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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
I'd always assumed that Steinbeck was an overly sentimental and moralizing author who would annoy me with rotten cliches about the value of every human being and simple rural life while emphasizing romantic and simple tragedy in a way that tread perilously close kitsch. Turns out I was wrong. Not that he's totally unlike the writer I imagined, but it was a caricature that, if I'd really thought about it, I should have realized couldn't be true. It's not the first time and (sadly) won't be the last time that I've taken an exaggerated dislike to something just because it's popular.
The book itself? The characters are (mostly) well drawn, the stories interesting, the setting well realized. Most of the stories seem to turn on the notion that, ultimately, we all live alone with our various needs, desires, and fears. When people try to intervene in the lives of their neighbors it often goes sour, through a lack of understanding or a conflation of their neighbors needs with their own. Family is paramount and there are a couple of examples where the bond between husband and wife transcends the general limitation on humanity's ability to know and support one another. Interesting, the bonds between parents and children seem much looser. There are a few times where I felt it was all being laid on just a tad thick.
The description of small scale agriculture is lovely and sentimental and I can't help but think that it would have been particularly potent for my parents and others (many of my parents' age) who are one generation removed from the land. I wonder how much this contributed to Steinbeck's popularity in the 20th century and how it will change in the years to come as fewer and fewer people have recent family, or youthful personal, experience with life on a small farm.
The book itself? The characters are (mostly) well drawn, the stories interesting, the setting well realized. Most of the stories seem to turn on the notion that, ultimately, we all live alone with our various needs, desires, and fears. When people try to intervene in the lives of their neighbors it often goes sour, through a lack of understanding or a conflation of their neighbors needs with their own. Family is paramount and there are a couple of examples where the bond between husband and wife transcends the general limitation on humanity's ability to know and support one another. Interesting, the bonds between parents and children seem much looser. There are a few times where I felt it was all being laid on just a tad thick.
The description of small scale agriculture is lovely and sentimental and I can't help but think that it would have been particularly potent for my parents and others (many of my parents' age) who are one generation removed from the land. I wonder how much this contributed to Steinbeck's popularity in the 20th century and how it will change in the years to come as fewer and fewer people have recent family, or youthful personal, experience with life on a small farm.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
relaxing
fast-paced
کتاب متشکل از چندین داستان نسبتاً کوتاه و به نوعی مرتبط باهمه، از خوندن بعضی از داستان‌ها لذت بردم و از برخی‌ها نه چندان. ولی در مجموع می تونم بگم اصلاً قابل قیاس با اثری مثل شرق بهشت نیست هرچند اسمش بسیار شبیه به اونه، به نظرم این کتاب از بقیه آثار اشتاین بک ضعیف تر اومد و از اون کشش لازم برخوردار نبود برای من. با این وجود همچنان اشتاین بک یکی از نویسنده‌های مورد علاقه منه و بی تردید به دلیل نبوغش در خلق داستان، فضاسازی و انتقال احساسات به مخاطب یکی از نوادر نویسندگی در ادبیات جهان بشمار میاد.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
Strange to me how such simple stories could be so addicting. Fast read. It kinda reminded me of 100 Years of Solitude (w/o the magical realism) bc of the same circular timing, family sagas, small town, overlapping stories, good storytelling, and rich writing. Same morals as well: the sins of average people in a small town. Significant in its simplicity!
I enjoyed most of it, but some stories were just plain sad):
I enjoyed most of it, but some stories were just plain sad):
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes