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

2nd time around

I actually read this book when I was 13. My parents had divorced and shipped me off to live with my brother on the other side of the country who was an English major. I hadn’t thought much about the book until I was sitting at a Red Robin and saw a Beer Milkshake on the menu. It’s amazing how much I actually remembered about the book and it was fun to revisit it 20 years later. I’ve read a fair amount of books in my lifetime ( majored in Spanish Lit, worked in a library) but for some reason the details of this one have always stuck out. Maybe it was something about reading it at a turning point in my life or maybe Steinbeck’s story telling just sticks with you.

I thought it couldn't get better

I didn't think that Cannery Row could be better than the first time that I read it years ago. The charming characters, the zest of humor, and all with Steinbeck's effortless descriptions. However, having Jerry Farden interpret these characters has brought out a new face of these characters for me. I didn't think I could like this book more than I already did, but listening to it has made it an even more beloved novel for me.

Storytelling at its very best.

I love listening to books while doing chores. The reading of this book made the time fly. Once you start listening, you can't stop.

Fun Book

Loved it! Laughed alot! The frog experience was hilarious!! Nice road trip book that both, my husband and I enjoyed it immensely.

fun and quirky

Maybe not as deep and meaningful as East of Eden or Grapes of Wrath, but a fun enjoyable read nonetheless.

I'm happy to have this story as part of my audible collection and definitely will revisit in the future!

Let's have a drink and catch some frogs!

This is a good snapshot in time. the reader feels the tolerance of the doctor and feels the desperation of the guys who sit on the log in the empty lot. I don't think the doctor would be so tolerant nowadays, but perhaps tolerance comes with whiskey and wine!

One of my favorite audiobooks so far.

I’ve read about 50 audiobooks. Sampled many genres along the way. And this is one of my favorites. What I liked best is that it is a story told in seemingly unrelated vignettes. It’s not a linear plot. It jumps around Cannery row. Different characters come and go. The seemingly unrelated vignettes reminded me of the way that Melville wrote Moby Dick. It’s a very unusual writing style. And it really held my interest. Steinbeck is one of those authors that I never read. I just told people that I did. To sound smart. But now that I have read this book, I will definitely read more Steinbeck. Grapes of Wrath or East of Eden are next.

Read twice in college, still magical

Doc, Mack Dora and the boys all populate this magical place. For me, the story could go on forever. JS’s background in biology and marine science shines thru; he’s the only author I know who can captivate you with a description of a ground hog constructing and filling his burrow. A treat for any Steinbeck fan!

Classic!

Steinbeck paints a picture with words that come to life, and describes a bygone era. Skillfully performed reading!

Classic!

Wonderful to go back and read classics. So tired of these turn out novels that are a complete bore!