What do you think?
Rate this book
賴囟亘丞 鬲賵乇鬲賷賱丕
Brought to you by Penguin.
Danny is a paisano, descended from the original Spanish settlers who arrived in Monterey, California, centuries before. He values friendship above money and possessions, so when he suddenly inherits two houses, Danny is quick to offer shelter to his fellow gentlemen of the road. Together, their love of freedom and scorn for material things draws them into daring and often hilarious adventures. That is, until Danny, tiring of his new responsibilities, suddenly disappears....
漏1935 John Steinbeck (P)2020 Penguin Audio
Danny is a paisano, descended from the original Spanish settlers who arrived in Monterey, California, centuries before. He values friendship above money and possessions, so when he suddenly inherits two houses, Danny is quick to offer shelter to his fellow gentlemen of the road. Together, their love of freedom and scorn for material things draws them into daring and often hilarious adventures. That is, until Danny, tiring of his new responsibilities, suddenly disappears....
漏1935 John Steinbeck (P)2020 Penguin Audio
204 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1935
2,406 people are currently reading
32.4k people want to read
About the author
John Steinbeck
945听books24.9k听followersJohn Ernst Steinbeck was an American writer. He won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social perception". He has been called "a giant of American letters."
During his writing career, he authored 33 books, with one book coauthored alongside Edward F. Ricketts, including 16 novels, six non-fiction books, and two collections of short stories. He is widely known for the comic novels Tortilla Flat (1935) and Cannery Row (1945), the multi-generation epic East of Eden (1952), and the novellas The Red Pony (1933) and Of Mice and Men (1937). The Pulitzer Prize鈥搘inning The Grapes of Wrath (1939) is considered Steinbeck's masterpiece and part of the American literary canon. By the 75th anniversary of its publishing date, it had sold 14 million copies.
Most of Steinbeck's work is set in central California, particularly in the Salinas Valley and the California Coast Ranges region. His works frequently explored the themes of fate and injustice, especially as applied to downtrodden or everyman protagonists.
During his writing career, he authored 33 books, with one book coauthored alongside Edward F. Ricketts, including 16 novels, six non-fiction books, and two collections of short stories. He is widely known for the comic novels Tortilla Flat (1935) and Cannery Row (1945), the multi-generation epic East of Eden (1952), and the novellas The Red Pony (1933) and Of Mice and Men (1937). The Pulitzer Prize鈥搘inning The Grapes of Wrath (1939) is considered Steinbeck's masterpiece and part of the American literary canon. By the 75th anniversary of its publishing date, it had sold 14 million copies.
Most of Steinbeck's work is set in central California, particularly in the Salinas Valley and the California Coast Ranges region. His works frequently explored the themes of fate and injustice, especially as applied to downtrodden or everyman protagonists.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,877 reviews
March 8, 2024
John Steinbeck paints this aquarelle of lush colours and poetic kindness in bold strokes.
Tortilla Flat is a case of the meek inheriting the earth 鈥� some are meek in the head, some are meek in their moral attitudes and some have other kinds of meekness鈥�
Those who live in the backyard of society dwell in their own romantic world.
Tortilla Flat is a case of the meek inheriting the earth 鈥� some are meek in the head, some are meek in their moral attitudes and some have other kinds of meekness鈥�
Teresina was a mildly puzzled woman, as far as her mind was concerned. Her body was one of those perfect retorts for the distillation of children. The first baby, conceived when she was fourteen, had been a shock to her; such a shock, that she delivered it in the ball park at night, wrapped it in newspaper, and left it for the night watchman to find. This is a secret. Even now Teresina might get into trouble if it were known.
Those who live in the backyard of society dwell in their own romantic world.
July 23, 2007
I learned from this book that I continue to love Steinbeck. I despise the idea that he (like hemmingway for that matter) is sometimes considered a "simple" writer. Here's my opinion: Using flowery prose to add weight and impart meaning on a vaporous story is not great literature. A substantive story, containing meaning and moral, simply told IS great literature. This is what I run into every time I read Steinbeck. Hemmingway too. Simple construction - departing every so often to show off that yes, they know EXACTLY what they're describing - for the most part just recording the story as they would an event that really happened. They don't need a $2 word every couple paragraphs, they need maybe three per book. Besides, none of the characters would know the word, so why would you use it to describe them? What are you, better than your subject? I think the point Steinbeck constantly makes is - no, you're not. The characters are interesting and simply made, archetypes almost. I've heard its a Camelot tale and I can see it. They even use "Thou" and "Thee" in some parts. But it never seems heavy handed, you can almost see the characters realizing they're playing a part and stepping up to do it. Like Cannery Row, its about a lot of down on their luck guys, and the people of the town about them. Some richer, some poorer, all with their own little story. And Steinbeck seems to love the little side stories. Thankfully, he's so quick with his pen they're like brief tangents that come, then go once you've gotten the point of them. He never departs from our subjects for more than a couple pages, never spends 5 pages describing a rock or a particular tree, or even any of the men or the home they live in. A story that makes your throat tighten at the end, and makes you wish...well, you're supposed to read it. But the desire to keep things as they are is a very strong one in real life, Steinbeck makes you feel that desire and sense of loss in the little world he creates, and it takes him less than 200 pages to do it.
August 12, 2024
鈥�Things that happen are of no importance. But from everything that happens, there is a lesson to be learned.鈥�
In his youth, Nobel Prize winning author John Steinbeck was enamoured with 鈥檚 , saying reading the book developed 鈥�my sense of right and wrong, my feeling of noblesse oblige, and any thought I may have against the oppressor and for the oppressed.鈥� Steinbeck was working on his own retelling of Malory鈥檚 texts at the time of his death (posthumously published), yet early in his career he attempted his first foray into Arthurian legend with Tortilla Flat, a comedy of a group of friends鈥�paisanos as he frequently reminds us鈥攍ed by Danny who all live together in a house that was 鈥�not unlike the Round Table, and Danny's friends were not unlike the knights of it鈥� as he writes in the intro. While their adventures primarily consist of scheming for ways to get wine, Steinbeck constructs a heartwarming and funny story about friendship and solidarity where his love for the characters is so clear it is hard to do anything but love them as well.
This wine soaked Arthurian adventure set in post WWI California is such a delight that shows Steinbeck at some of his most tender and playful. The chapters plit the narrative into brief little episodes, framed much like tales of the Knights of the Round table. Except here they are digging for treasure or stealing wine, and while they may not fight a dragon they do fight a vacuum cleaner in a scene hilariously depicted as such an act of heroism against a vicious beast you might as well be picturing a dragon. The head of these friends is Danny, their King Arthur, who has inherited two houses and allows all his friends to live in one. By his side is Pilon, who functions as the Merlin character of the novel. After they burn one down by accident, Danny allows them to live with him (not much phases him) and they become a band of poor folk keeping each other alive and full of wine. Which gives us some wonderfully comical passages:
Steinbeck鈥檚 theme of solidarity amongst the poor is certainly present here, and he depicts their lives, simple as they might be, as being as meaningful and important as anyone else, and more pure and worthwhile than the wealthy folks. The friends here remind me a bit of those in his later novel, , simple yet pure. However, Steinbeck later expressed regret over this novel, even though it was his first commercial success and finally launched his career. He disliked that critics seemed to latch onto the characters as 鈥�quaint but colorful bums鈥�, saying they were real people who deserved respect:
Steinbeck had often spoken out against the elites of the time and it hurt him to see his lovable characters be an amusement to them instead of a lesson of solidarity or a comfort to readers not unlike his cast of characters. Particularly as not valuing material objects or not pursuing wealth for the sake of wealth is a major theme and any pursuit of anything, wealth or wine, is always seen as for the good of the group. Danny doesn鈥檛 even charge rent because he doesn鈥檛 want money to get in the way of friendship. Community is at the heart of Steinbeck鈥檚 work and it is certainly a major theme here.
The group of friends seem to have their own code of ethics that plays with the ideas of chivalry from Arthurian legend. Pilon, who functions as the Merlin character of the novel and is often giving Danny advice, is frequently trying to pay Danny rent despite him not asking for any. When he comes across money, he decides it best not to give it to Danny for he will ruin his teeth by undoubtedly buying candy with the money. The novel is full of similar justifications for behavior, all with a winking assumption it is being chivalric, such as when they 鈥渇ight鈥� the vacuum cleaner that Danny gifts to his girlfriend in order to 鈥渞escue鈥� Danny from the domestic lifestyle they fear it will usher in. While this is sweet and comical, it is also a rejection of adulthood and a loss of innocence these friend鈥檚 seem to wanting to shield Danny from. With Danny, they can remain happily drunk and unproductive and they aim to keep him from moving on in the world and leaving them behind.
There is sort of a college buddy movie comedy vibe to this book, with not wanting to grow up being a central idea. But is it actually not wanting to grow up or more questioning responsibilities in a society that outcasts the many for the sake of the few? Why would they support a society that doesn鈥檛 have their back? Danny seems to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders throughout the novel, getting more and more depressed as the novel goes on. He is even seen with a black bird鈥攃learly a symbol of death鈥攐ver him, as his wild ways begin to catch up to him. 鈥�Then I will go out to The One who can fight,鈥� Danny declares at a party, 鈥�I will find The Enemy who is worthy of Danny!鈥� His defiance of life turns to be his undoing, but perhaps this is what Danny wants most. Youth ends, and without having found meaning in needing to go on, he remains young and wild in the minds of all forever.
While admittedly one of his lighter reads, Tortilla Flat is a comical little gem. Steinbeck fans will see many of his themes present here, though in smaller and more lighthearted doses, and his signature charm is certainly on display. I should note that, unfortunately, the depictions of women aren鈥檛 exactly great and casual racism is present. That said, it is a heartwarming story and Steinbeck creates a really textured and lively town populated with a fun cast of characters all having little misadventures while a larger idea on the dissatisfaction with life and society is able to play out. Short, fun, and very funny, Steinbeck never fails to satisfy.
4.5/5
In his youth, Nobel Prize winning author John Steinbeck was enamoured with 鈥檚 , saying reading the book developed 鈥�my sense of right and wrong, my feeling of noblesse oblige, and any thought I may have against the oppressor and for the oppressed.鈥� Steinbeck was working on his own retelling of Malory鈥檚 texts at the time of his death (posthumously published), yet early in his career he attempted his first foray into Arthurian legend with Tortilla Flat, a comedy of a group of friends鈥�paisanos as he frequently reminds us鈥攍ed by Danny who all live together in a house that was 鈥�not unlike the Round Table, and Danny's friends were not unlike the knights of it鈥� as he writes in the intro. While their adventures primarily consist of scheming for ways to get wine, Steinbeck constructs a heartwarming and funny story about friendship and solidarity where his love for the characters is so clear it is hard to do anything but love them as well.
This wine soaked Arthurian adventure set in post WWI California is such a delight that shows Steinbeck at some of his most tender and playful. The chapters plit the narrative into brief little episodes, framed much like tales of the Knights of the Round table. Except here they are digging for treasure or stealing wine, and while they may not fight a dragon they do fight a vacuum cleaner in a scene hilariously depicted as such an act of heroism against a vicious beast you might as well be picturing a dragon. The head of these friends is Danny, their King Arthur, who has inherited two houses and allows all his friends to live in one. By his side is Pilon, who functions as the Merlin character of the novel. After they burn one down by accident, Danny allows them to live with him (not much phases him) and they become a band of poor folk keeping each other alive and full of wine. Which gives us some wonderfully comical passages:
鈥�Two gallons is a great deal of wine, even for two paisanos. Spiritually the jugs maybe graduated thus: Just below the shoulder of the first bottle, serious and concentrated conversation. Two inches farther down, sweetly sad memory. Three inches more, thoughts of old and satisfactory loves. An inch, thoughts of bitter loves. Bottom of the first jug, general and undirected sadness. Shoulder of the second jug, black, unholy despondency. Two fingers down, a song of death or longing. A thumb, every other song each one knows. The graduations stop here, for the trail splits and there is no certainty. From this point anything can happen.鈥�
Steinbeck鈥檚 theme of solidarity amongst the poor is certainly present here, and he depicts their lives, simple as they might be, as being as meaningful and important as anyone else, and more pure and worthwhile than the wealthy folks. The friends here remind me a bit of those in his later novel, , simple yet pure. However, Steinbeck later expressed regret over this novel, even though it was his first commercial success and finally launched his career. He disliked that critics seemed to latch onto the characters as 鈥�quaint but colorful bums鈥�, saying they were real people who deserved respect:
鈥�literary slummers have taken these people up with the vulgarity of duchesses who are amused by and sorry for a peasantry. These stories are out, and I cannot recall them. But I shall never again subject to the vulgar touch of the decent these good people of laughter and kindness, of honest lusts and direct eyes, of courtesy beyond politeness. If I have done them any harm by telling a few of their stories, I am sorry鈥�
Steinbeck had often spoken out against the elites of the time and it hurt him to see his lovable characters be an amusement to them instead of a lesson of solidarity or a comfort to readers not unlike his cast of characters. Particularly as not valuing material objects or not pursuing wealth for the sake of wealth is a major theme and any pursuit of anything, wealth or wine, is always seen as for the good of the group. Danny doesn鈥檛 even charge rent because he doesn鈥檛 want money to get in the way of friendship. Community is at the heart of Steinbeck鈥檚 work and it is certainly a major theme here.
