It's a little Steinbeck book. I'm not sure that anyone depicts the appetites and aversions, the impetus for action, of poor people as well as Steinbeck. There is an attractive animality that Steinbeck captures. OSC does a great job with the rational process, but rational processes will only get you so far, and logic and economy will only do so much. That said, Hart's Hope is perfect, and OSC is a wonderful character writer, I'm just saying that John Steinbeck is a good one too.
Steinbeck achieved something similar to what Roseanne did in her sitcom. Portraying the strains of poor people who found their dignity and comfort in everything else except money and power, and then he goes one further and shows what happens if they each start letting each other down.
The Wayward Bus is an important book that'll leave a lasting impression on me because it introduced me to four fascinating people: Mildred, Juan, Mr. Pritchard, and Camille.
I still don't know what to do with Mr. Pritchard, but if some else has read the book, I'd love to talk about him.
[ December 02, 2005, 02:21 PM: Message edited by: Irami Osei-Frimpong ]
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I love Steinbeck too, for pretty much exactly the reasons you give. I actually checked The Wayward Bus out from the library last summer, but I didn't have a chance to read it before it was due. I'll have to get it again.
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
Check it out, it's the real deal. The prose is deceptive. He is so even-handedly charming with all of the characters that I never know whom to root for.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I hated Grapes of Wrath, and thought anyone who liked Steinbeck was looney.
Then I under extenuating circumstances* I read Cannery Row. The characters in it just hit me. It one of the few books that has moved me to tears, and it's followup was just about as good.
*The extenuating circumstances, was I was hard up for fresh non-school reading material, and the people on my doorm floor who had other books that I hadn't read and was interested in reading (such as Enders Game)weren't around at the time. We had a really good informal book loan system going on that year (and people with good taste in personal books) I read more quality books in that year than I had before in my life.
AJ
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
The Wayward Bus is much closer in style and form to Cannery Row than it is to The Grapes of Wrath. It's a little book about quirky interesting common people like us, and there is just an intensity in these people that is wonderful to behold. Everyone one of them is a precious little marvel.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
OK, you've piqued my interest, I'll have to read it. I didn't like Roseanne, so that comparison doesn't work for me , but I have been impressed with Steinbeck so I'll try it. I've never even heard of Wayward Bus, so thanks for the recommendation!
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
Thanks for the heads up, Irami.
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
Uprooted,
Roseanne portrayed a family of good poor people finding humor in each other. It was the only show I can remember that drove home the message that just because you were poor, it doesn't mean that you are stupid. I can't think of a show that did it as well, except for maybe Good Times, but I still think Roseanne did it better.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I hate Steinbeck. Hate him. Hate his style and hate his stories. But mostly his style. And his characters.
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
I've loved everything of Steinbeck's that I've read, but my favorite story of his is "Junius Maltby." It happens to be at the end of my edition of "The Red Pony" (Bantam Pathfinder Edition). Apparently it is from "The Pastures of Heaven."
I hadn't really thought about it until now, but that story may have been one of the first things that influenced my decision to homeschool my children. I think I was in elementary school when I first read it, but it clearly made a big impression on me.
--Mel
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
quote:I hate Steinbeck. Hate him. Hate his style and hate his stories. But mostly his style. And his characters.
Maybe we wouldn't get along because one thing I do like about Steinbeck is that his character's concerns and my concerns are similar, I see myself in the brilliant ones and the incompetent ones, but mostly, they think and feel in the same way I think and feel, now I don't act on some of the disagreeable appetites that he portrays, but I'm sure sympathetic and curious in reading about the people who do.
I think it's good fiction for adults, and when I say this, I mean it as high praise.
[ December 08, 2005, 01:33 PM: Message edited by: Irami Osei-Frimpong ]
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
quote: It was the only show I can remember that drove home the message that just because you were poor, it doesn't mean that you are stupid.
I don't have any problem w/ the message. Just Roseanne Barr--she has her moments, but mostly her style grates on me. I didn't watch the show enough to debate the fine points, though--I was never drawn into the story. Although I probably haven't watched sitcoms with any attention for oh, 20 years.
And although they struggled, I don't remember seeing the family in that show as particularly poor (not like Steinbeck's characters in, say, the Grapes of Wrath). They seemed more like the regular working class folk that I grew up with. But like I said, I didn't watch it much.
Anyway, will be looking for Wayward Bus!
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Ketchupqueen, what is it about Steinbeck's characters that you dislike? I'm curious.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
, but I have been impressed with Steinbeck so I'll try it. I've never even heard of Wayward Bus, so thanks for the recommendation!