Comments on: Tortilla Flat – Book Review

By: Caribousmom

Caribousmom — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:56:04 +0000

Pam: I totally understand that…I think it is hard to compare works sometimes. I guess my ranking Tortilla Flat a little lower has more to do with my level of enjoyment in reading the book. I remember putting both East of Eden and The Grapes of Wrath down and feeling like I had LIVED those books and spent quality time with the characters to the point that I missed them when the books were finished. I enjoyed the characters of Tortilla Flat, but it was easy to move on to my next book.

Teddy: I always like to go back and re-read classics that I read when I was in H.S. – I think much of what kids are forced to read in H.S. are over their heads…and they appreciate the books much more as adults.

By: Teddy

Teddy — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:41:51 +0000

I love Steinbeck! I read this on in H.S. and I hope to re-visit it as an adult.

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:29:50 +0000

East of Eden is my favorite JS but this is really too different t get second place. i think it’s more of a parallel ranking than a lesser one. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

By: Caribousmom

Caribousmom — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:35:09 +0000

Rhapsody: In general, I agree – but, I try to rate them based on my response to them, not on the fact that they are classics. Steinbeck is easy for me – I pretty much have loved everything he’s written that I have read. Dickens is difficult…for example, I know Great Expectations is supposed to be loved by all…but I struggled to finish it. I always feel a little badly if I give a classic book like that a negative rating!

Thanks, Kathy…hope you’ll get a chance to read it.

Lezlie: Hmmmmm, I don’t know. I’d recommend Of Mice and Men probably before this one. But my favorite Steinbeck’s are his chunksters.

Gillian: It was awesome to meet you too! I remember disliking The Grapes of Wrath when I was forced to read it in high school. But when I re-read it as an adult, I absolutely loved it. So, you never know!!

Michelle: Well you’re talking to someone who LOVED Grapes of Wrath *laughs* But that said, Tortilla Flat is quite a bit different from his bigger best sellers. I don’t know if you’d like it any better or not.

Diane: I hope you’ll enjoy it – will look forward to reading your thoughts on it.

Jeane: I thought it started a tad slowly…but once I got into the characters, I really enjoyed it.

Anne: *laughing* No, we won’t ban you!! This would be an easy one to read…it is really short (and therefore doesn’t weigh a lot so it might be added to your TBR pile without creating collapse!)

Amanda: I have not seen the movie…but the book is funny in places. Steinbeck has a real sense of humor!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:06:38 +0000

Have you seen the movie with Spencer Tracy and Hedy Lamarr? I haven’t read the book but the movie was pretty good. It was pretty funny too.

By: Table Talk

Table Talk — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:20:52 +0000

I have to hang my head in shame and admit that I’ve never read any Steinbeck – no, not even ‘The Grapes of Wrath’. I should probably be banned from the reading community forever. I will try and put this on the tbr pile. It’s just that one more addition and it may come tumbling down and bury me and The Bears in the process.

By: Jeane

Jeane — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:30:23 +0000

Honestly, this is one Steinbeck novel I never could get into, no more than ten pages. And I tried twice! But now that I know a little more of what it’s about, I might give it another attempt.

By: diane

diane — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:03:42 +0000

I’m glad you enjoyed this one Wendy, as I was planning on reading it for my Steinbeck mein challenge. Great review.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:07:59 +0000

I struggle with Steinbeck. Other than East of Eden and maybe Of Mice and Men, I’m not really a fan. I’ve read The Grapes of Wrath more times than I would like to admit, all in an effort to figure out why people like it so much. The Red Pony scarred me. The Pearl I thought was boring. But, in spite of that, it sounds like this might be a bit different. I might just have to add this to my TBR pile and give Steinbeck yet one more chance! Thanks for the review!

By: Rose City Reader

Rose City Reader — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:05:07 +0000

Hi Wendy! Great to meet you this weekend in Portland. SOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad you could make the trip!

Well, based on your review, I might give Steinbeck a second chance. I still bear a grudge for the high school Purgatory that was Grapes of Wrath.