Cannery Row

By: John Steinbeck

Narrated by: Jerry Farden

Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Here is Steinbeck’s tough yet charming portrait of people on the margins of society, dependent on one another for both physical and emotional survival.

Published 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.

Public Domain (P)2011 Penguin

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

Very wonderful and beautiful

What a gem of a tale. So well written, at times I felt like I was there.

Uplifting

I read Of Mice and Men in highschool, and recently The Grapes of Wrath (read them) so I was prepared for another tale that went for the heart and this goes there, but not in the way you'd expect.

Exquisite use of language

Steinbeck is a master of description making the town of Cannery Row come alive as a full character. He is the king of the simile with each one vivid and surprising. They linger long after the story has ended, a photograph in the mind. Each character, animals included, is nuanced and full of complex humanity. I loved it.

Never old

Going over the story again after many years didn’t disappoint. Steinbeck is a master creating moments full of color and a perfect performance by the reader made me want to listen without stopping

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.

Interesting look into Canary Row

Steinbeck's storytelling is second to none, but Canary Row was more a snapshot of history than a story that really grabs you and reels you in. Still, it captured my attention and I enjoyed the glimpse into Canary Row. The performance was excellent.

Narration

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