tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post1365368935065707001..comments2023-11-23T09:51:07.448-05:00Comments on A Literary Odyssey: Classics Circuit: The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck (Book 102).Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420476898132383974noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-69876011192814399602011-08-20T11:34:46.032-04:002011-08-20T11:34:46.032-04:00I haven't read this one yet, but I'm a una...I haven't read this one yet, but I'm a unabashed Steinbeck fangirl so I'll get to it eventually. It is amazing how he brings communities and characters to life. I just love his writing. Even if you don't read it for your project, don't miss East of Eden. It's definitely in my top 5 of favorite books. It's amazing!Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07343557750428307066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-18798395182473864612011-08-18T14:00:17.638-04:002011-08-18T14:00:17.638-04:00You just must read East of Eden! :)You just must read East of Eden! :)Careyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00790511143418221867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-15505545128492668042011-08-18T10:56:14.761-04:002011-08-18T10:56:14.761-04:00This sounds like a good one to grab soon. I'm...This sounds like a good one to grab soon. I'm all for long novels, and Steinbeck has some wonderful ones, but good for him for giving us some really substantial stuff that doesn't take forever to read! Of course, that doesn't include The Pearl. I could do without that one.Shelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18408471966661831444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-19915544807109726782011-08-18T10:02:56.845-04:002011-08-18T10:02:56.845-04:00This is one of Steinbeck's that I've never...This is one of Steinbeck's that I've never read. I'm thrilled to hear it's so good. I think this might need to be my next one by him. I completely agree about his ability to capture the American spirit in his books. He feels more American to me than some of the other big ones (Fitzgerald, Wharton, etc.)Melissa (Avid Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02119628715475021774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-59512358910896573972011-08-17T22:15:13.218-04:002011-08-17T22:15:13.218-04:00Oh, but EAST OF EDEN is absolutely the bestest boo...Oh, but EAST OF EDEN is absolutely the bestest book EVER. So wonderful. I've started Grapes of Wrath and it's just not as sweeping and epic and wonderful but I'll withhold final judgement until I finish it....<br /><br />I haven't read this one yet. I'm now afraid that other Steinbeck's won't be a super wonderful as EAST OF EDEN, which I've read twice now.Rebecca Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06062252252301802298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-59306755614106541902011-08-17T21:43:23.269-04:002011-08-17T21:43:23.269-04:00I enjoyed your review. I've never really thoug...I enjoyed your review. I've never really thought about reading this book even though I loved East of Eden when I read it several years ago and am enjoying reading Grapes of Wrath now. After reading your review, I feel like I should read this one too. I love The Great Gatsby, and I would be interested to see how the two compare.Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15025065841272083874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-67205709084086617882011-08-17T21:38:58.486-04:002011-08-17T21:38:58.486-04:00According to Eclectic Indulgence's list, since...According to Eclectic Indulgence's list, since I absolutely hated the top three titles there, I seem pretty likely to enjoy this one! And like Jillian, I've always been attracted by the title.nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17532641082944082516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-35667948799715304752011-08-17T19:57:04.652-04:002011-08-17T19:57:04.652-04:00The only Steinbeck I've read are Grapes of Wra...The only Steinbeck I've read are <em>Grapes of Wrath</em> and <em>Of Mice and Men</em>. I'm not sure I would say that I loved them so much as they were affecting. Powerful. I want to read both of them again, as well as <em>East of Eden</em>, and probably whatever else I come across! Definitely a writer I will return to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-85273202820840834222011-08-17T19:33:43.829-04:002011-08-17T19:33:43.829-04:00A member of my BookCrossing group did one of the b...A member of my BookCrossing group did one of the best themed releases ever with this book. She left a copy at Home Depot the pipe insulating supplies. Amazingly, the person who found it loved Steinbeck and was overjoyed to find the book after being in a foul mood because the pipes in her house had frozen. The finder has since become an active member of our book group as a result.