The group of friends seem to have their own code of ethics that plays with the ideas of chivalry from Arthurian legend. Pilon, who functions as the Merlin character of the novel and is often giving Danny advice, is frequently trying to pay Danny rent despite him not asking for any. When he comes across money, he decides it best not to give it to Danny for he will ruin his teeth by undoubtedly buying candy with the money. The novel is full of similar justifications for behavior, all with a winking assumption it is being chivalric, such as when they 鈥渇ight鈥� the vacuum cleaner that Danny gifts to his girlfriend in order to 鈥渞escue鈥� Danny from the domestic lifestyle they fear it will usher in. While this is sweet and comical, it is also a rejection of adulthood and a loss of innocence these friend鈥檚 seem to wanting to shield Danny from. With Danny, they can remain happily drunk and unproductive and they aim to keep him from moving on in the world and leaving them behind.
There is sort of a college buddy movie comedy vibe to this book, with not wanting to grow up being a central idea. But is it actually not wanting to grow up or more questioning responsibilities in a society that outcasts the many for the sake of the few? Why would they support a society that doesn鈥檛 have their back? Danny seems to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders throughout the novel, getting more and more depressed as the novel goes on. He is even seen with a black bird鈥攃learly a symbol of death鈥攐ver him, as his wild ways begin to catch up to him. 鈥�Then I will go out to The One who can fight,鈥� Danny declares at a party, 鈥�I will find The Enemy who is worthy of Danny!鈥� His defiance of life turns to be his undoing, but perhaps this is what Danny wants most. Youth ends, and without having found meaning in needing to go on, he remains young and wild in the minds of all forever.
While admittedly one of his lighter reads, Tortilla Flat is a comical little gem. Steinbeck fans will see many of his themes present here, though in smaller and more lighthearted doses, and his signature charm is certainly on display. I should note that, unfortunately, the depictions of women aren鈥檛 exactly great and casual racism is present. That said, it is a heartwarming story and Steinbeck creates a really textured and lively town populated with a fun cast of characters all having little misadventures while a larger idea on the dissatisfaction with life and society is able to play out. Short, fun, and very funny, Steinbeck never fails to satisfy.
4.5/5
January 23, 2020
"Ah, the prayers of the millions, how they must fight and destroy each other on their way to the throne of God."
I don't know why the sad tales of John Steinbeck fill me with so much joy. It doesn't really make sense.
His is a hopelessly poor world, full of people who are destined to stay in the chaotic situation they call life forever. They know how to go through the different stages of heavy drinking, and how to mess up a perfectly fine love story. They know how to lose. And yet, the knights around the table in Monterey, California are more human than the heroes in the legends, they are warm and alive and caring. Black and white thinking is not for them, and they celebrate the only capital they have to invest: the colours of the rainbow reflected in the ocean on a sunny morning.
Steinbeck's prose gives me a sense of being part of a whole, part of a community of people who try to enjoy what life throws in your face (if it is pleasant) or to duck away in time (if it is not).
Tortilla Flat is as good as any Steinbeck can be, and in my world, that is perfect.
I don't know why the sad tales of John Steinbeck fill me with so much joy. It doesn't really make sense.
His is a hopelessly poor world, full of people who are destined to stay in the chaotic situation they call life forever. They know how to go through the different stages of heavy drinking, and how to mess up a perfectly fine love story. They know how to lose. And yet, the knights around the table in Monterey, California are more human than the heroes in the legends, they are warm and alive and caring. Black and white thinking is not for them, and they celebrate the only capital they have to invest: the colours of the rainbow reflected in the ocean on a sunny morning.
Steinbeck's prose gives me a sense of being part of a whole, part of a community of people who try to enjoy what life throws in your face (if it is pleasant) or to duck away in time (if it is not).
Tortilla Flat is as good as any Steinbeck can be, and in my world, that is perfect.
April 4, 2018
This early Steinbeck novel has the signature style that eventually made him one of the greatest writers of all time, but it never quite moved me like all his later works. I think the flaws have to do with he fact that the characters are unable to develop beyond caricature. We understand the 鈥渢ype鈥� of people we鈥檙e dealing with, but we never really believe in them. Probably still a 4-Star book, but a bit of a disappointment when you put it up against all of Steinbeck鈥檚 other classics.
January 16, 2023
Wine, food, friendship, and women (in that order) that's all paisanos need apparently. We follow a group of friends as they spend their days drinking wine and getting drunk, stealing in order to buy wine to get drunk, working (if they can't steal) to buy more wine and get drunk, seducing women who have wine to share so they can get drunk, or treasure hunting so they can buy wine too, big surprise, get drunk again. If you haven't put it together yet it's basically a story about friends who get drunk, steal, womanize, and tell somewhat humorous stories once and awhile. It's no Grapes Of Wrath or East Of Eden. It really wasn't that enjoyable. The meandering plot and the anticlimactic casual ending (although fitting for a drunk) just didn't do it for me.
July 8, 2024
What ostensibly is just another story of a gang of tramps set in the 1920s, yes during the roaring era in Monterey, California where the writer John Steinbeck born in nearby Salinas visited often and knew well and loved . The Mexican-Americans with Indian and ( they insist Spanish blood too), lived above the city in a hill called Tortilla Flats a misnomer if ever there was. Some would say a bunch of lazy, homeless, drunken hoodlums, in other words loveable rascals still a few served in ww1 as soldiers. Constant quest for finding libations, these men have a thirst which no amount of alcohol will quench. Their existence is tied body and soul to the next drink, inexpensive wine will do nicely, the people aren't particularly picky. It is no mistake this resembles King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, in Camelot. The author was a big admirer of those mythical tales of chivalry but their goals though never quite reached, that is the sorrow. Danny ( Arthur) is the unofficial vagrant leader, Pilon, presumably ( Lancelot) the smartest paisano, when he inherits two homes from his late not very understanding grandfather. Danny also receives new friends the young man didn't realized were his, still houses are much better than living in the woods, no creeping critters crawling on your body while you try to sleep, ouch . Pilon, Pablo, Jesus Maria, Johnny, Tito, Big Joe Portagee ( I resent mildly this name) being of the tribe haha, and among others, The Pirate the only one who works, whose five dogs fellow him forever. The poor endearing man , has a weak brain living in a dirty chicken coop with dogs and all, burying the few coins in the forest by selling pitch wood, why ? Not just an amusing story of derelicts living, drinking, stealing, chasing women and to a lesser degree surviving the world without the lifting of a finger... but as it does Earth is unforgiving, doesn't care who it hurts. Nobody writes better about what society calls bums than Mr. John Steinbeck he had experience with the unfortunates, however in the thirties ( 1935) when this book was published many struggling workers felt jealous, the hobos were having more fun, strange as it seems . The novel was a bestseller which cemented the talented writer's career, from rags to riches indeed. Sometimes miracles occur and the public is the great benefactor and we the readers are grateful.
October 25, 2023
Tortilla Flat is my first disappointment of Steinbeck. By now I've come to accept the possibility of being disappointed over books of my favourite authors. However, it's still hard when that happens. This novel is an early work of Steinbeck and perhaps, that may account for the lack of mastery when compared to his later works. The novel may have had a fascination with the public when it was first published since it's said to be Steinbeck's first commercial success. But it's the kind of work that will wither in interest with time. At least, that's how I feel about it.
Tortilla Flat is quite similar to Cannery Row in story. Both stories are revolved around a group of friends. However, while I felt the characters in Cannery Row (Doc, Mack, and the boys) to be interesting and close to heart, the characters in Tortilla Flat (Danny and his friends) were dull and distant. Their adventures didn't impress me. They were full of wine and women, and nothing substantial. Steinbeck stamps on us the strength of their friendship and their loyalty to one another. And that is the only impressive feature I found in their characters.
The story was episodic, and each chapter is dedicated to a separate story of sorts of either Danny and/or one or more of his friends. This was an interesting structure, but sadly, the stories didn't come up to the mark; they didn't interest me. Steinbeck is a good writer, but in Tortilla Flat, either because of my lack of interest in the story or the characters, I failed to admire and appreciate his writing as I've done in almost every other work I've read. The only role of Steinbeck that I could appreciate was that of the humorist.
I'm in the minority here, so, before anyone of you jump down my throat, please know that these are my personal subjective thoughts about this novel. It may have its own merits which I failed to grasp. But to me, it was a set of boring stories connected through a group of people of whom I didn't care a jot.
Tortilla Flat is quite similar to Cannery Row in story. Both stories are revolved around a group of friends. However, while I felt the characters in Cannery Row (Doc, Mack, and the boys) to be interesting and close to heart, the characters in Tortilla Flat (Danny and his friends) were dull and distant. Their adventures didn't impress me. They were full of wine and women, and nothing substantial. Steinbeck stamps on us the strength of their friendship and their loyalty to one another. And that is the only impressive feature I found in their characters.
The story was episodic, and each chapter is dedicated to a separate story of sorts of either Danny and/or one or more of his friends. This was an interesting structure, but sadly, the stories didn't come up to the mark; they didn't interest me. Steinbeck is a good writer, but in Tortilla Flat, either because of my lack of interest in the story or the characters, I failed to admire and appreciate his writing as I've done in almost every other work I've read. The only role of Steinbeck that I could appreciate was that of the humorist.
I'm in the minority here, so, before anyone of you jump down my throat, please know that these are my personal subjective thoughts about this novel. It may have its own merits which I failed to grasp. But to me, it was a set of boring stories connected through a group of people of whom I didn't care a jot.
January 6, 2019
John Steinbeck is a master American storyteller whose work is always a treat for me to read. Tortilla Flat is one of three of his works I have planned for this year and got me off to a rousing start. Tortilla Flat is the first of Steinbeck鈥檚 novels that takes place in Monterey, California. He gives readers a sense of the era of the Depression as well as the place and the scenery. The characters of Danny and his friends were comical and fun to read about their exploits as they cope with having little money but an expensive taste in wine and women. The writing is not quite at the level of Mac and friends in Cannery Row yet still flows well. One can tell that this was one of Steinbeck鈥檚 earlier works as his writing isn鈥檛 as polished here; however, a less than stellar Steinbeck still rates among some of the best writing. While Cannery Row is my favorite at this point, Tortilla Flat was still an entertaining read. I got to immerse myself in Steinbeck鈥檚 Monterey again and read the book that got his career off the ground. I look forward to reading the other of his books I have planned for later in the year as I know that one of Steinbeck鈥檚 stories will always be a gem.
4 stars
4 stars
October 25, 2024
The author's sympathy and affection towards this gang of young, carefree, charming and somewhat sterotypical 'paisanos' are reflected in his tone and the gentle humour.
The life that they lead revolves around a gallon of wine which is the ultimate goal they try to achieve at the end of each day. It is a necessary condition of good life. Their happy-go-lucky attitude towards tomorrow, their comarderie, loyalty, mischef and simple pleasures are attractive and entertaining to the readers.
However, as for me (honestly!) I haven't read such a boring (well-written, of course) book for a long time. I am sorry!
The life that they lead revolves around a gallon of wine which is the ultimate goal they try to achieve at the end of each day. It is a necessary condition of good life. Their happy-go-lucky attitude towards tomorrow, their comarderie, loyalty, mischef and simple pleasures are attractive and entertaining to the readers.
However, as for me (honestly!) I haven't read such a boring (well-written, of course) book for a long time. I am sorry!
June 5, 2009
Much has been said about Steinbeck's apparent portrayal of Mexican Americans as lazy, amoral drunkards in Tortilla Flat. Some say Steinbeck was racist; some say he was just a product of his time. Which is right I do not know; Steinbeck may very well have been racist (he also uses "jew" as a slur and in several of his books uses unflattering stereotypes of Chinese people). I know nothing of the man's personal beliefs about race and it is a common fallacy to suppose an author always agrees with his narrator. But Steinbeck was certainly a product of his time. Which begs the question: can racism be excused if it's just a product of its time? Was it appropriate for Al Jolson to put on blackface makeup and sing "Mammy" because it wasn't politically incorrect back then? Was Twain's depiction of Jim no more than a minstrel show in print? And can we, as products or our time, truly judge these things with an unbiased eye?
