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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
there was some good insightful stuff but mostly steinbeck just talks about how his dog is french.
I picked up and put down this book several times over 6 months, and am glad I chose to read it in snippets rather than all at once. It’s a beautifully written tale of a journey Steinbeck takes cross country with his dog Charley as his companion. It’s a lovely commentary on country, society, and individualism. And I was so pleased to find that Steinbeck spoke up and stood up for racial justice. Excellent narrative and worth the read.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Travels with Charley is a fun, lighthearted, easy read that I would recommend to anyone. Steinbeck’s humor shines bright throughout this book, and is something I have missed dearly in his other books; I often found myself laughing out loud to many of his quips about a passerby, his beloved dog, or the scenes around him. Steinbeck discusses how his yearning to travel America is something that has never left him regardless of the excuses (young and dumb, middle aged, facing death, etc) and is something I would imagine most people relate to. His experiences in the end in the Deep South of Louisiana and Alabama, although not quite to the extent that he has, can be seen by my peers if they look closely enough in the recent laws and sentiments of our state government.
Honestly, kind of boring! And I have a weird guilt about saying it. Overall I kinda struggled with it, hence taking so long to finish it. While some of the writing was lovely (the pages on the Southwest were especially nice), it didn't say a whole lot. He just doesn't seem interested in what he's doing! I was most touched by him taking care of Charley when he got sick! There were some interesting parts, like the Texan Thanksgiving and his homeowners bar, and some nice insights. But it won't stay with me.
Great read, I recommend it to all Americans interested in the US of America. Especially if you like interesting commentary and have a fondness for a time from before you were born (unless you're old, then you've probably already read this. In which you should reread it because it's great.)
Really surprised by this book and how much I felt it was still relevant.
I started with 4 stars. After thinking about this book for months, I decided it was time to upgrade to 5.