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-88053422597227093092011-08-17T18:53:11.976-04:002011-08-17T18:53:11.976-04:00Cannery Row is one of the funniest books Ive ever ...Cannery Row is one of the funniest books Ive ever read. Totally redeemed Steinbeck for me after Grapes. Although I haven't read any others of his, thinking that my record so far of 50/50 love/hate isn't so good. Cannery also has my all-time favorite line from a book: "The road to hell is paved with unbought stuffed dogs."Carin Siegfriedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07278383926500248048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-37584872904895046062011-08-17T16:23:56.921-04:002011-08-17T16:23:56.921-04:00Steinbeck is probably my absolute favourite author...Steinbeck is probably my absolute favourite author! I remember really loving The Winter of Our Discontent when I read it, but I definitely need to revisit it because that was a pretty long time ago. East of Eden is an absolute definite must read, imho, but I think The Grapes of Wrath is probably my favourite... to be honest, though, they're all great!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-47070900490093031892011-08-17T10:40:03.440-04:002011-08-17T10:40:03.440-04:00This one sounds interesting! I've always been ...This one sounds interesting! I've always been afraid of Steinbeck because he seemed like he'd be so dry. But I really liked <i>Of Mice and Men</i>, and the title on this one has always pulled me to it. (Shakespeare, I know.) I might read this at some point. <i>The Grapes of Wrath</i> is also on my list, but I have a big fear I won't like it...Jillianhttp://jillianreadsbooks2.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-79419268630502646842011-08-17T10:08:15.559-04:002011-08-17T10:08:15.559-04:00Steinbeck is one of my absolute favourites - I enj...Steinbeck is one of my absolute favourites - I enjoyed your review of the Winter of Our Discontent.<br /><br />Mine is here: http://eclectic-indulgence.blogspot.com/2008/08/winter-of-our-discontent-john-steinbeck.html<br /><br />If I had to rank them in order of what I've read so far, it would be:<br /><br />1. East of Eden<br />2. Of Mice and Men<br />3. Grapes of Wrath<br />...<br />4. Travels with Charley<br />5. The Winter of Our Discontent<br />6. Tortilla Flat<br />7. Cannery Row<br /><br />N/A: The Red Pony - I read this so long ago it's hard to place it in the right spot<br /><br />The first three are absolute musts, in my opinion. Many have 'The Grapes of Wrath' as the pinnacle, but the other two struck a deeper chord with me - though it's unarguable that with Grapes, Steinbeck was able to encapsulate a time period and the struggle for existence in a changing world.Eclectic Indulgencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773640906287038956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-51274574486651734932011-08-17T09:55:44.619-04:002011-08-17T09:55:44.619-04:00I'm hit and miss on Steinbeck. LOVED East of E...I'm hit and miss on Steinbeck. LOVED East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath, while I really disliked The Pearl and The Red Pony. I thought it was just short versus long books, but then I read this book a few months ago and hated it worse than any other I've read. :/ Still, I do plan to read more Steinbeck. I think you hit the nail on the head in comparing it to Gatsby - I've tried to make it through Gatsby three times now and I never make it past the halfway point because I hate it so much. :(Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026099426503180472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-3444171932228413262011-08-17T08:37:12.799-04:002011-08-17T08:37:12.799-04:00Steinbeck is one of my favorites! I absolutely lov...Steinbeck is one of my favorites! I absolutely loved this book back in high school (a very long time ago) and have been thinking of a reread for some time. Sounds like it should be soon. East of Eden is one of my all-time favorite books. Hope you'll consider adding it to your list.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-34837448869241630522011-08-17T08:14:02.566-04:002011-08-17T08:14:02.566-04:00I've not read this one. I think that although...I've not read this one. I think that although Steinbeck may have been thinking about America, the issue is one that is more universal than that. Maybe we are just lucky in the West that we have the luxury to worry about the moral effects of our efforts. Great post. Thanks.Falaisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01296217731383114462noreply@blogger.com