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2
Posted on 6/2/25 at 10:46 am to AllbyMyRelf
quote:
Grapes of Wrath
The Pearl
East of Eden
Of Mice and Men
I knew I shouldn't have clicked on this thread again
WTF man. Steinbeck is arguably the greatest fiction writer of all time. 3/4 of those are just all time classics.
East of Eden in particular, is a book that I legit didn't know it was possible for someone to actually read it and dislike so I'm just going to assume you didn't read it and are posting this by mistake.
Posted on 6/2/25 at 12:10 pm to iwyLSUiwy
I knew this post would trigger people
I have always hated reading Steinbeck. I just can’t stand it. I know everyone else (including my wife) raves about his books
I have always hated reading Steinbeck. I just can’t stand it. I know everyone else (including my wife) raves about his books
Posted on 6/2/25 at 12:23 pm to AllbyMyRelf
quote:
I have always hated reading Steinbeck. I just can’t stand it. I know everyone else (including my wife) raves about his books
I know Grapes of Wrath is considered his greatest work by most and I do love it, but to me East of Eden is arguably tGOAT fiction book.
I guess I can see how someone wouldn't like Steinbeck, but honestly I'd be lying
I think he does a few things better than anyone else and a few reasons why I love it...
I don't think anybody has ever put me in a location as a reader like he did with EoE. I've never been to the Salinas Valley but I'd be damned if I didn't think I could tell you everything you need to know and how it felt to live in the Salinas Valley in the early 1900's. And he did it without just spending useless amounts of dry reading describing the area. He worked it in like it was a crucial part of the story, which it was. Same with GoW.
Also there are parts that are just legitimate poetry. One poster quoted a few sentences Steinbeck wrote about a certain character that just shows how good he can be. This is the first time he mentions Cathy in the book...
quote:
there’s monsters born into the world. And just like there are monsters born without arms or other physical signs, there are mental or psychic monsters, born with malformed souls. Souls without compassion or a conscience. But whereas a physical monster can see where they are not normal, a spiritual monster has nothing to tell them they’re abnormal and so think people with a conscience, or kindness, are the ridiculous ones.
I'm sorry, that's brilliant
I know, different strokes for different folks and I'm not trying to convince you to like him, just stating why I really disagree with you
Posted on 6/2/25 at 2:03 pm to UFFan
quote:
I have to go with To Kill a Mockingbird. I found it boring.
I think it continues to get such praise because:
1. It was a "general audiences" book - accessible for kids as young as 8 to 10 and not "too young" for adults to appreciate
2. It is extremely well-written with a fairly tight narrative that is not over-simplified, despite being written from the perspective of an elementary schooler - although your point about "boring" would cause me to question your age - certainly it could be considered "boring" for anyone born after 1980
3. The subject matter and timing - particularly when combined with the film that was made shortly after it blew up on bestseller lists
Having said all of that, I tend to agree with your overarching point that it is probably overrated over the years. It had the advantage of being right place, right time, right message, IMHO.
Posted on 6/2/25 at 2:31 pm to UFFan
I’ve read dozens of clunkers.
Most recently a book and author hyped by my son who I trust for book recommendations: Mistborn
Most recently a book and author hyped by my son who I trust for book recommendations: Mistborn
Posted on 6/2/25 at 2:35 pm to UFFan
Moby Dick. The story itself wasn't bad (at least what I read of it), but the scene-describing minutia (which I believe was the prevalent style at the time) was like the constant griding of nails on a chalkboard. I never did finish that book.
This post was edited on 6/2/25 at 2:36 pm
Posted on 6/2/25 at 6:46 pm to TAMU-93
quote:
I'm convinced it's written that way so you can better feel Ahab's frustration.
I empathized with the crew and wanted him to turn that ship around. Maybe throw Ishmael overboard for being too descriptive.
Posted on 6/3/25 at 9:13 am to UFFan
Anything by Colleen Hoover.
Posted on 6/4/25 at 11:49 am to UFFan
Most everything by Grisham. He had a few great books early on, but most of his for the last several decades have been “I’ll just hit the page limit and tack on a crappy ending.”
Posted on 6/5/25 at 3:37 pm to LordSnow
quote:
Blood Meridian
I've tried to get into it twice and just can't make it.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 3:38 pm to UFFan
quote:
I have to go with To Kill a Mockingbird.
It definitely isn't Truman's best work.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 5:40 pm to Mo Jeaux
quote:
It definitely isn't Truman's best work.
No, it’s not.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 9:05 pm to UFFan
Hook is too shiny,
The correct answer is the Shining
The correct answer is the Shining
Posted on 6/6/25 at 5:31 am to ecb
quote:
I was excited to get into Hemingway earlier this year. Started with For Whom the Bell Tolls and it was an absolute chore. Some on the board said all his books are pretty much just like that so my Hemingway excursion went 1 and done
Try The Sun Also Rises. Hemingway’s best imo.
This post was edited on 6/6/25 at 5:32 am
Posted on 6/6/25 at 8:25 am to UFFan
Anything by Kate Chopin. Those were torture in college.
Posted on 6/6/25 at 12:07 pm to iwyLSUiwy
Yeah, Mockingbird deserves to be a classic, and the movie was also a very nice watch with Peck as Atticus…
Posted on 6/6/25 at 6:34 pm to UFFan
Cloud Atlas. What a bunch of pretentious dreck. I do like post-modern, and parts of it were interesting. But mostly it was an author saying "look how great I am" rather than writing something interesting.
Posted on 6/6/25 at 10:06 pm to TAMU-93
Ayn Rand
Posted on 6/7/25 at 12:00 pm to Lsudx256
Man I've read them, and listened to them read by Donald Sutherland and loved it.
His voice is perfect for Old Man and the Sea
His voice is perfect for Old Man and the Sea
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