Cannery Row (1945) and Sweet Thursday (1954) by John Steinbeck

June 2025 is a very light assigned reading month for me. 

I am caught up on the archive of past books from Youngest’s reading group. I already read her assigned June book. I only have two books on my own book group schedule June 2025. (I am missing one meeting and chose not to read that book, it is stupid. Another of my groups is on hiatus for summer.)

John Steinbeck’s East of Eden is one of my two assigned books, June 2025. 

I have read East of Eden at least once previously. I will read it again for this group. 

FYI, East of Eden is oldest’s favorite book. Most of us, family, have read it. It is middle’s nemesis book, she just can’t get past the first couple chapters, something about descriptions of blades of grass.

Like other authors, recently mentioned, I have little memory of which other John Steinbeck novels I have read. I know I have read some, probably not all, I am not sure which or how many. 

I decided to start the Summer of 2025 with John Steinbeck. I hope to also focus on Ernest Hemingway and the Bronte sisters. Think of this as my own classics project. We’ll see how I feel about each of these authors as an immersion.

I do not feel mandated to complete all these immersion works. I am fine not rereading books I read previously and remember. I am fine skipping books that are not my favorite. (I decided to forego nonfiction and short stories, at least for now).

I started, the end of May 2025, with the series, Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck, written in 1945 and 1954. These are not his first publications. But they are meant to go together, the only series from his fiction list. 

I had to wait for Cannery Row. No copies were instantly available through Libby. This was surprising.

When it arrived after a short wait, I was able to increase the audio speed to 1.2 for Cannery Row. This was already a short book at 6 hours. Increasing the speed reduced it to 5 hours (6/1.2 = 5).

Cannery Row is not a linear story. It is a collection of vignettes about the people who live in the poor Cannery Row section of Monterey, California during the Great Depression.

I enjoyed the stories and the characters. Note, parts of it were a little gruesome. And there were some really silly sections. It was not a driveway moments type book for me, but I enjoyed it.

When I returned the finished audio book, Cannery Row, one person was waiting for it. Steinbeck clearly has not been forgotten.

I am not sure how, again, but when I started Sweet Thursday, there were two people waiting for it. This is always good for me, it pushes me to not dawdle and finish the book. 

I was able to listen to Sweet Thursday at 1.2 speed also. This meant the 9 hour book was 7.5 hours (9/1.2=7.5). This helped. 

Sweet Thursday was a continuation of Cannery Row, picking up the characters after WWI. New characters were introduced. Sweet Thursday was more of a linear story than Cannery Row. There was a definite plot to Sweet Thursday. I enjoyed it even though again there were gruesome parts and silly parts. 

I will say, in general, Steinbeck is not for everyone. In fact classics are not for everyone. Many older books mostly appeal to experienced classics readers. It is almost like a palate thing. It is also an ear thing. I do not hear the difference in language after a few pages. I also do not hear the difference in British literature or translations. I enjoy different styles of writing.

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan is Youngest’s book group selection for June 2025. 

The beauty of reading along with her group is they pick interesting books, it gives me discussion topics with her and my husband, it gives him diverse books. Her group gets a real kick that we read along. 

I liked this book a lot. The author did a great job with her fictional characters aboard this real disaster.

This historical fiction book is based on fictional characters during a real event, the sinking of the steamship Pulaski after a boiler explosion. 

There are three story lines and two timelines. One timeline is current day Savannah, Georgia. The other two story lines are 200 years in the past.

I may have mentioned, my husband’s 2x great grandfather (on his paternal side, age 38, married with 6 kids, 5 living, German immigrant) was killed during the Civil War via a steamship boiler explosion. So killed that there were no remains. Steamship explosions were a very real event.

I had to look at two maps to remember Georgia has an eastern coastline, south of Charleston, South Carolina.  

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel

The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel was another nonfiction assigned book for one of my groups that met this week. 

This was another nonfiction book, my nonfiction stats are going to be high for May 2025. It was a very short book, under 6 hours in audio format. I think all of Michael Finkel‘s books are nonfiction.

