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Tortilla Flat  By  cover art

Tortilla Flat

By: John Steinbeck
Narrated by: John McDonough
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Publisher's summary

Adopting the structure and themes of the Arthurian legend, Steinbeck created a Camelot on a shabby hillside above the town of Monterey, California, and peopled it with a colorful band of knights. At the center of the tale is Danny, whose house, like Arthur’s castle, becomes a gathering place for men looking for adventure, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging—men who fiercely resist the corrupting tide of honest toil and civil rectitude.

As Steinbeck chronicles their deeds—their multiple lovers, their wonderful brawls, their Rabelaisian wine-drinking—he spins a tale as compelling and ultimately as touched by sorrow as the famous legends of the Round Table, which inspired him.

Public Domain (P)2011 Penguin

What listeners say about Tortilla Flat

Average customer ratings
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another great book by steinbeck!

Would you listen to Tortilla Flat again? Why?

yes! yes! i love the characters. reminds me very much of cannery row

What did you like best about this story?

the humor.the characters were great. i could picture these people interacting.

What about John McDonough’s performance did you like?

really wonderful! he did a great job getting into the characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

the way everything always boiled down to a gallon of wine. but the characters were genuine and never portrayed as unpleasantly drunk.

Any additional comments?

i wish steinbeck could write more books i eat them up and i will read all of them over and over except travels with charley (and my sig. other mike loved that one).

steinbeck is our fave!

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Funny Story-John McDonoughs narration is perfect

A humorous band of slothful vagabonds err from one sticky situation to the next after moving in with their friend and leader who has inherited the dreaded responsibility of homeownership.

Stienbecks whit is unrelenting and McDonough masterfully captures it in his narration. Couldn't imagine a better man for the role.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Story for the sake of being a story!

Wow! Great, Wonderfull, Horrible ending. I want to be one of Danny's friends, but then maybe I don't.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love the story

Love this story, the ending was wild and poetic. And I love John Steinbeck’s writing style, fantastic author with a very witty why if writing.

Plus John McDonough was the narrator of my childhood so anything he reads is *chefs kiss*

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

this is the Steinbeck that I forget

2020 Reread - I am lowering this one to three stars, because the story had not stayed with me, and on reread I wasn't charmed by the characters.

Original Review, 2017 - My love of Steinbeck continues, and I have never found the words to say why I am so enamored of everything he writes. His books have weight and heart and substance. His characters are imperfect and take me on a journey through all the emotions I have ever felt. He makes me think and feel. This isn't in my top Steinbeck reads but it is still worthy of four stars.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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great book!

I love this author, book was great. I also suggest east of Eden. cannery row is a little more similar to this I believe. Steinbeck really depicts Californian blue collar life well and it's awesome. the performance seems a little bit patched at times but other than that it's great

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not your ordinary book

A very odd and interesting book. i found it entertaining and surprising along the way.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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WINNER

What made the experience of listening to Tortilla Flat the most enjoyable?

the characters

What did you like best about this story?

the unending quest for wine

Which scene was your favorite?

vacuum cleaner

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

yes

Any additional comments?

Having read this several times, it really came to life in the audio

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

it's amazing how people live and the freedoms we experience

second book by Steinbeck and seems to be in the same cinematic universe if you will. I like these stories about the downtrodden , The hidden -- but those same principled folks showcase a life free of responsibility and obligation that to me and my perspective can be so enticing.

it's an interesting exercise or pursuit and capturing those that we often pass by and wonder "...how? ..why?"

interesting way to color those same images that shed light on the minutes and hours spend in between those individual flashes that we see of them.

makes you think about all the people that you pass.

' if you don't feel like you can we're ready to best friend's funeral you're focused on the wrong thing' -- show up to life how you can and don't let perfect in the way a good enough

neat book.

as it relates to Zeitgeist-y type reviews: not sure why how Steinbeck is at risk for banned books. this isn't really bad or anything, especially considering the times he wrote.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Different study of Steinbeck

If you could sum up Tortilla Flat in three words, what would they be?

Interesting - a negative sterio-type of Mexicans in America

What could John Steinbeck have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Nothing - really - maybe a disclamer to say this isn't really what Mexicans are like.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the baby was dying and they didn't even realize it or really seem to care.

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2 people found this helpful