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jay_the_hippie 's review for:
Sweet Thursday
by John Steinbeck
And then there was that Sweet Thursday…
I read Cannery Row too long ago (or, more accurately, I read too many books since I read Cannery Row) the remember all the details of that novel. Actually, until I started reading this book, I didn’t realize Cannery Row had a sequel. Maybe you are learning that for the first time right here in the middle of this book review. If so, you’re welcome. I’d sing something about that, but it might get trapped in your head for a few hours or weeks, so I won’t do that right now.
I’d like to comment on the way the characters may have grown or matured since the last novel, but, as you may have realized from the previous paragraph, I don’t have the requisite knowledge to discuss that. Maybe I’ll reread Cannery Row before the details of Sweet Thursday are washed from my head, but it does seem unlikely.
There’s a lot of humor in this book, though much of it has a kind of darkness. The situation of life is rather difficult for these people, but as a reader I wanted good things to happen to them. I especially felt for Suzy, who had too many people trying to direct her life. They all meant well, but there’s a strength that comes with making your own decisions and mistakes. I also really liked what Steinbeck did with Hazel in this book, starting right after the party. Hopefully the word “party” isn’t a spoiler.
The way that Doc’s perception of Suzy changes through the story… I think that is where I would craft an essay on this novel if I were reading this book for a class and assigned some sort of essay. I’d have to reread Sweet Thursday, though, or at least skim it thoroughly so I could collect supporting data.
For now I’m going to assume that there’s no third book in this series, but if I happen to come across such a book someday, I’ll plan to read it. Or if Steinbeck decides to come back from the dead to write a third book, then I'll almost certainly read it. Maybe I’ll still have some details from Sweet Thursday squirreled away, or even details of Cannery Row by then.
I read Cannery Row too long ago (or, more accurately, I read too many books since I read Cannery Row) the remember all the details of that novel. Actually, until I started reading this book, I didn’t realize Cannery Row had a sequel. Maybe you are learning that for the first time right here in the middle of this book review. If so, you’re welcome. I’d sing something about that, but it might get trapped in your head for a few hours or weeks, so I won’t do that right now.
I’d like to comment on the way the characters may have grown or matured since the last novel, but, as you may have realized from the previous paragraph, I don’t have the requisite knowledge to discuss that. Maybe I’ll reread Cannery Row before the details of Sweet Thursday are washed from my head, but it does seem unlikely.
There’s a lot of humor in this book, though much of it has a kind of darkness. The situation of life is rather difficult for these people, but as a reader I wanted good things to happen to them. I especially felt for Suzy, who had too many people trying to direct her life. They all meant well, but there’s a strength that comes with making your own decisions and mistakes. I also really liked what Steinbeck did with Hazel in this book, starting right after the party. Hopefully the word “party” isn’t a spoiler.
The way that Doc’s perception of Suzy changes through the story… I think that is where I would craft an essay on this novel if I were reading this book for a class and assigned some sort of essay. I’d have to reread Sweet Thursday, though, or at least skim it thoroughly so I could collect supporting data.
For now I’m going to assume that there’s no third book in this series, but if I happen to come across such a book someday, I’ll plan to read it. Or if Steinbeck decides to come back from the dead to write a third book, then I'll almost certainly read it. Maybe I’ll still have some details from Sweet Thursday squirreled away, or even details of Cannery Row by then.