The story is of a prolific art thief. He stole an enormous amount of art, all in an impulsive manner. A master museum pickpocket. He kept it, to admire, he did not sell it.

This book was okay. A 3.75 on a scale of 1-5 in my opinion. It was well written and extremely well researched, but just not very compelling, in my opinion. 

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn, with Saskia Maarleveld (Narrator), was an assignment for one of my groups. 

This is a historical book based on facts, with mostly made up characters. I was fine with the blending of fiction and history. 

There are a lot of characters, I liked all of them. I found it easy to tell who is the subject of each section and keep their stories straight.

Two tiny things I puzzled over, and could not decide what I thought -

One - Magical realism popped up in tiny bits. The magical realism did help tell the story, but it felt a bit out of place in a historical book. It either needed a bit more, or maybe none at all.

Two - The characters take turns cooking once a month, some of the recipes were included. They popped up in chapters. I think this was only a negative factor in Audio. I was stuck with listening to the full recipe or had to stop what I was doing, fast forward my phone. I like the fact the recipes were included, but I think they should have been all together in the front or the back of the book.

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

Under a Flaming Sky: The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894 by Daniel James Brown

Under a Flaming Sky: The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894 by Daniel James Brown.

Very good narrator, Mark Bramhall. 

Under a Flaming Sky: The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894 was my fourth and last Daniel James Brown nonfiction piece. It was well researched, well written, well told. 

The author has a personal connection to this first publication, he lost a family member in the fire. It seems likely this family link started him on his non-fiction writing journey.

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party by Daniel James Brown

 The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party by Daniel James Brown. 

Nonfiction, my third read of Daniel James Brown’s inventory. I knew exactly what was going to happen (Donner Party), but had never read more than a general paragraph or two on history text books. 

This was an excellent, detailed story, well researched and extremely well written. 

The narrator, Michael Prichard, was perfect. 

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II by Daniel James Brown

Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II by Daniel James Brown is a terrific nonfiction book. 

I read The Boys in the Boat, also nonfiction by Brown, yesterday’s post, and then started working my way through all four books on his list. Brown has become a favorite author. My husband is reading some of them too. 

Yes, there are a lot of Japanese names in Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II by Daniel James Brown. It was a very similar experience (for me) to reading The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan.

I made the decision early on to just roll with it and listen to the stories. I kept no character lists nor family charts. I simply thought - “it is one of the Chaplains” or “it is one of the secondary Nisei boys” and left it at that. 

The main characters I mostly recognized throughout the book. The secondary characters, it really did not matter to me which one it was. My husband did the exact same thing listening to this book. 

You will want to know -

“Nisei is a term referring to the second generation of Japanese Americans, specifically those born in the United States to Japanese immigrant parents (Issei). The term gained prominence during the years surrounding World War II. Nisei are American citizens, and the term is often used to describe individuals who grew up in the U.S., speaking English as their first language. “

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown

I listened to The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown, which was an assignment for one of my groups. 

It was excellent, a nonfiction piece published in 2013, that was very well written, edited, constructed. I loved the reader, Edward Herrmann. I listened at a 1.15 pace. 

I recommended it to my husband. Youngest and I suggest books to him regularly, he goes through books faster than I do.

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan is another book from Youngest’s group’s past list. 

I thought I had read this book, I had not. I think I was confusing it with Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford which I read long ago.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan is written as a series of short stories about four women’s families. The stories fluctuate between the families. It is not a linear  story. It is a collection of mixed up short stories.

I did like it, the stories were interesting, but I think it should have been organized better. 

Youngest read The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan with a character list in hand, keeping track of the families/characters and the stories.

I object, in principle, to a book being written in such a way that one has to closely follow a character list. 

I decided just to let the novel flow over me without worrying too much about which person/family belonged to each story. I just listened to each story and did not worry who was related to who. 

