This is wonderful! I can't wait to read more. I recently, probably a month ago or so, purchased a copy of the Harvest Gypsies and have been watching the PBS documentary on the Dust Bowl. I had read the Grapes of Wrath a million years ago. But that's basically all that I have read of Steinbeck.
Thanks Emily! I am excited. First time I have done something this ambitious! I have all the books purchased and ready to go. I haven't seen that PBS documentary. Might have to check it out.
It's a Ken Burns documentary on PBS on the Dust Bowl. Two parts. Also, The Harvest Gypsies is an insanely gut wrenching description of living conditions in the camps.
This looks like a fantastic reading challenge to embark on! I read Grapes of Wrath in high school and seem to remember a school trip to the local theatre to see a production of it...I also read Of Mice and Men of course, the standard exam text! I've never set out to read a whole author's works, it's an interesting idea. I look forward to following your progress 😀
Thanks Kate! I am a first timer for this type of project. I do have a few authors I have read all their works but it was not intentional as a project. I think going through systematically like this will be insightful.
Love this project you are launching Matthew! So interesting. I have been meaning to revisit Steinbeck. I am looking forward to following your posts on this project.
I love Steinbeck so much that I will only read one of his books per year. I’ve only read five. This way, I don’t accidentally binge-read the best fiction writer. This is a worthy study.
Retro, thanks for stopping by! There is absolutely value in slow reading an author, no doubt. I think Steinbeck is one of those I will keep returning to over the course of my life. This project will be interesting because of the format as if I am reading one long story. I look forward to sharing the experience with you.
I read The Red Pony, Of Mice and Men, and East of Eden back in high school, and I can honestly say that I still think about their themes and characters even now, nearly 8 years later. Steinbeck is truly a hallmark of American literature.
This is such a cool idea!! I really found East of Eden to be wonderful; it has such a primal feeling about it. On the other hand, I did not enjoy Grapes of Wrath as much
I read Grapes of Wrath over 30 years ago in high school. At the time it didn't make a huge impression on me. I will be interested to see how different it is this time around. East of Eden is simply amazing. Thanks for taking the time to stop by. Hope you will tag along throughout the year.
I read Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday dozens of times and adopted Doc as a role model. Later, after reading some biographies, I realized that the Doc in the novels was NOT the same as the real Ed Ricketts, but the role model turned out to be appropriate and productive.
Along the same lines, the Oklahoma in Grapes of Wrath is NOT the same as the real Oklahoma of the 30s. The situation was far more complex. But Grapes provided a productive role model for politicians who made meaningful improvements.
Read one. Like it. Then seek out every other book they wrote and read them all. That's pretty much my reading style. I have done it with a few crime/detective authors (most happily with Robert B Parker - English professor and Shakespear scholars by day and classy exponent of the private eye novel outside the tutorial room). But my most thrilling crawl through a literary canon was Neville Shute.
I also want to read all of Steinbeck's works (currently have completed 11) but it'll take me more than a year to finish the rest of them. Happy reading!
Kailani - thanks for taking the time to read and comment. There is no rush, a year is just a personal goal I set for myself. It might take longer than that but I am enjoying the process. Next edition of this will be out 15 January and cover the next three books in the series. Happy New Year!
This is wonderful! I can't wait to read more. I recently, probably a month ago or so, purchased a copy of the Harvest Gypsies and have been watching the PBS documentary on the Dust Bowl. I had read the Grapes of Wrath a million years ago. But that's basically all that I have read of Steinbeck.
Thanks Emily! I am excited. First time I have done something this ambitious! I have all the books purchased and ready to go. I haven't seen that PBS documentary. Might have to check it out.
It's a Ken Burns documentary on PBS on the Dust Bowl. Two parts. Also, The Harvest Gypsies is an insanely gut wrenching description of living conditions in the camps.
Cool! I've done the same thing with other authors and found it to be very rewarding.
Nice! I am excited but also a little nervous. Even if I don't love every book I think it will be educational and rewarding.
This looks like a fantastic reading challenge to embark on! I read Grapes of Wrath in high school and seem to remember a school trip to the local theatre to see a production of it...I also read Of Mice and Men of course, the standard exam text! I've never set out to read a whole author's works, it's an interesting idea. I look forward to following your progress 😀
Thanks Kate! I am a first timer for this type of project. I do have a few authors I have read all their works but it was not intentional as a project. I think going through systematically like this will be insightful.
Love this project you are launching Matthew! So interesting. I have been meaning to revisit Steinbeck. I am looking forward to following your posts on this project.
Thanks Pamela. Appreciate you following along. I think it will be an enlightening experience.
My parents grew up in the depression. My mom was an avid reader and loved Steinbeck.
New follower, expat bereft of an American library -- I love & have loved this idea. It reminds me of my younger (library enhanced) reading self.
Thanks so much Angela. I do have a respectable library but I am envious of your Italian adventures! Glad to have you along for the experience.
I love Steinbeck so much that I will only read one of his books per year. I’ve only read five. This way, I don’t accidentally binge-read the best fiction writer. This is a worthy study.
Retro, thanks for stopping by! There is absolutely value in slow reading an author, no doubt. I think Steinbeck is one of those I will keep returning to over the course of my life. This project will be interesting because of the format as if I am reading one long story. I look forward to sharing the experience with you.
I love that you’re doing this!
I read The Red Pony, Of Mice and Men, and East of Eden back in high school, and I can honestly say that I still think about their themes and characters even now, nearly 8 years later. Steinbeck is truly a hallmark of American literature.
This is such a cool idea!! I really found East of Eden to be wonderful; it has such a primal feeling about it. On the other hand, I did not enjoy Grapes of Wrath as much
I read Grapes of Wrath over 30 years ago in high school. At the time it didn't make a huge impression on me. I will be interested to see how different it is this time around. East of Eden is simply amazing. Thanks for taking the time to stop by. Hope you will tag along throughout the year.
Thank you for replying! I intend on tagging along🙂
I read Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday dozens of times and adopted Doc as a role model. Later, after reading some biographies, I realized that the Doc in the novels was NOT the same as the real Ed Ricketts, but the role model turned out to be appropriate and productive.
Along the same lines, the Oklahoma in Grapes of Wrath is NOT the same as the real Oklahoma of the 30s. The situation was far more complex. But Grapes provided a productive role model for politicians who made meaningful improvements.
http://polistrasmill.com/2022/03/07/wpa-2-5-oklahoma/
Read one. Like it. Then seek out every other book they wrote and read them all. That's pretty much my reading style. I have done it with a few crime/detective authors (most happily with Robert B Parker - English professor and Shakespear scholars by day and classy exponent of the private eye novel outside the tutorial room). But my most thrilling crawl through a literary canon was Neville Shute.
I also want to read all of Steinbeck's works (currently have completed 11) but it'll take me more than a year to finish the rest of them. Happy reading!
Kailani - thanks for taking the time to read and comment. There is no rush, a year is just a personal goal I set for myself. It might take longer than that but I am enjoying the process. Next edition of this will be out 15 January and cover the next three books in the series. Happy New Year!