Perhaps being "a product of his time" means something else. Perhaps Steinbeck's characterization of these paisanos as layabout drunks had nothing to do with their race and everything to do with the time and area in which they lived. Prohibition and the Great Depression made loafing lushes out of men of all races, colors, and creeds. Wine was verboten, so men wanted it all the more. Jobs were hard to come by, so eventually men stopped trying. This is the impression I got from reading this book: not that the paisanos were lazy, drunk, amoral, and poor because they were Mexican, but because in 1935 they didn't have anything else to do.
Perhaps being "a product of his time" means something else. Perhaps Steinbeck's characterization of these paisanos as layabout drunks had nothing to do with their race and everything to do with the time and area in which they lived. Prohibition and the Great Depression made loafing lushes out of men of all races, colors, and creeds. Wine was verboten, so men wanted it all the more. Jobs were hard to come by, so eventually men stopped trying. This is the impression I got from reading this book: not that the paisanos were lazy, drunk, amoral, and poor because they were Mexican, but because in 1935 they didn't have anything else to do.
March 8, 2018
鈥楾ortilla Flat鈥� (1935) was John Steinbeck鈥檚 first significant literary success 鈥� both popular and critical. Put simply and in Steinbeck鈥檚 own words, Tortilla Flat is the story of 鈥淒anny and of Danny鈥檚 friends and of Danny鈥檚 house鈥� 鈥� his inheritance.
Danny and his assorted friends are 鈥榩aisanos鈥� 鈥� countrymen of Spanish, Indian, Mexican and Caucasian mixed heritage. Danny and his 鈥榖and of brothers鈥� are essentially, in Steinbeck鈥檚 eyes, decent people who play life very much according to their own rules. This is familiar territory that Steinbeck revisited later (to great effect) in both 鈥楥annery Row鈥� and its sequel 鈥楽weet Thursday鈥� for which Tortilla Flat can be seen as a template.
In one sense, the stories of Danny and the paisanos feel almost mythological, somewhat biblical certainly and even Arthurian. Indeed Steinbeck in his preface to the novel notes that Danny鈥檚 house is not unlike the Round Table and his friends are not unlike the Arthurian knights of legend.
Tortilla Flat was adapted as a film and released in 1942 鈥� however Steinbeck was less than impressed with the cinematic depiction of Danny and friends as 鈥榪uaint, underdogs, curious and dispossessed鈥� and even suggested that had he known, he may well have not written their stories in the first place. Goodness knows what Steinbeck thought of the very Hollywood re-writing of the ending of the story?
Modern and contemporary writers and critics have cited that Steinbeck鈥檚 portrayal of the paisanos and their way of life, is not an accurate one and does somewhat perpetuate stereotypes of Mexican Americans. To that extent, Steinbeck was indeed a product of, and subject to his times. These are important points to be raised and conversations to be had 鈥� but these were very different times and it was a very different America. In context, being published in 1935 鈥� Tortilla Flat was apparently enjoyed by many American readers as escapism from the Great Depression of the time. But in spite of such criticism and the confines of 1935 鈥� the brilliance of Steinbeck鈥檚 work clearly transcends its time and despite contemporary criticism concerning (seemingly unintentional) racial stereotyping, Steinbeck鈥檚 work still rings true and strikes many a chord with the 21st century reader some 80+ years later.
Whilst certainly not in the same league of literary brilliance as 鈥楨ast of Eden, Grapes of Wrath鈥� etc 鈥� Tortilla Flat is nevertheless a fine book. It is a straightforward, yet powerful story 鈥� a very human story, simply told with great feeling for the narrative and empathy with the characters.
Danny and his assorted friends are 鈥榩aisanos鈥� 鈥� countrymen of Spanish, Indian, Mexican and Caucasian mixed heritage. Danny and his 鈥榖and of brothers鈥� are essentially, in Steinbeck鈥檚 eyes, decent people who play life very much according to their own rules. This is familiar territory that Steinbeck revisited later (to great effect) in both 鈥楥annery Row鈥� and its sequel 鈥楽weet Thursday鈥� for which Tortilla Flat can be seen as a template.
In one sense, the stories of Danny and the paisanos feel almost mythological, somewhat biblical certainly and even Arthurian. Indeed Steinbeck in his preface to the novel notes that Danny鈥檚 house is not unlike the Round Table and his friends are not unlike the Arthurian knights of legend.
Tortilla Flat was adapted as a film and released in 1942 鈥� however Steinbeck was less than impressed with the cinematic depiction of Danny and friends as 鈥榪uaint, underdogs, curious and dispossessed鈥� and even suggested that had he known, he may well have not written their stories in the first place. Goodness knows what Steinbeck thought of the very Hollywood re-writing of the ending of the story?
Modern and contemporary writers and critics have cited that Steinbeck鈥檚 portrayal of the paisanos and their way of life, is not an accurate one and does somewhat perpetuate stereotypes of Mexican Americans. To that extent, Steinbeck was indeed a product of, and subject to his times. These are important points to be raised and conversations to be had 鈥� but these were very different times and it was a very different America. In context, being published in 1935 鈥� Tortilla Flat was apparently enjoyed by many American readers as escapism from the Great Depression of the time. But in spite of such criticism and the confines of 1935 鈥� the brilliance of Steinbeck鈥檚 work clearly transcends its time and despite contemporary criticism concerning (seemingly unintentional) racial stereotyping, Steinbeck鈥檚 work still rings true and strikes many a chord with the 21st century reader some 80+ years later.
Whilst certainly not in the same league of literary brilliance as 鈥楨ast of Eden, Grapes of Wrath鈥� etc 鈥� Tortilla Flat is nevertheless a fine book. It is a straightforward, yet powerful story 鈥� a very human story, simply told with great feeling for the narrative and empathy with the characters.
August 25, 2024
Catching up鈥�
鈥淭houghts are slow and deep and golden in the morning.鈥�
Reading John Steinbeck was a tremendous treat while facilitating the book group at my local library years ago. The group wanted to get in to as many books as we could, so we did.
This actually was the book that gave Steinbeck name recognition when it was published in May 1935. It wasn鈥檛 his first published book, but it was the one that readers gravitated towards. The reviewers were loving it because the characters were easily charming and there was so much to appreciate about the story with its laughable and sad moments.
鈥淭hings that happen are of no importance. But from everything that happens, there is a lesson to be learned.鈥�
Steinbeck wasn鈥檛 impressed by the reviews. His intent in writing the story was to showcase the reality of the people he knew and liked, because he wrote the story based on the trueness of the lives he experienced. The people he met. There was something about the harmony of the people living together under the same roof and the simplicity of their lives 鈥� the paisanos 鈥� the pleasures of their world.
Of course, we can鈥檛 overlook the 鈥渃asual鈥� racism of the day. But mostly it truly is a celebration of life outside the mainstream. So, we can look at this story as escapism and entertainment during the Great Depression. With an ending that might not be to everyone鈥檚 liking. (No spoilers from me.)
However, you see the experience of Steinbeck, this one is still worth reading in any generation. And, quite discussable.
鈥淭houghts are slow and deep and golden in the morning.鈥�
Reading John Steinbeck was a tremendous treat while facilitating the book group at my local library years ago. The group wanted to get in to as many books as we could, so we did.
This actually was the book that gave Steinbeck name recognition when it was published in May 1935. It wasn鈥檛 his first published book, but it was the one that readers gravitated towards. The reviewers were loving it because the characters were easily charming and there was so much to appreciate about the story with its laughable and sad moments.
鈥淭hings that happen are of no importance. But from everything that happens, there is a lesson to be learned.鈥�
Steinbeck wasn鈥檛 impressed by the reviews. His intent in writing the story was to showcase the reality of the people he knew and liked, because he wrote the story based on the trueness of the lives he experienced. The people he met. There was something about the harmony of the people living together under the same roof and the simplicity of their lives 鈥� the paisanos 鈥� the pleasures of their world.
Of course, we can鈥檛 overlook the 鈥渃asual鈥� racism of the day. But mostly it truly is a celebration of life outside the mainstream. So, we can look at this story as escapism and entertainment during the Great Depression. With an ending that might not be to everyone鈥檚 liking. (No spoilers from me.)
However, you see the experience of Steinbeck, this one is still worth reading in any generation. And, quite discussable.
March 9, 2025
A book that is difficult to analyze because of its unique charm.
April 23, 2024
Synopsis: itinerant paisanos come together, then come apart.
I did not expect to smile and laugh so much! This mirthful book is not what I'm used to from Steinbeck. I knew there would be beautiful prose of course, but instead of portraying the usual tragedies small and large, Steinbeck wanted to relax and have fun - and he wanted the reader to do the same, much as his characters do. Rather than looking upon the futility of ambition - of life itself - as a dirge, he made his story a joyous folk song and a snappy pop hit dedicated to impermanence. While still keeping his favored refrain of lives barely lived and humanity in the mud, of course. Steinbeck's gonna do Steinbeck, even at his most relaxed.
A hallmark of that relaxation, as well as cleverness: the author's shifting his dialogue back and forth from 1930s paisano slang (I suppose) to a very formal and stylized version of medieval English. All the better to drive home that this story of wine-soused layabouts also functions as a mischievous parody of Le Morte d'Arthur.
To these modern eyes, there was quite a bit that annoyed. The constant use of "Jew" as both verb and insult, of course - although hard to fault the author for what is coming out of his rather sweet but also rather dim characters' mouths. (And hey, "Jew" is still used the same way today - albeit by ignoramuses who should know better, and anti-Semites.) The basic fact that we have a white author portraying various characters of mixed heritage as drunkards, thieves, and fools also bugged. Both of those things contributed to my not taking this novel as seriously as I probably should have. And that said, Steinbeck's warmth, love, and even admiration for his characters shines through and made such issues almost - almost - feel minor.
The shallowness of the story meant that I took a lot less from Tortilla Flat than I did from my last Steinbeck experience - the off-putting, depressing, mournful, entirely brilliant . But I sure did enjoy it a lot more.
3 of 16 in
I did not expect to smile and laugh so much! This mirthful book is not what I'm used to from Steinbeck. I knew there would be beautiful prose of course, but instead of portraying the usual tragedies small and large, Steinbeck wanted to relax and have fun - and he wanted the reader to do the same, much as his characters do. Rather than looking upon the futility of ambition - of life itself - as a dirge, he made his story a joyous folk song and a snappy pop hit dedicated to impermanence. While still keeping his favored refrain of lives barely lived and humanity in the mud, of course. Steinbeck's gonna do Steinbeck, even at his most relaxed.
A hallmark of that relaxation, as well as cleverness: the author's shifting his dialogue back and forth from 1930s paisano slang (I suppose) to a very formal and stylized version of medieval English. All the better to drive home that this story of wine-soused layabouts also functions as a mischievous parody of Le Morte d'Arthur.
To these modern eyes, there was quite a bit that annoyed. The constant use of "Jew" as both verb and insult, of course - although hard to fault the author for what is coming out of his rather sweet but also rather dim characters' mouths. (And hey, "Jew" is still used the same way today - albeit by ignoramuses who should know better, and anti-Semites.) The basic fact that we have a white author portraying various characters of mixed heritage as drunkards, thieves, and fools also bugged. Both of those things contributed to my not taking this novel as seriously as I probably should have. And that said, Steinbeck's warmth, love, and even admiration for his characters shines through and made such issues almost - almost - feel minor.
The shallowness of the story meant that I took a lot less from Tortilla Flat than I did from my last Steinbeck experience - the off-putting, depressing, mournful, entirely brilliant . But I sure did enjoy it a lot more.
3 of 16 in
August 12, 2024
鈥淭wo gallons is a great deal of wine, even for two paisanos. Spiritually the jugs maybe graduated thus: Just below the shoulder of the first bottle, serious and concentrated conversation. Two inches farther down, sweetly sad memory. Three inches more, thoughts of old and satisfactory loves. An inch, thoughts of bitter loves. Bottom of the first jug, general and undirected sadness. Shoulder of the second jug, black, unholy despondency. Two fingers down, a song of death or longing. A thumb, every other song each one knows. The graduations stop here, for the trail splits and there is no certainty. From this point anything can happen.鈥�
鈥淧ilon complained, "It is not a good story. There are too many meanings and too many lessons in it. Some of those lessons are opposite. There is not a story to take into your head. It proves nothing."
"I like it," said Pablo. "I like it because it hasn't any meaning you can see, and still it does seem to mean something, I can't tell what.鈥�
My friend George called to say he had discovered his musty copy of this and Cannery Row in a cardboard box and sat right down to read it. He encouraged me to do the same. Now, did. I have also recently reread Of Mice and Men, a work I much love, and thought it would be good to re-read a few of his central (socialist) books about human solidarity (Cannery Row, Sweet Thursday, Of Mice and Men, Grapes of Wrath), because: Still, The Planet. These books focus on communitarian ideals versus the rugged individualist spirit of thousands of American books (I just happen to be thinking of Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises, or even Sherwood Anderson鈥檚 Winesburg, Ohio, all these isolated, alienated people). The importance of interdependence is central in Steinbeck.