If I am ever assigned this title for a discussion group, and reread it, I am going to try to read the stories in order of families (see document below). If I can, in audio format. 

Here is an AI explanation of the book -

"The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan is best enjoyed by understanding its structure as a series of interconnected stories rather than a single, linear narrative. Each story, while complete, contributes to the larger themes of mother-daughter relationships, cultural identity, and the immigrant experience. 

Here's a helpful approach to reading the novel: 

1. 1. Recognize the Structure:

   The novel is divided into four main sections, each focusing on the mothers and their daughters. Think of it as a mahjong game, where each story is a tile, and the whole game (the novel) is the result of the interplay of all the tiles. 
2. 2. Don't Expect a Strict Plot:

   Each story is a vignette, a short, self-contained narrative, but the individual stories are not tied together in a traditional plot. 
3. 3. Focus on Themes:

   Look for recurring themes such as the clash between American and Chinese cultures, the challenges of immigration, and the complex relationships between mothers and daughters. 
4. 4. Consider the Narratives:

   Each story is told from the perspective of a different character, either a mother or a daughter. Pay attention to the unique voices and perspectives of each narrator. 
5. 5. Embrace the Interconnectedness:

   While the stories are independent, they are also linked by the common thread of the Joy Luck Club and the shared experiences of the mothers and daughters. 
6. 6. Enjoy the Language:

   Amy Tan's writing is characterized by its rich language, vivid imagery, and emotional depth. Allow yourself to be drawn into the stories and the characters' worlds. 
7. 7. Relate to the Characters:

   The characters in "The Joy Luck Club" are flawed and complex, just like real people. Empathize with their struggles and celebrate their triumphs. 
8. 8. Reflect on the Stories:

   After reading each story, take a moment to reflect on the themes and characters. Consider how the stories relate to your own experiences and perspectives. 

By approaching the novel with these guidelines, you can gain a deeper understanding of its themes, characters, and the complex relationships between mothers and daughters. 

 

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

Mauve Binchey and Rosemund Pilcher

Still working on my GoodReads and StoryGraph accounts. 

One day, Mauve Binchey popped in my mind. She has a lot of books. I read through all the titles, Tara Road was the only one I remembered. I added it. I am going to have to start reading to fill in the other titles.

As I fill in my past read books on Goodreads and StoryGraph, authors pop into my conscious memory from the deep files of my long ago memory. Think full file drawers.

Ditto Rosamund Pilcher. Her name suddenly popped in my head and I looked at her publication list. 

The only one that jumped out at me was The Shell Seekers. 

Is it likely that I only read one book by each author? No, not likely at all. I have always been an immersion reader. Pre-internet, it is likely I read most of the titles on the library shelf. 

The list of books under Pilcher is quite long. Like Mauve Binchey I am just going to have to dig in and read to know. On a day I have a lot of time, I will start through the earlier books, seeing which ones are familiar. I think I read a lot of them. 

Mauve Binchey -

Rosamund Pilcher - 

Using the “In Order” website that I love, revealed Rosamund originally wrote under Jane Fraser. That name, nor any of the titles, are not familiar to me. 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is another title from Youngest’s group’s past read/discussed books. I am working my way steadily through that list. 

StoryGraph describes The Midnight Library by Matt Haig as science fiction. I wonder if it might actually be magical realism. 

I found this AI description which I think is very accurate - "The Midnight Library" is a contemporary fantasy novel that blends elements of science fiction, philosophical fiction, and a touch of realism. 

I really liked this book, even though a whole bunch of those (above) genres are normally not my thing. 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is well written, unique, and a great read, in my opinion.

There would be much to discuss in a group setting.

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

Four books I remembered I tread in the 1970’s or 1980’s

Listening to The Parable of the Sower and The Parable of the Talents both by Octavia E. Butler, I remembered a book I read long ago. 

I had to really hunt to find it, Earth Abides by George R. Stewart. I would classify it as Dystopian more than science fiction.

That discovery reminded me of three other books I read long ago. I had to guess at all my read dates.