Cannery Row

By: John Steinbeck

Narrated by: Jerry Farden

Steinbeck’s tough yet charming portrait of people on the margins of society, dependent on one another for both physical and emotional survivalPublished in 1945, Cannery Row focuses on the acceptance of life as it is: both the exuberance of community and the loneliness of the individual. Drawing on his memories of the real inhabitants of Monterey, California, Steinbeck interweaves the stories of Doc, Henri, Mack and his boys, and the other characters in this world where only the fittest survive, to create a novel that is at once one of his most humorous and most poignant works.

Critic reviews

Winner of the 2012 Fifty Books/Fifty Covers show, organized by Design Observer in association with AIGA and Designers & Books

Winner of the 2014 Type Directors Club Communication Design Award

Praise for Penguin Drop Caps:

"[Penguin Drop Caps] convey a sense of nostalgia for the tactility and aesthetic power of a physical book and for a centuries-old tradition of beautiful lettering."
—Fast Company

“Vibrant, minimalist new typographic covers…. Bonus points for the heartening gender balance of the initial selections.”
—Maria Popova, Brain Pickings

"The Penguin Drop Caps series is a great example of the power of design. Why buy these particular classics when there are less expensive, even free editions of Great Expectations? Because they’re beautiful objects. Paul Buckley and Jessica Hische’s fresh approach to the literary classics reduces the design down to typography and color. Each cover is foil-stamped with a cleverly illustrated letterform that reveals an element of the story. Jane Austen’s A (Pride and Prejudice) is formed by opulent peacock feathers and Charlotte Bronte’s B (Jane Eyre) is surrounded by flames. The complete set forms a rainbow spectrum prettier than anything else on your bookshelf."
—Rex Bonomelli, The New York Times

"Drool-inducing."
—Flavorwire

"Classic reads in stunning covers—your book club will be dying."
—Redbook

Feel good book

What did you love best about Cannery Row?

The colorful characters and the fun story that made me smile through the whole book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All are good.

Have you listened to any of Jerry Farden’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

I read this book in high school and loved it then, the audio book brought me back to that time.

Fun, interesting, enticing reading

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I read "Of Mice and Men" in college but skipped Steibeck's other books in favor of books by Ian Fleming. Yep, James Bond was all the rage in the mid-60's. I shouldn't have changed paths. Steinbecks's ability to capture the raw essence of the human experience is pure genius and Cannery Row may be the most profound and reflective of his efforts. This book was a pure joy to listen to. So much so, that I've already begun listening a second time.

What about Jerry Farden’s performance did you like?

He put "character" into his oral interpretation of Steinbeck's work. Well done, Jerry!

Outstanding.

Enjoyed the story of a colorful time and place. Enjoyed the way the reader brought the characters to live.

My favorite book of all time

There's no wonder it's a classic that stood the test of time.
Great narrator as well, he does a fantastic job.

Narration

The narrator was superb, knowing when and how to make the most of every word.