Tortilla Flat is an early, short Steinbeck, seventeen vignettes, a kind of picaresque comic adventure story, a pretty romanticized depiction of a group of paisanos (mixed race) in the poor area of Monterey (CA), seen through a (King) Arthurian framework. Danny is Arthur and the Roundtable of Knights he cobbles together are a bunch of lovely underclass, rag-tag misfits who drink a lot, but also do Good Deeds (for Teresina, a single mom of 9 who has no food; for another who made a pledge to buy a golden candlestick for the church because he had prayed and his dog miraculously survived: A miracle. They save quarters til they can buy it).
鈥淭hey did not awaken quickly, nor fling about nor shock their systems with any sudden movement. No, they arose from slumber as gently as a soap bubble floats out from its pipe. Down into the gulch they trudged, still only half awake. Gradually their wills coagulated. They built a fire and boiled some tea and drank it from the fruit jars, and at last they settled in the sun on the front porch. The flaming flies made halos about their heads. Life took shape about them, the shape of yesterday and of tomorrow. Discussion began slowly, for each man treasured the little sleep he still possessed. From this time until well after noon, intellectual comradeship came into being. This was one of the best of times for the friends of Danny. Anyone having a good thing to tell saved it for recounting at this time. The big brown butterflies came to the rose and sat on the flowers and waved their wings slowly, as though they pumped honey out by wing power.鈥�
You see there the solidarity of the poor, who don鈥檛 have jobs, or work when they can, and find ways to eat and drink wine. It鈥檚 a sweet, sentimental book honoring as he always did, the down-and-out, as did Orwell (Down and Out in London). A bit of Rabelais, too, as in making fun of the rich? Funny, warmly so, in many places. It relies too heavily on the Arthurian frame, and is an early book, but I really loved reading it, again. Maybe it presages a bit of On the Road romanticism, too. A book out of the Depression, a book of the times. And a book of solidarity with nature, too, a mystical healing force:
鈥淣ow Pilon knew it for a perfect night. A high fog covered the sky, and behind it, the moon shone so so that the forest was filled with a gauze-like light. There was none of the sharp outline we think of as reality. The tree trunks were not black columns of wood, but soft and unsubstantial shadows. The patches of brush were formless and shifting in the queer light. Ghosts could walk freely to-night, without fear of the disbelief of men; for this night was haunted, and it would be an insensitive man who did not know it.鈥�
鈥淧ilon complained, "It is not a good story. There are too many meanings and too many lessons in it. Some of those lessons are opposite. There is not a story to take into your head. It proves nothing."
"I like it," said Pablo. "I like it because it hasn't any meaning you can see, and still it does seem to mean something, I can't tell what.鈥�
My friend George called to say he had discovered his musty copy of this and Cannery Row in a cardboard box and sat right down to read it. He encouraged me to do the same. Now, did. I have also recently reread Of Mice and Men, a work I much love, and thought it would be good to re-read a few of his central (socialist) books about human solidarity (Cannery Row, Sweet Thursday, Of Mice and Men, Grapes of Wrath), because: Still, The Planet. These books focus on communitarian ideals versus the rugged individualist spirit of thousands of American books (I just happen to be thinking of Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises, or even Sherwood Anderson鈥檚 Winesburg, Ohio, all these isolated, alienated people). The importance of interdependence is central in Steinbeck.
Tortilla Flat is an early, short Steinbeck, seventeen vignettes, a kind of picaresque comic adventure story, a pretty romanticized depiction of a group of paisanos (mixed race) in the poor area of Monterey (CA), seen through a (King) Arthurian framework. Danny is Arthur and the Roundtable of Knights he cobbles together are a bunch of lovely underclass, rag-tag misfits who drink a lot, but also do Good Deeds (for Teresina, a single mom of 9 who has no food; for another who made a pledge to buy a golden candlestick for the church because he had prayed and his dog miraculously survived: A miracle. They save quarters til they can buy it).
鈥淭hey did not awaken quickly, nor fling about nor shock their systems with any sudden movement. No, they arose from slumber as gently as a soap bubble floats out from its pipe. Down into the gulch they trudged, still only half awake. Gradually their wills coagulated. They built a fire and boiled some tea and drank it from the fruit jars, and at last they settled in the sun on the front porch. The flaming flies made halos about their heads. Life took shape about them, the shape of yesterday and of tomorrow. Discussion began slowly, for each man treasured the little sleep he still possessed. From this time until well after noon, intellectual comradeship came into being. This was one of the best of times for the friends of Danny. Anyone having a good thing to tell saved it for recounting at this time. The big brown butterflies came to the rose and sat on the flowers and waved their wings slowly, as though they pumped honey out by wing power.鈥�
You see there the solidarity of the poor, who don鈥檛 have jobs, or work when they can, and find ways to eat and drink wine. It鈥檚 a sweet, sentimental book honoring as he always did, the down-and-out, as did Orwell (Down and Out in London). A bit of Rabelais, too, as in making fun of the rich? Funny, warmly so, in many places. It relies too heavily on the Arthurian frame, and is an early book, but I really loved reading it, again. Maybe it presages a bit of On the Road romanticism, too. A book out of the Depression, a book of the times. And a book of solidarity with nature, too, a mystical healing force:
鈥淣ow Pilon knew it for a perfect night. A high fog covered the sky, and behind it, the moon shone so so that the forest was filled with a gauze-like light. There was none of the sharp outline we think of as reality. The tree trunks were not black columns of wood, but soft and unsubstantial shadows. The patches of brush were formless and shifting in the queer light. Ghosts could walk freely to-night, without fear of the disbelief of men; for this night was haunted, and it would be an insensitive man who did not know it.鈥�
March 12, 2016
Tales of the tall variety about a silly gang of friends whose boy's club antics remind one at times of "The Three Stooges" or "Last of the Summer Wine" as they cast about in search of adventure and drink, spinning their own unbelievable yarns while getting drunk, and philosophizing with wild abandon - be damned the passing of the day! Hell, there's even Yogi Bear-ish picnic basket pinching scene!
Nonsense, it's all nonsense! Or is it? I seem to recall something quite profound was said somewhere in there amongst the inane, convoluted logic and self-serving prattle...maybe it was the wine talking?
Steinbeck dips back into the well of central-coast California, planting gypsy-esque Spaniard immigrants in a fictional town near Monterey called Tortilla Flat, a town and people so colorful he almost runs out of paint while doing their portraits.
But no, Steinbeck's brush stays charged through out. He layers it on, at times too thick for seriousness. Thank goodness Tortilla Flat seldom gets too serious. Certainly there are solemn moments: a death, a beating, friendships tested. Occasionally these moments threaten to collapse the whole buoyant structure. Perhaps a scene or two is too morbid for this otherwise laugh-riot. Oh, pass the jug of wine and don't let it trouble you!
Nonsense, it's all nonsense! Or is it? I seem to recall something quite profound was said somewhere in there amongst the inane, convoluted logic and self-serving prattle...maybe it was the wine talking?
Steinbeck dips back into the well of central-coast California, planting gypsy-esque Spaniard immigrants in a fictional town near Monterey called Tortilla Flat, a town and people so colorful he almost runs out of paint while doing their portraits.
But no, Steinbeck's brush stays charged through out. He layers it on, at times too thick for seriousness. Thank goodness Tortilla Flat seldom gets too serious. Certainly there are solemn moments: a death, a beating, friendships tested. Occasionally these moments threaten to collapse the whole buoyant structure. Perhaps a scene or two is too morbid for this otherwise laugh-riot. Oh, pass the jug of wine and don't let it trouble you!
July 21, 2019
This book was incredibly boring to me and not on the same level as and which I found very spiritual and thoroughly enjoyed. This is the fourth book that I've read. The other was which was tolerable but not as good as the short stories I mentioned above.
September 9, 2018
A rollicking good time.
John Steinbeck鈥檚 1935 short novel about a Monterey group drunks and ne鈥檈r do wells fashioned like an Arthurian legend is fun, if a little dated.
Steinbeck fans will note similarities with his later works and . Tortilla Flat was one of his earliest works and his first commercial success.
A picaresque tale told with humor and irony, this was also an entertaining glimpse into 1930s California as well as a visit with a very youthful Steinbeck (he was 33 when this was first published).
鈥淭wo gallons is a great deal of wine, even for two paisanos. Spiritually the jugs maybe graduated thus: Just below the shoulder of the first bottle, serious and concentrated conversation. Two inches farther down, sweetly sad memory. Three inches more, thoughts of old and satisfactory loves. An inch, thoughts of bitter loves. Bottom of the first jug, general and undirected sadness. Shoulder of the second jug, black, unholy despondency. Two fingers down, a song of death or longing. A thumb, every other song each one knows. The graduations stop here, for the trail splits and there is no certainty. From this point anything can happen.鈥澨�
John Steinbeck鈥檚 1935 short novel about a Monterey group drunks and ne鈥檈r do wells fashioned like an Arthurian legend is fun, if a little dated.
Steinbeck fans will note similarities with his later works and . Tortilla Flat was one of his earliest works and his first commercial success.
A picaresque tale told with humor and irony, this was also an entertaining glimpse into 1930s California as well as a visit with a very youthful Steinbeck (he was 33 when this was first published).
鈥淭wo gallons is a great deal of wine, even for two paisanos. Spiritually the jugs maybe graduated thus: Just below the shoulder of the first bottle, serious and concentrated conversation. Two inches farther down, sweetly sad memory. Three inches more, thoughts of old and satisfactory loves. An inch, thoughts of bitter loves. Bottom of the first jug, general and undirected sadness. Shoulder of the second jug, black, unholy despondency. Two fingers down, a song of death or longing. A thumb, every other song each one knows. The graduations stop here, for the trail splits and there is no certainty. From this point anything can happen.鈥澨�
December 15, 2011
Briefly, Danny, the chief protagonist in this novel, returns from the war to Tortilla Flat (a paisano district that sits upon a hillside above Monterey), to find he has inherited two houses. What then follows is a comedic tale that fundamentally can be summed up in 5 words - wine, friendship, food, women and err..wine again :o)
This is the first John Steinbeck novel I've had the pleasure of reading, and quite simply it has left an indelible mark on me. What captivates me in the first instance is the remarkable talent Mr. Steinbeck shows in the quality of his prose. He demonstrates an incredible talent for expressing himself literarily, and in the most poetic way. I could provide endless examples but as an illustration, instead of penning something simple such as "the Pirate used his wheelbarrow to help Danny", Mr. Steinbeck eloquently scribes it as "then borrowing the Pirate's wheelbarrow and the Pirate to push it, Danny..", which, like the most of the sentences in Tortilla Flat, read like silk.
If the quality of Mr. Steinbeck's prose forms one half of the success of Tortilla Flat, then the sublime depth of his characterisation fills the other half. Mr. Steinbeck succeeds at magnificently bringing his characters to life. Every one is profoundly realised, with each possessing their own idiosyncratic yet appealing qualities. It is a difficult choice to make but the most endearing character for me is "The Pirate', the man `whose head had not grown up with the rest of his body'. Conscientious, hard-working, a man of simple pleasure (a pleasure that consists of him either showing affection for his dogs, or working towards winning the approval of his friends), the Pirate epitomizes how a humble, honest and largely pious life should be lived, which superbly juxtaposes the lifestyles of the other friends in the group (well, with the exception of Big Joe Portagee :o)) which are as far from pious as one could get.
This is not to say that Danny and his friends never show good intentions at heart. Mr. Steinbeck is masterful at setting his characters on a path of good intention, only for them to either falter, or to manipulate circumstance to meet their own needs. This happens a lot, and more often than not, wine plays a role as either the primary motive or betrayer.
I truly loved reading Tortilla Flat. It is a delightful story, with magnificent characters, and I would consider it to be a work of absolute genius. I never thought it could be possible to be completely captivated by an author on the strength of reading one book, but I can state without fear of contradiction that Mr. John Steinbeck, thanks to Tortilla Flat, has found a rare place in my heart. I look forward to discovering the rest of his collection.
This is the first John Steinbeck novel I've had the pleasure of reading, and quite simply it has left an indelible mark on me. What captivates me in the first instance is the remarkable talent Mr. Steinbeck shows in the quality of his prose. He demonstrates an incredible talent for expressing himself literarily, and in the most poetic way. I could provide endless examples but as an illustration, instead of penning something simple such as "the Pirate used his wheelbarrow to help Danny", Mr. Steinbeck eloquently scribes it as "then borrowing the Pirate's wheelbarrow and the Pirate to push it, Danny..", which, like the most of the sentences in Tortilla Flat, read like silk.
