprised me in a good way. Steinbeck made some very astute observations about America and I found myself laughing at some of his witty remarks. The book uses the landscape as symbolism in many ways throughout the book and often connects it to Steinbeck's state of mind when he encounters the landscape. For example, the desert symbolizes the inability of humans to conquer every inch of the Earth.
Steinbeck gave his thoughts on a wide range of topics - environmentalism, race and politics, and Americans in general. Travels with Charley was written in the 1960's, but I found a lot of the book was relevant to today. I truly enjoyed reading this book.
Written in 1962--this book is completely relevant for today.
Absolutely beautiful perspective on road tripping through the US. I fell in love with Charley, of course. Makes me want to repeat the road trip I did a couple years ago.
I started this book while on a short vacation, which is absolutely the right way to embrace it. I fully expected to finish it on that trip, but as usual other things intervened. Because it so fully embodied the traveling mindset, I found it hard to pick up again when I was sedentary at home. That's just a long way of saying it took me a long time to finish a pretty short book. Which is also the feeling I get on how it was written.
The book is exactly what it says in the title. It's a bunch of short encounters with people and things as Steinbeck wanders around the country. Some stories work better than others. They vary from profound to humorous to idyllic, some strive to be those things and fall short. Which makes it all the more natural and enjoyable. I know little of Steinbeck the man, but this book makes me think he would be a fine person to have a drink and talk with.
The book is exactly what it says in the title. It's a bunch of short encounters with people and things as Steinbeck wanders around the country. Some stories work better than others. They vary from profound to humorous to idyllic, some strive to be those things and fall short. Which makes it all the more natural and enjoyable. I know little of Steinbeck the man, but this book makes me think he would be a fine person to have a drink and talk with.
It was fine. I think that my expectations going into it kind of turned this book into a let down.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
This book makes me want to pack my bags and drive away. Quite interesting.
hang out in steinbeck's head as he searches for america with no company aside from his very interesting dog. awesome.
the book is uneven, but it reads more like a travel journal than a polished work of anthropological insight. whether or not he finds america sort of remains to be seen, and the end may be seen as anti-climactic. still, like i said, hanging out in steinbeck's head is alright by me.
the book is uneven, but it reads more like a travel journal than a polished work of anthropological insight. whether or not he finds america sort of remains to be seen, and the end may be seen as anti-climactic. still, like i said, hanging out in steinbeck's head is alright by me.
What a beautiful glimpse of an America gone by. A story of experiences with American humanity in 1960. Interesting to see how the past and present mirror one another, and how little progress has been made in the areas of tolerance and ignorance. Steinbeck documents his cross-country adventure with a casual and personal prose that feels like a good conversation with a close friend.
A must-read for all those born with a sense of adventure and wanderlust.
A must-read for all those born with a sense of adventure and wanderlust.
It’s a slow read; I put more hours into reading it than I had planned to. It is full of beautiful passages, but it simply wasn’t compelling enough to give it more than three stars; I never urged to continue reading.