If the quality of Mr. Steinbeck's prose forms one half of the success of Tortilla Flat, then the sublime depth of his characterisation fills the other half. Mr. Steinbeck succeeds at magnificently bringing his characters to life. Every one is profoundly realised, with each possessing their own idiosyncratic yet appealing qualities. It is a difficult choice to make but the most endearing character for me is "The Pirate', the man `whose head had not grown up with the rest of his body'. Conscientious, hard-working, a man of simple pleasure (a pleasure that consists of him either showing affection for his dogs, or working towards winning the approval of his friends), the Pirate epitomizes how a humble, honest and largely pious life should be lived, which superbly juxtaposes the lifestyles of the other friends in the group (well, with the exception of Big Joe Portagee :o)) which are as far from pious as one could get.
This is not to say that Danny and his friends never show good intentions at heart. Mr. Steinbeck is masterful at setting his characters on a path of good intention, only for them to either falter, or to manipulate circumstance to meet their own needs. This happens a lot, and more often than not, wine plays a role as either the primary motive or betrayer.
I truly loved reading Tortilla Flat. It is a delightful story, with magnificent characters, and I would consider it to be a work of absolute genius. I never thought it could be possible to be completely captivated by an author on the strength of reading one book, but I can state without fear of contradiction that Mr. John Steinbeck, thanks to Tortilla Flat, has found a rare place in my heart. I look forward to discovering the rest of his collection.
December 13, 2020
危伪谓 维位位慰喂 芦
蟿蔚渭蟺苇位畏未蔚蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚蠉蠁慰蟻畏蟼 魏慰喂位维未伪蟼
禄 慰喂 paisanos 萎蟻蠅蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿慰蟻萎渭伪蟿慰蟼 蟺慰蠀 苇魏伪谓蔚 蔚蠀蟻蠉蟿蔚蟻伪 纬谓蠅蟽蟿蠈 蟿慰谓 韦味慰谓 危蟿维喂谓渭蟺蔚魏 (Tortilla Flat, 1932) 尉慰未蔚蠉慰蠀谓 蟿喂蟼 渭苇蟻蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟽蟿慰 螠慰谓蟿蔚蟻苇喂 蟿畏蟼 螝伪位喂蠁蠈蟻谓喂伪 渭苇蟽伪 蟽蟿畏谓 慰魏谓畏蟻委伪, 蟿畏 蠂伪位伪蟻蠈蟿畏蟿伪 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 蔚蟺伪谓维位畏蠄畏. 围蠅蟻委蟼 蔚蟻纬伪蟽委伪 魏伪喂 维位位蔚蟼 蟽魏慰蟿慰蠉蟻蔚蟼, 慰 螡蟿维谓蠀 魏伪喂 慰喂 蠁委位慰喂 蟿慰蠀 渭慰喂蟻维味慰谓蟿伪喂 蟿伪 位喂纬慰蟽蟿维 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠀蟺维蟻蠂慰谓蟿伪 魏伪喂 味慰蠀谓 魏蠀蟻喂慰位蔚魏蟿喂魏维 慰 苇谓伪蟼 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 维位位慰. 螚 蔚蠀蟿蠀蠂委伪 蟿慰蠀蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 渭喂伪 芦蠂喂位喂维蟻伪禄 魏蟻伪蟽委 魏伪喂 畏 魏蠀蟻喂蠈蟿蔚蟻畏 伪纬蠅谓委伪 蟿慰蠀蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺蠅蟼 胃伪 蔚尉伪蟽蠁伪位委蟽慰蠀谓 蟿畏谓 蔚蟺蠈渭蔚谓畏 (渭蔚 渭喂魏蟻慰伪蟺伪蟿蔚蠅谓喂苇蟼 萎 蠈蠂喂). 螝喂 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿蠈蟽慰 伪尉蔚蠂蠋蟻喂蟽蟿慰喂 蠈位慰喂 蟿慰蠀蟼, 蟺慰蠀 渭蠈谓慰谓 慰 胃维谓伪蟿慰蟼 胃伪 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉蟽蔚 谓伪 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠂蠅蟻委蟽蔚喂.
螠蔚 蟿畏谓 魏慰喂谓蠅谓喂魏萎 蔚蠀伪喂蟽胃畏蟽委伪 魏伪喂 蟿蟻蠀蠁蔚蟻蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 苇蟿蟽喂 魏喂 伪位位喂蠋蟼 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿畏蟻委味蔚喂 蟿慰 蟽蠉谓慰位慰 蟿慰蠀 苇蟻纬慰蠀 蟿慰蠀, 慰 危蟿维喂谓渭蟺蔚魏 蔚谓蟽蟿蔚蟻谓委味蔚蟿伪喂 蟿喂蟼 (未喂伪蠁慰蟻蔚蟿喂魏苇蟼) 味蠅苇蟼 蟿蠅谓 蠁蟿蠅蠂蠋谓 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺蠅谓 蟿畏蟼 伪渭蔚蟻喂魏伪谓喂魏萎蟼 蠀蟺伪委胃蟻慰蠀 渭蔚蟿维 蟿慰 蟿苇位慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 螒蝿 螤伪纬魏慰蟽渭委慰蠀 螤慰位苇渭慰蠀 (芦蔚委谓伪喂 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰喂 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰蠀蟼 尉苇蟻蠅 魏伪喂 蟺慰蠀 渭鈥� 伪蟻苇蟽慰蠀谓, 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰喂 蟺慰蠀 渭蔚 渭蔚纬维位畏 蔚蟺喂蟿蠀蠂委伪 蟺蟻慰蟽伪蟻渭蠈味慰谓蟿伪喂 蟽蟿慰 蟺蔚蟻喂尾维位位慰谓禄 伪谓伪蠁苇蟻蔚喂 慰 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 蟽蟿慰 蟺蟻慰位慰纬喂魏蠈 蟽畏渭蔚委蠅渭伪 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀 蟿慰蠀) 魏伪喂 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬蔚委 苇谓伪 伪尉喂慰渭谓畏渭蠈谓蔚蠀蟿慰 蠄畏蠁喂未蠅蟿蠈 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺蠅谓, 蟺慰蠀 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 蟽蟿蔚蟻慰蠉谓蟿伪喂 蟿伪 (魏伪胃鈥� 畏渭维蟼) 伪谓伪纬魏伪委伪, 伪位位维 苇蠂慰蠀谓 慰 苇谓伪蟼 蟿慰谓 维位位慰 (蟺蟻维纬渭伪 蟺慰蠀 伪蟺蠈 渭蠈谓慰 蟿慰蠀 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺慰位位苇蟼 蠁慰蟻苇蟼 伪蟻魏蔚蟿蠈).
[螤伪蟻伪尾位苇蟺蠅 蟿畏谓 魏伪魏萎蟼 蟺慰喂蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼 苇魏未慰蟽畏 萎 蟿畏谓 喂未喂蠈蟿蠀蟺畏 未畏渭慰蟿喂魏萎 蟿慰蠀 蟽蟺慰蠀未伪委慰蠀 位慰纬慰蟿苇蠂谓畏 渭伪蟼 螁蟻畏 螒位蔚尉维谓未蟻慰蠀 魏喂 蔚蟺喂蟽畏渭伪委谓蠅 尉伪谓维 魏维蟿喂 伪蟺蠈 蠈蟽伪 蟺蟻慰位蠈纬喂蟽蔚 蟽蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蟿慰蠀 慰 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼, 蔚谓 苇蟿蔚喂 1937, 纬喂鈥� 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠁蟿蠅蠂慰蠉蟼 魏伪喂 蠈渭慰蟻蠁慰蠀蟼 paisanos 蟿慰蠀 螠慰谓蟿蔚蟻苇喂 蟺慰蠀 蟽蟿鈥� 伪位萎胃蔚喂伪 魏喂 蔚纬蠋 蟿慰蠀蟼 伪纬维蟺畏蟽伪 蟺慰位蠉: 芦螤慰蟿苇 蠈渭蠅蟼 蟽蟿慰 渭苇位位慰谓 未蔚谓 胃伪 伪蠁萎蟽蠅 谓伪 伪纬纬委尉慰蠀谓 渭蔚 蟿伪 蟺蟻蠈蟽蟿蠀蠂伪 未维蠂蟿蠀位维 蟿慰蠀蟼 慰喂 鈥溛何蔽赶壪兿€蟻苇蟺蔚喂鈥� 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 锟斤拷伪位慰蠉蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺慰蠀蟼 蟿慰蠀 纬苇位喂慰蠀 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟼 伪纬伪胃蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼, 蟺慰蠀 慰喂 慰蟻渭苇蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿委渭喂蔚蟼 魏伪喂 畏 渭伪蟿喂维 蟿慰蠀蟼 维未慰位畏, 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺慰蠀蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚委谓伪喂 蠁喂位蠈蠁蟻慰谓蔚蟼, 蟺苇蟻伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟿蠉蟺慰蠀蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚蠀纬苇谓蔚喂伪蟼. 螒谓 蟿慰蠀蟼 苇尾位伪蠄伪 渭蔚 蟿慰 谓伪 未喂畏纬畏胃蠋 渭蔚蟻喂魏苇蟼 伪蟺鈥� 蟿喂蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼, 位蠀蟺维渭伪喂 蟺慰位蠉. 螖蔚谓 胃伪 蟿慰 尉伪谓伪魏维谓蠅.禄闭
螠蔚 蟿畏谓 魏慰喂谓蠅谓喂魏萎 蔚蠀伪喂蟽胃畏蟽委伪 魏伪喂 蟿蟻蠀蠁蔚蟻蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 苇蟿蟽喂 魏喂 伪位位喂蠋蟼 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿畏蟻委味蔚喂 蟿慰 蟽蠉谓慰位慰 蟿慰蠀 苇蟻纬慰蠀 蟿慰蠀, 慰 危蟿维喂谓渭蟺蔚魏 蔚谓蟽蟿蔚蟻谓委味蔚蟿伪喂 蟿喂蟼 (未喂伪蠁慰蟻蔚蟿喂魏苇蟼) 味蠅苇蟼 蟿蠅谓 蠁蟿蠅蠂蠋谓 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺蠅谓 蟿畏蟼 伪渭蔚蟻喂魏伪谓喂魏萎蟼 蠀蟺伪委胃蟻慰蠀 渭蔚蟿维 蟿慰 蟿苇位慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 螒蝿 螤伪纬魏慰蟽渭委慰蠀 螤慰位苇渭慰蠀 (芦蔚委谓伪喂 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰喂 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰蠀蟼 尉苇蟻蠅 魏伪喂 蟺慰蠀 渭鈥� 伪蟻苇蟽慰蠀谓, 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰喂 蟺慰蠀 渭蔚 渭蔚纬维位畏 蔚蟺喂蟿蠀蠂委伪 蟺蟻慰蟽伪蟻渭蠈味慰谓蟿伪喂 蟽蟿慰 蟺蔚蟻喂尾维位位慰谓禄 伪谓伪蠁苇蟻蔚喂 慰 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 蟽蟿慰 蟺蟻慰位慰纬喂魏蠈 蟽畏渭蔚委蠅渭伪 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀 蟿慰蠀) 魏伪喂 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬蔚委 苇谓伪 伪尉喂慰渭谓畏渭蠈谓蔚蠀蟿慰 蠄畏蠁喂未蠅蟿蠈 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺蠅谓, 蟺慰蠀 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 蟽蟿蔚蟻慰蠉谓蟿伪喂 蟿伪 (魏伪胃鈥� 畏渭维蟼) 伪谓伪纬魏伪委伪, 伪位位维 苇蠂慰蠀谓 慰 苇谓伪蟼 蟿慰谓 维位位慰 (蟺蟻维纬渭伪 蟺慰蠀 伪蟺蠈 渭蠈谓慰 蟿慰蠀 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺慰位位苇蟼 蠁慰蟻苇蟼 伪蟻魏蔚蟿蠈).
[螤伪蟻伪尾位苇蟺蠅 蟿畏谓 魏伪魏萎蟼 蟺慰喂蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼 苇魏未慰蟽畏 萎 蟿畏谓 喂未喂蠈蟿蠀蟺畏 未畏渭慰蟿喂魏萎 蟿慰蠀 蟽蟺慰蠀未伪委慰蠀 位慰纬慰蟿苇蠂谓畏 渭伪蟼 螁蟻畏 螒位蔚尉维谓未蟻慰蠀 魏喂 蔚蟺喂蟽畏渭伪委谓蠅 尉伪谓维 魏维蟿喂 伪蟺蠈 蠈蟽伪 蟺蟻慰位蠈纬喂蟽蔚 蟽蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蟿慰蠀 慰 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼, 蔚谓 苇蟿蔚喂 1937, 纬喂鈥� 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠁蟿蠅蠂慰蠉蟼 魏伪喂 蠈渭慰蟻蠁慰蠀蟼 paisanos 蟿慰蠀 螠慰谓蟿蔚蟻苇喂 蟺慰蠀 蟽蟿鈥� 伪位萎胃蔚喂伪 魏喂 蔚纬蠋 蟿慰蠀蟼 伪纬维蟺畏蟽伪 蟺慰位蠉: 芦螤慰蟿苇 蠈渭蠅蟼 蟽蟿慰 渭苇位位慰谓 未蔚谓 胃伪 伪蠁萎蟽蠅 谓伪 伪纬纬委尉慰蠀谓 渭蔚 蟿伪 蟺蟻蠈蟽蟿蠀蠂伪 未维蠂蟿蠀位维 蟿慰蠀蟼 慰喂 鈥溛何蔽赶壪兿€蟻苇蟺蔚喂鈥� 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 锟斤拷伪位慰蠉蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺慰蠀蟼 蟿慰蠀 纬苇位喂慰蠀 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟼 伪纬伪胃蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼, 蟺慰蠀 慰喂 慰蟻渭苇蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿委渭喂蔚蟼 魏伪喂 畏 渭伪蟿喂维 蟿慰蠀蟼 维未慰位畏, 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺慰蠀蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚委谓伪喂 蠁喂位蠈蠁蟻慰谓蔚蟼, 蟺苇蟻伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟿蠉蟺慰蠀蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚蠀纬苇谓蔚喂伪蟼. 螒谓 蟿慰蠀蟼 苇尾位伪蠄伪 渭蔚 蟿慰 谓伪 未喂畏纬畏胃蠋 渭蔚蟻喂魏苇蟼 伪蟺鈥� 蟿喂蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼, 位蠀蟺维渭伪喂 蟺慰位蠉. 螖蔚谓 胃伪 蟿慰 尉伪谓伪魏维谓蠅.禄闭
October 27, 2020
Tortilla Flat was one of the earlier works of John Steinbeck taking place in Monterey, California during the years after World War I and the Great Depression. When Danny returns to Monterey after serving in the U.S. Army, he discovers that he has inherited the small home of his grandfather in Tortilla Flat. Told in a true Arthurian legend with the legendary knights of the round table, Danny gathers a rag-tag group of paisanos around him, but with each one standing firm in their loyalty to one another as they fall victim to many temptations resulting in a lot of chaos and unrest as well as a brotherhood. This was such an endearing classic of this American version of Camelot and unfolding in one of my favorite cities in California.
"Monterey sits on the slope of a hill, with a blue bay below it and with a forest of tall dark pine trees at its back. The lower part of the town are inhabited by Americans, Italians, catchers and canners of fish. But on the hill where the forest and the town intermingle, where the streets are innocent of asphalt and the corners free of street lights, the old inhabitants of Monterey are embattled as the Ancient Britons are embattled in Wales. These are the paisanos."
"What is a paisano? He is a mixture of Spanish, Indian Mexican, and assorted Caucasian bloods. His ancestors have lived in California for a hundred or two years. He speaks English with a paisano accent and concerning his race, he indignantly claims pure Spanish blood . . . "
"Monterey sits on the slope of a hill, with a blue bay below it and with a forest of tall dark pine trees at its back. The lower part of the town are inhabited by Americans, Italians, catchers and canners of fish. But on the hill where the forest and the town intermingle, where the streets are innocent of asphalt and the corners free of street lights, the old inhabitants of Monterey are embattled as the Ancient Britons are embattled in Wales. These are the paisanos."
"What is a paisano? He is a mixture of Spanish, Indian Mexican, and assorted Caucasian bloods. His ancestors have lived in California for a hundred or two years. He speaks English with a paisano accent and concerning his race, he indignantly claims pure Spanish blood . . . "
November 22, 2023
讴鬲丕亘蹖 亘乇丕蹖 鬲丕亘鈥屫①堌臂屫� 丕賲丕 賳賴 亘乇丕蹖 丕賲乇賵夭 :
夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賴 爻禺賳诏賵蹖 丌讴丕丿賲蹖 賳賵亘賱貙 倬蹖卮 丕夭 丕賴丿丕 噩丕蹖夭賴 亘賴 噩丕賳 丕卮鬲丕蹖賳 亘讴貙 賲卮睾賵賱 賲毓乇賮蹖 丌孬丕乇 丕賵 亘賵丿貙 丕夭 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘丕 毓賳賵丕賳 讴鬲丕亘蹖 讴賴 亘乇禺蹖 亘賴 讴賲讴 丌賳 鬲賵丕賳爻鬲賳丿 丿賵乇丕賳 乇讴賵丿 丕賯鬲氐丕丿蹖 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 乇丕 倬卮鬲 爻乇 亘诏匕丕乇賳丿 蹖丕丿 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�.
讴鬲丕亘 讴賲蹖 胤賳夭 爻乇禺賵卮 賵 夭賳丿诏蹖 丿乇 賱丨馗賴 乇丕 丿丕乇丿. 賳賵毓蹖貨 丨丕賱 讴賴 趩蹖夭蹖 賳丿丕乇蹖賲貙 丨丿丕賯賱 亘丕 讴賲鬲乇蹖賳 趩蹖夭賴丕 禺賵卮 亘丕卮蹖賲. 亘丕 丕蹖賳 賴賲賴 賮囟丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘貙 丨鬲蹖 亘丕 鬲賵噩賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳讴賴 丿乇亘丕乇賴 倬蹖夭丕賳賵賴丕蹖 亘蹖爻賵丕丿 賵 丌丿賲鈥屬囏й� 丨丕卮蹖賴鈥屰� 讴丕賱蹖賮乇賳蹖丕爻鬲貙 诏丕賴丕 亘爻蹖丕乇 丕亘賱賴丕賳賴 賵 夭蹖丕丿蹖 亘丿賵蹖 亘賳馗乇 賲蹖鈥屫必池�. 卮丕蹖丿 丿賱蹖賱 丿乇讴 賳讴乇丿賳卮丕賳 鬲賵爻胤 禺賵丕賳賳丿诏丕賳蹖 賲孬賱 賲賳 丕蹖賳 亘賵丿 丕亘丿丕 丨鬲蹖 亘賴 丕蹖賳 賮囟丕賴丕 賳夭丿蹖讴 賳亘賵丿蹖賲. 亘乇丕蹖 賲孬丕賱 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 爻丕毓丿蹖 賴賲 賲丕賳賳丿 毓夭丕丿丕乇丕賳 亘蹖賱 蹖丕 鬲乇爻 賵 賱乇夭 賴賲 丿趩丕乇 趩賳蹖賳 亘賱丕賴鬲鈥屬囏й屰� 賴爻鬲賳丿 讴賴 丕賱亘鬲賴 亘丕 鬲賵噩賴 亘賴 禺乇丕賮丕鬲 賵 讴賲亘賵丿賴丕蹖 诏賵賳丕诏賵賳 亘乇丕蹖 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 丕蹖乇丕賳蹖 賯丕亘賱 倬匕蹖乇卮 賴爻鬲賳丿 賵賱蹖 蹖讴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖 亘賴 爻禺鬲蹖 丌賳 乇丕 亘丕賵乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�.
丕賱亘鬲賴 趩賳蹖賳 丕蹖乇丕丿蹖 亘賴 丕卮鬲丕蹖賳 亘讴 氐乇賮丕 丕夭 爻賵蹖 禺賵丕賳賳丿诏丕賳 禺丕乇噩蹖 丕賲乇賵夭蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 亘賱讴賴 丨鬲蹖 丿乇 夭賲丕賳 丕賳鬲卮丕乇卮 賴賲 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 丕夭 賳賯丿賴丕 亘賴 鬲氐賳毓蹖 亘賵丿賳 賮囟丕 賵 丌丿賲鈥屬囏� 賵 乇賮鬲丕乇賴丕卮丕賳 丕卮丕乇賴 丿丕卮鬲 賵 丕賱亘鬲賴 丕卮鬲丕蹖賳 亘讴 丿乇 賲賯丿賲賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 鬲賳賴丕 蹖讴 亘丕乇 亘賴 趩丕倬 乇爻蹖丿貙 丕夭 丕孬乇 禺賵丿 丿賮丕毓 讴乇丿 賵 诏賮鬲 讴賴 賲丿鬲蹖 亘丕 趩賳蹖賳 噩賲丕毓鬲蹖 夭賳丿诏蹖 讴乇丿賴 賵 賴乇 趩賴 乇丕 丿蹖丿賴 鬲賵氐蹖賮 讴乇丿賴 賳賴 亘丕 丕睾乇丕賯.
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賲卮鬲賲賱 亘乇 趩賳丿 亘禺卮 丕爻鬲 丕夭 噩賲賱賴 賲賯丿賲賴 賲鬲乇噩賲丕賳貙 賲鬲賳 爻禺賳乇丕賳蹖 賳賵亘賱貙 乇賲丕賳 鬲賵乇鬲蹖丕 賮賱鬲 賵 丨賵丕卮蹖 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕 夭蹖丕丿蹖 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 讴賴 丕夭 丿賱 賳丕賲賴鈥屬囏й屫� 亘蹖乇賵賳 讴卮蹖丿賴 卮丿賴鈥屫з嗀�. 丿乇 乇丕亘胤賴 亘丕 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 鬲賵乇鬲蹖丕 賮賱鬲 趩蹖夭蹖 賳丿丕乇賲 讴賴 亘诏賵蹖賲貙 賮賯胤 賲蹖鬲賵丕賳賲 亘诏賵蹖賲 亘賴 丿賱賲 賳賳卮爻鬲 賵 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賵 讴鬲丕亘 夭賲爻鬲丕賳 丕蹖賳 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 讴賴 丿乇 丕賵丕禺乇 亘賴丕乇 禺賵丕賳丿賲貙 賱匕鬲 丕卮鬲丕蹖賳 亘讴 禺賵丕賳蹖 乇丕 丿乇 賲賳 亘爻蹖丕乇 鬲賯賱蹖賱 丿丕丿 賵 丕丨鬲賲丕賱 丿丕乇丿 亘乇丕蹖 蹖讴蹖 丿賵 讴鬲丕亘 亘丕賯蹖 賲丕賳丿賴 丕卮鬲丕蹖賳 亘讴貙 鬲丕 爻丕賱 丌蹖賳丿賴 賵 趩賴 亘爻丕 亘蹖卮鬲乇貙 鬲賯賱丕蹖蹖 賳讴賳賲.
賵 丕賲丕 亘禺卮 丌禺乇 讴鬲丕亘 讴賴 诏夭蹖丿賴鈥屬囏й� 丕夭 賳丕賲賴鈥屬囏й� 丕賵 亘賵丿 賵 丿乇亘丕乇賴 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 賲爻丕卅賱 氐丨亘鬲 讴乇丿賴 亘賵丿貙 噩丕賳蹖 丿賵亘丕乇賴 亘賴 賲賳 亘禺卮蹖丿. 賴賲賵丕乇賴 賲卮鬲丕賯 禺賵丕賳丿賳 鬲噩乇亘蹖丕鬲 賵 丕賳丿賵禺鬲賴鈥屬囏й� 卮禺氐蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 賴爻鬲賲 賵 卮丕蹖丿 丨鬲蹖 诏丕賴蹖 亘乇丕蹖賲 丕乇夭卮蹖 賲囟丕毓賮 丕夭 丌孬丕乇卮丕賳 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀�.
丕诏乇 乇賵蹖丕蹖 賳賵卮鬲賳 丿丕乇蹖丿貙 丿乇 賴乇 丕亘毓丕丿蹖 賵 丿乇 賴乇 賮囟丕蹖蹖貙 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 亘禺卮 丌禺乇 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇丕 丨鬲賲丕 賲胤丕賱毓賴 讴賳蹖丿.
倬.賳: 乇賵 賲禺鈥屫臂屬� 亘禺卮 賲丕噩乇丕 丕蹖賳 亘賵丿 讴賴 丿賵爻鬲丕賳 鬲賵乇鬲蹖丕 賮賱鬲蹖 賲丿丕賲 賴乇趩蹖 丿乇賲蹖丕賵乇丿賳 乇賵 賲蹖丿丕丿賳 亘賴 賲卮乇賵亘 賵 賲鬲乇噩賲丕賳 亘賴 噩丕蹖 賲卮乇賵亘 蹖丕 毓乇賯 賲毓丕丿賱 芦賳賵卮丕亘賴禄 乇賵 亘賴 讴丕乇 賲蹖亘乇丿賳 讴賴 賵丕賯毓丕 毓匕丕亘蹖 丕賱蹖賲 亘賵丿. 亘丕亘丕 賱丕丕賯賱 亘賳賵蹖爻 賳賵卮蹖丿賳蹖.
夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賴 爻禺賳诏賵蹖 丌讴丕丿賲蹖 賳賵亘賱貙 倬蹖卮 丕夭 丕賴丿丕 噩丕蹖夭賴 亘賴 噩丕賳 丕卮鬲丕蹖賳 亘讴貙 賲卮睾賵賱 賲毓乇賮蹖 丌孬丕乇 丕賵 亘賵丿貙 丕夭 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘丕 毓賳賵丕賳 讴鬲丕亘蹖 讴賴 亘乇禺蹖 亘賴 讴賲讴 丌賳 鬲賵丕賳爻鬲賳丿 丿賵乇丕賳 乇讴賵丿 丕賯鬲氐丕丿蹖 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 乇丕 倬卮鬲 爻乇 亘诏匕丕乇賳丿 蹖丕丿 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�.
讴鬲丕亘 讴賲蹖 胤賳夭 爻乇禺賵卮 賵 夭賳丿诏蹖 丿乇 賱丨馗賴 乇丕 丿丕乇丿. 賳賵毓蹖貨 丨丕賱 讴賴 趩蹖夭蹖 賳丿丕乇蹖賲貙 丨丿丕賯賱 亘丕 讴賲鬲乇蹖賳 趩蹖夭賴丕 禺賵卮 亘丕卮蹖賲. 亘丕 丕蹖賳 賴賲賴 賮囟丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘貙 丨鬲蹖 亘丕 鬲賵噩賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳讴賴 丿乇亘丕乇賴 倬蹖夭丕賳賵賴丕蹖 亘蹖爻賵丕丿 賵 丌丿賲鈥屬囏й� 丨丕卮蹖賴鈥屰� 讴丕賱蹖賮乇賳蹖丕爻鬲貙 诏丕賴丕 亘爻蹖丕乇 丕亘賱賴丕賳賴 賵 夭蹖丕丿蹖 亘丿賵蹖 亘賳馗乇 賲蹖鈥屫必池�. 卮丕蹖丿 丿賱蹖賱 丿乇讴 賳讴乇丿賳卮丕賳 鬲賵爻胤 禺賵丕賳賳丿诏丕賳蹖 賲孬賱 賲賳 丕蹖賳 亘賵丿 丕亘丿丕 丨鬲蹖 亘賴 丕蹖賳 賮囟丕賴丕 賳夭丿蹖讴 賳亘賵丿蹖賲. 亘乇丕蹖 賲孬丕賱 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 爻丕毓丿蹖 賴賲 賲丕賳賳丿 毓夭丕丿丕乇丕賳 亘蹖賱 蹖丕 鬲乇爻 賵 賱乇夭 賴賲 丿趩丕乇 趩賳蹖賳 亘賱丕賴鬲鈥屬囏й屰� 賴爻鬲賳丿 讴賴 丕賱亘鬲賴 亘丕 鬲賵噩賴 亘賴 禺乇丕賮丕鬲 賵 讴賲亘賵丿賴丕蹖 诏賵賳丕诏賵賳 亘乇丕蹖 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 丕蹖乇丕賳蹖 賯丕亘賱 倬匕蹖乇卮 賴爻鬲賳丿 賵賱蹖 蹖讴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖 亘賴 爻禺鬲蹖 丌賳 乇丕 亘丕賵乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�.
丕賱亘鬲賴 趩賳蹖賳 丕蹖乇丕丿蹖 亘賴 丕卮鬲丕蹖賳 亘讴 氐乇賮丕 丕夭 爻賵蹖 禺賵丕賳賳丿诏丕賳 禺丕乇噩蹖 丕賲乇賵夭蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 亘賱讴賴 丨鬲蹖 丿乇 夭賲丕賳 丕賳鬲卮丕乇卮 賴賲 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 丕夭 賳賯丿賴丕 亘賴 鬲氐賳毓蹖 亘賵丿賳 賮囟丕 賵 丌丿賲鈥屬囏� 賵 乇賮鬲丕乇賴丕卮丕賳 丕卮丕乇賴 丿丕卮鬲 賵 丕賱亘鬲賴 丕卮鬲丕蹖賳 亘讴 丿乇 賲賯丿賲賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 鬲賳賴丕 蹖讴 亘丕乇 亘賴 趩丕倬 乇爻蹖丿貙 丕夭 丕孬乇 禺賵丿 丿賮丕毓 讴乇丿 賵 诏賮鬲 讴賴 賲丿鬲蹖 亘丕 趩賳蹖賳 噩賲丕毓鬲蹖 夭賳丿诏蹖 讴乇丿賴 賵 賴乇 趩賴 乇丕 丿蹖丿賴 鬲賵氐蹖賮 讴乇丿賴 賳賴 亘丕 丕睾乇丕賯.
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賲卮鬲賲賱 亘乇 趩賳丿 亘禺卮 丕爻鬲 丕夭 噩賲賱賴 賲賯丿賲賴 賲鬲乇噩賲丕賳貙 賲鬲賳 爻禺賳乇丕賳蹖 賳賵亘賱貙 乇賲丕賳 鬲賵乇鬲蹖丕 賮賱鬲 賵 丨賵丕卮蹖 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕 夭蹖丕丿蹖 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 讴賴 丕夭 丿賱 賳丕賲賴鈥屬囏й屫� 亘蹖乇賵賳 讴卮蹖丿賴 卮丿賴鈥屫з嗀�. 丿乇 乇丕亘胤賴 亘丕 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 鬲賵乇鬲蹖丕 賮賱鬲 趩蹖夭蹖 賳丿丕乇賲 讴賴 亘诏賵蹖賲貙 賮賯胤 賲蹖鬲賵丕賳賲 亘诏賵蹖賲 亘賴 丿賱賲 賳賳卮爻鬲 賵 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賵 讴鬲丕亘 夭賲爻鬲丕賳 丕蹖賳 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 讴賴 丿乇 丕賵丕禺乇 亘賴丕乇 禺賵丕賳丿賲貙 賱匕鬲 丕卮鬲丕蹖賳 亘讴 禺賵丕賳蹖 乇丕 丿乇 賲賳 亘爻蹖丕乇 鬲賯賱蹖賱 丿丕丿 賵 丕丨鬲賲丕賱 丿丕乇丿 亘乇丕蹖 蹖讴蹖 丿賵 讴鬲丕亘 亘丕賯蹖 賲丕賳丿賴 丕卮鬲丕蹖賳 亘讴貙 鬲丕 爻丕賱 丌蹖賳丿賴 賵 趩賴 亘爻丕 亘蹖卮鬲乇貙 鬲賯賱丕蹖蹖 賳讴賳賲.
賵 丕賲丕 亘禺卮 丌禺乇 讴鬲丕亘 讴賴 诏夭蹖丿賴鈥屬囏й� 丕夭 賳丕賲賴鈥屬囏й� 丕賵 亘賵丿 賵 丿乇亘丕乇賴 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 賲爻丕卅賱 氐丨亘鬲 讴乇丿賴 亘賵丿貙 噩丕賳蹖 丿賵亘丕乇賴 亘賴 賲賳 亘禺卮蹖丿. 賴賲賵丕乇賴 賲卮鬲丕賯 禺賵丕賳丿賳 鬲噩乇亘蹖丕鬲 賵 丕賳丿賵禺鬲賴鈥屬囏й� 卮禺氐蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 賴爻鬲賲 賵 卮丕蹖丿 丨鬲蹖 诏丕賴蹖 亘乇丕蹖賲 丕乇夭卮蹖 賲囟丕毓賮 丕夭 丌孬丕乇卮丕賳 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀�.
丕诏乇 乇賵蹖丕蹖 賳賵卮鬲賳 丿丕乇蹖丿貙 丿乇 賴乇 丕亘毓丕丿蹖 賵 丿乇 賴乇 賮囟丕蹖蹖貙 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 亘禺卮 丌禺乇 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇丕 丨鬲賲丕 賲胤丕賱毓賴 讴賳蹖丿.
倬.賳: 乇賵 賲禺鈥屫臂屬� 亘禺卮 賲丕噩乇丕 丕蹖賳 亘賵丿 讴賴 丿賵爻鬲丕賳 鬲賵乇鬲蹖丕 賮賱鬲蹖 賲丿丕賲 賴乇趩蹖 丿乇賲蹖丕賵乇丿賳 乇賵 賲蹖丿丕丿賳 亘賴 賲卮乇賵亘 賵 賲鬲乇噩賲丕賳 亘賴 噩丕蹖 賲卮乇賵亘 蹖丕 毓乇賯 賲毓丕丿賱 芦賳賵卮丕亘賴禄 乇賵 亘賴 讴丕乇 賲蹖亘乇丿賳 讴賴 賵丕賯毓丕 毓匕丕亘蹖 丕賱蹖賲 亘賵丿. 亘丕亘丕 賱丕丕賯賱 亘賳賵蹖爻 賳賵卮蹖丿賳蹖.
June 27, 2021
John Steinbeck has become an author whose books I can open to virtually any page and settle into a world I never want to leave. Even the men I work with who find fiction "theatrical" and rarely read books break into a smile at the mention of Steinbeck. His 1935 breakthrough Tortilla Flat was likely assigned reading in high school and it stands as a remarkable introduction to the author, with twenty-seven easily digested and related stories penned with faerie tale simplicity, wit and wonder.
The world of Tortilla Flat is the town of Monterey, California, which has not been touched by the Great Depression and not yet mobilized for World War II. Steinbeck would later explore the lower parts of town inhabited by the catchers and canners of fish in Cannery Row, but this book is set on the slope of a hill, "where the forest and the town intermingle, where the streets are innocent of asphalt and the corner free of street lights". This is a place known as Tortilla Flat.
Tortilla Flat is inhabited by the paisano. Steinbeck writes, What is a paisano? He is a mixture of Spanish, Indian, Mexican and assorted Caucasian bloods. His ancestors have lived in California for a hundred or two years. He speaks English with a paisano accent and Spanish with a paisano accent. When questioned concerning his race, he indignantly claims pure Spanish blood and rolls up his sleeve to show that the soft inside of his arm is nearly white.
The main player is Danny, a paisano who enlists in the army and spends World War I breaking mules in Texas. When he returns home, Danny discovers his viejo (grandfather) has died and left him two small houses in Tortilla Flat. The responsibility of managing such wealth weights heavy on Danny and sends him on a reign of terror smashing windows, earning him a 30-day stay in the Monterey city jail.
Upon his escape, Danny encounters his old friend, the logician Pilon, a wanderer who works a little, drinks a lot and sleeps against whichever tree he falls down next to. Danny is determined not to let his wealth go to his head and offers Pilon room and board at the second of his houses. Pilon offers to pay ten dollars a month in rent, a sum which Danny never expects to collect and Pilon never intends to pay.
Pilon encounters his friend Pablo, a philosopher who sleeps under the wharf. Pilon offers Pablo board for fifteen dollars a month, rent which Pilon never expects to collect and Pablo never intends to pay. But under Pilon's logic, he will not have to pay Danny rent until Pablo pays him rent. Passed out drunk one night, Pilon and Pablo burn the house to the ground and move in with Danny.
Others join them: the humanitarian Jesus Maria, the dim-witted rascal Big Joe and finally The Pirate, a vagrant who sells pitchwood for a quarter a day yet lives in a chicken coop with his five beloved dogs. Pilon deduces that The Pirate had buried his earnings somewhere in the forest and invites him (and the dogs) to live with them in the hopes of discovering the location of his cache.
Many adventures featuring Danny and his friends ensue. These paisano tales become legend in Tortilla Flat. Steinbeck's chapter titles foreshadow the action nicely: I) How Danny, home from the wars, found himself an heir, and how he swore to protect the helpless. V) How Danny's Friends became a force for Good. How they succored the poor Pirate. IX) How Danny was ensnared by a vacuum-cleaner and how Danny's Friends rescued him.
Steinbeck's fiction has it all. There's drinking, singing, fighting and romancing, the cornerstones of a hard earned life. There's pathos, with characters considering the mysteries of the universe and why things happen the way they do. There are Caucasian, Mexican and Asian characters, as well as women, driving the story. The measure of a man is not where he works or whether he drives a car. Material rewards are anchors these free-spirited characters would prefer to live without. Instead, the measure of a man is how he treats his friends. I always find this world view supremely reassuring.
MGM released a film adaptation of Tortilla Flat in 1942 starring John Garfield as Danny, Spencer Tracy as Pilon and Hedy Lamarr as Dolores, the single lady who Danny gets into all sorts of trouble with after bestowing a vacuum cleaner to. Directed by Victor Fleming, the picture wraps everything up with a happy ending which was not a going concern in Steinbeck's source material.
The world of Tortilla Flat is the town of Monterey, California, which has not been touched by the Great Depression and not yet mobilized for World War II. Steinbeck would later explore the lower parts of town inhabited by the catchers and canners of fish in Cannery Row, but this book is set on the slope of a hill, "where the forest and the town intermingle, where the streets are innocent of asphalt and the corner free of street lights". This is a place known as Tortilla Flat.
Tortilla Flat is inhabited by the paisano. Steinbeck writes, What is a paisano? He is a mixture of Spanish, Indian, Mexican and assorted Caucasian bloods. His ancestors have lived in California for a hundred or two years. He speaks English with a paisano accent and Spanish with a paisano accent. When questioned concerning his race, he indignantly claims pure Spanish blood and rolls up his sleeve to show that the soft inside of his arm is nearly white.
The main player is Danny, a paisano who enlists in the army and spends World War I breaking mules in Texas. When he returns home, Danny discovers his viejo (grandfather) has died and left him two small houses in Tortilla Flat. The responsibility of managing such wealth weights heavy on Danny and sends him on a reign of terror smashing windows, earning him a 30-day stay in the Monterey city jail.
Upon his escape, Danny encounters his old friend, the logician Pilon, a wanderer who works a little, drinks a lot and sleeps against whichever tree he falls down next to. Danny is determined not to let his wealth go to his head and offers Pilon room and board at the second of his houses. Pilon offers to pay ten dollars a month in rent, a sum which Danny never expects to collect and Pilon never intends to pay.
Pilon encounters his friend Pablo, a philosopher who sleeps under the wharf. Pilon offers Pablo board for fifteen dollars a month, rent which Pilon never expects to collect and Pablo never intends to pay. But under Pilon's logic, he will not have to pay Danny rent until Pablo pays him rent. Passed out drunk one night, Pilon and Pablo burn the house to the ground and move in with Danny.
Others join them: the humanitarian Jesus Maria, the dim-witted rascal Big Joe and finally The Pirate, a vagrant who sells pitchwood for a quarter a day yet lives in a chicken coop with his five beloved dogs. Pilon deduces that The Pirate had buried his earnings somewhere in the forest and invites him (and the dogs) to live with them in the hopes of discovering the location of his cache.
Many adventures featuring Danny and his friends ensue. These paisano tales become legend in Tortilla Flat. Steinbeck's chapter titles foreshadow the action nicely: I) How Danny, home from the wars, found himself an heir, and how he swore to protect the helpless. V) How Danny's Friends became a force for Good. How they succored the poor Pirate. IX) How Danny was ensnared by a vacuum-cleaner and how Danny's Friends rescued him.
Steinbeck's fiction has it all. There's drinking, singing, fighting and romancing, the cornerstones of a hard earned life. There's pathos, with characters considering the mysteries of the universe and why things happen the way they do. There are Caucasian, Mexican and Asian characters, as well as women, driving the story. The measure of a man is not where he works or whether he drives a car. Material rewards are anchors these free-spirited characters would prefer to live without. Instead, the measure of a man is how he treats his friends. I always find this world view supremely reassuring.
MGM released a film adaptation of Tortilla Flat in 1942 starring John Garfield as Danny, Spencer Tracy as Pilon and Hedy Lamarr as Dolores, the single lady who Danny gets into all sorts of trouble with after bestowing a vacuum cleaner to. Directed by Victor Fleming, the picture wraps everything up with a happy ending which was not a going concern in Steinbeck's source material.
August 24, 2022
I was glad to return to Steinbeck and his eccentric anti-heroes who divert the focus from the brightest elements of society in order to illuminate the sordid, the dusty and the marginalized. I was, once again, spellbound by Steinbeck's ability to artfully stand up to the cruelty of capitalism, the fierce racism and to dismantle the American Dream with comical and often outlandish situations that had me shaking my head while reading.
Tortilla Flat is the name of a neigborhood in the city of Monterrey. Full of ramshackle houses and people coping with their daily lives during the Great Depression, Steinbeck introduces a motley array of characters, or paisanos, the Spanish term he uses in the novel, who appear and disappear from a house inherited by one of the main characters giving way to the most unusual situations. Hilariously apathetic and lazily chaotic could define the tempo of the narration with sporadic bursts of lyricism that will glow in full bloom in future novellas.
A tale of camaraderie, friendship, the hardships of life but mostly, about wine.
It reminded me of Cannery Row but lacked the charm of a strong lead character and the poetic descriptions of the sea and surrounding areas of Monterrey that his later works never fail to provide.
All in all, Steinbeck proved to be the perfect companion for this scorching summer and the long nights staring up at the dark vault with glowing holes with a good glass of wine at hand and the slow beat of light music sounding somewhere else, distant but familiar.
Tortilla Flat is the name of a neigborhood in the city of Monterrey. Full of ramshackle houses and people coping with their daily lives during the Great Depression, Steinbeck introduces a motley array of characters, or paisanos, the Spanish term he uses in the novel, who appear and disappear from a house inherited by one of the main characters giving way to the most unusual situations. Hilariously apathetic and lazily chaotic could define the tempo of the narration with sporadic bursts of lyricism that will glow in full bloom in future novellas.
A tale of camaraderie, friendship, the hardships of life but mostly, about wine.
It reminded me of Cannery Row but lacked the charm of a strong lead character and the poetic descriptions of the sea and surrounding areas of Monterrey that his later works never fail to provide.
All in all, Steinbeck proved to be the perfect companion for this scorching summer and the long nights staring up at the dark vault with glowing holes with a good glass of wine at hand and the slow beat of light music sounding somewhere else, distant but familiar.
May 4, 2024
I had read Tortilla Flat the summer before entering the 10th grade. I liked it very much then because of the atmosphere of the novel with which I was entirely in sympathy. I was enthralled with the possibility of the lackadaisicality of life.
When you are 15, friendships are vitally important, and that's what this book is about (although these are men, not boys) among a host of other themes such as loyalty, honor, poverty, daring, truthfulness, love and so on. The characters are "paisanos"--a mixture of Americans of Hispanic and other European ethnicity, but that is not important to the story, although it has been wrongly criticized as such, in my view.
Steinbeck had been a student of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table in his youth and so had I. I did not realize it then, but the paisanos in Tortilla Flat were like the Knights of King Arthur in some ways. I suppose that that had been the subconscious attraction for me.
While I was in the middle of reading this book one summer Sunday night at that time, friends who had been becoming unfriendly for no apparent reason other than perhaps because of my disinterest in joining in on some of their nefarious activities tried to throw a cantaloupe (mushmelon) through my bedroom window where I lay in bed reading. The first time they missed but it shook the house; the second time I was waiting for them and tried to hit their car with a garbage can lid, the first thing that I could grab. I had recognized immediately who they were, the car they were driving, and I was surprised to see that these were boys that I liked--friends from church and summer camp and who had been to my house for lunch, friends of my friends (some of whom much later also betrayed me). I immediately tracked them down and it was resolved in a rather friendly way due to our parents being friends, although the betrayal continued all through highschool, in football, and beyond--harmless but unfriendly. (Decades later the best friend of that group apologized for the whole episode. I accepted without comment.) Tortilla Flat also treats the idea of friends betraying each other.
It was about that time in my life that I realized that the best friend I would probably ever have outside of marriage and children would be a great book by a great author. I am now surrounded by great books by great authors. Tortilla Flat is one of those books, and it helped me through some mild unhappiness back there. I learned not to trust friendships too much.
When you are 15, friendships are vitally important, and that's what this book is about (although these are men, not boys) among a host of other themes such as loyalty, honor, poverty, daring, truthfulness, love and so on. The characters are "paisanos"--a mixture of Americans of Hispanic and other European ethnicity, but that is not important to the story, although it has been wrongly criticized as such, in my view.
Steinbeck had been a student of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table in his youth and so had I. I did not realize it then, but the paisanos in Tortilla Flat were like the Knights of King Arthur in some ways. I suppose that that had been the subconscious attraction for me.
While I was in the middle of reading this book one summer Sunday night at that time, friends who had been becoming unfriendly for no apparent reason other than perhaps because of my disinterest in joining in on some of their nefarious activities tried to throw a cantaloupe (mushmelon) through my bedroom window where I lay in bed reading. The first time they missed but it shook the house; the second time I was waiting for them and tried to hit their car with a garbage can lid, the first thing that I could grab. I had recognized immediately who they were, the car they were driving, and I was surprised to see that these were boys that I liked--friends from church and summer camp and who had been to my house for lunch, friends of my friends (some of whom much later also betrayed me). I immediately tracked them down and it was resolved in a rather friendly way due to our parents being friends, although the betrayal continued all through highschool, in football, and beyond--harmless but unfriendly. (Decades later the best friend of that group apologized for the whole episode. I accepted without comment.) Tortilla Flat also treats the idea of friends betraying each other.
It was about that time in my life that I realized that the best friend I would probably ever have outside of marriage and children would be a great book by a great author. I am now surrounded by great books by great authors. Tortilla Flat is one of those books, and it helped me through some mild unhappiness back there. I learned not to trust friendships too much.
September 14, 2016
螚 伪位位畏位蔚蟺委未蟻伪蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 魏伪魏慰蠉 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀 魏伪位慰蠉. 螣 蟺蠈谓慰蟼 魏伪喂 慰 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺喂蟽渭蠈蟼. 螖蠀谓伪蟿维 蟽蠀谓伪喂蟽胃萎渭伪蟿伪 伪蟺蠈 萎蟻蠅蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 位蠀蟺维蟽伪喂 伪位位维 魏伪喂 蟽苇锟斤拷蔚蟽伪喂.
螤慰位蠀 未蠀谓伪蟿萎 畏 蟺苇谓伪 蟿慰蠀 Steinbeck. 螆蟻纬慰 尾伪胃喂维 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓慰
螤慰位蠀 未蠀谓伪蟿萎 畏 蟺苇谓伪 蟿慰蠀 Steinbeck. 螆蟻纬慰 尾伪胃喂维 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓慰
February 18, 2013
Although it was initially rejected for publication on a number of occasions, this work 鈥� a short story cycle - was Steinbeck鈥檚 first real critical and commercial success,. He wrote it during 1933 and early 1934, when he was heavily involved in caring for his elderly parents, who were both were very ill. Steinbeck was inspired to write the book by a high school teacher friend, who was partly of Mexican descent. She had been studying the paisanos, poor people of mixed Mexican, Native American and Caucasian ancestry, who lived in a shantytown in the hills above Monterey. Steinbeck's friend told him a number of stories from that community, which was referred to as Tortilla Flat.
One of Steinbeck鈥檚 abiding literary passions was Thomas Malory鈥檚 . He aimed to recreate the spirit of the adventures of the Knights of the Round Table in linked stories about Danny and his friends Pilon, Pablo, Jesus Maria, the Pirate and Big Joe Portagee. Living together in a house inherited by Danny, the friends develop a strong moral code which governs their relationship with each other. This code does not involve sobriety or other indicia of bourgeois respectability, such as respect for private property. While stealing from a friend is punished severely, stealing from those outside the group is not only accepted, it鈥檚 encouraged.
There is a lot to like about this work. The satirical, mock-heroic tone is clever, the characters of Danny and his friends are well-realised and sympathetically drawn, there's plenty of humour and Steinbeck鈥檚 prose is wonderful. On the other hand, to a modern reader the depiction of the paisanos as heavy drinking, thieving no-hopers 鈥� albeit with a strong code of friendship and mutual support 鈥� is disconcerting. And the sexual politics of the characters is questionable to say the least.
This is not my favourite Steinbeck. Although I appreciate Steinbeck鈥檚 achievement in recreating a version of the myth of the Knights of the Round Table and I love the characters and the writing, the work feels dated, which cannot be said of Steinbeck鈥檚 major novels. I listened to an audiobook which was very well narrated by John McDonough. It gets 3-1/2 stars, because anything Steinbeck wrote is worth reading.
September 9, 2023
Requires a reread and review. I get this one mixed up with Cannery Row.
April 17, 2025
An ironic and warm story about a group of vagabonds who live by their own strange but internally consistent rules. The characters, reminiscent of modern-day "knights of the round table," may initially irritate with their brazenness, love of wine, fights, and petty thefts鈥攊ncluding from one another. However, as you delve deeper into their world, you begin to see a kind of epic in their lives鈥攚here honor, friendship, and loyalty to one another transcend conventional moral norms. Steinbeck, with his subtle humor and remarkable empathy, transforms their everyday existence into a myth of freedom and humanity.
P.S.: The chapter "How Danny's Friends Threw Themselves to the Aid of a Distressed Lady" is one I doubt I will ever forget.
P.S.: The chapter "How Danny's Friends Threw Themselves to the Aid of a Distressed Lady" is one I doubt I will ever forget.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,877 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.