[.ca] 20th Century Tortilla Flat (ISBN 0140187405)

Great book from a great writer:
If you enjoyed books such as Faulkner's AS I LAY DYING or McCrae's CHILDREN'S CORNER, then you'll love TORTILLA FLAT. Tortilla Flat is truly one of Steinbeck's many masterpieces -- funny, touching, and exciting all at once. The novel is about Danny, a paisano from Monterey, his friends, and all of their crazy drunken antics. The stories in Tortilla Flat are charming and hilarious. Some of the best include the tale of Teresina Cortez, who fed her nine children solely tortillas and beans, and the chapter about Sweets Ramirez and her vacuum cleaner. The main characters are lovable too. Who could forget the child-like Pirate, the ingenious Pablo, the kind Jesus Maria, or the sharp Pilon? I would definitely recommend Tortilla Flat to anybody who is not offended by excess alcohol. This is a book that everybody should read!

Wine, Women, Paisanos! What a great trio:
Pulitzer Prize winner, John Steinbeck is a classic master storyteller. Born in 1902 and died in 1968 he exemplified diversity in storytelling as "Tortilla Flat" demonstrates freshness to the ear. The story's main character Danny becomes an heir to two homes, but his paisanos in the small town of Tortilla Flat convince him to "rent" one home to them. Paisanos are of Mexican, Indian, Spanish and assorted Caucasian blood. None of his friends can pay rent; they live off the benefit of others. Steinbeck ingeniously plays out a humorous story of camaraderie, loyalty, wine, women and more wine. The paisanos share a philosophy that boasts good honest intention leading to a justifiable need for wine instead. The plot continuously unfolds with humor, wit, bonding, hospitality, visions, treasure, ethics, scheming, greed and evil. The friendship of all men evolves and slowly disintegrates as they separate. Their philosophy is a departure from the socially conventional: Pilon, feeling guilty about owing Danny rent money, takes a job, earns two dollars in a day, and intends to pay Danny some rent, but he is swayed by the power of wine. He says "If I give him hard money, it doesn't express how I feel toward my friend." He buys and indulges a present of wine for two dollars and tells Danny it cost five dollars. To get eggs, Pilon knows of neighbor, Mrs. Morales' chickens. He feels if he tears a hole in his fence, the chickens would like to nest in his tall grass. If they didn't pick her apples, they would spoil anyway. When the house Danny rents to his friends burns, the men move in with him, and soon the story compounds as they scheme and entice more friends in. Drinking cheap wine is a priority among the group as money is a chief problem. But with their loyal friendship they share laughs, music, more women, more wine, pets, and stolen or borrowed food. The story is wonderful and Steinbeck book's are always page turners. He fills each page with critical vivid diction and brilliant prose. Steinbeck's most famous classics include the novels, The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, Winter of Discontent, Cannery Row and the Wayward Bus. Some of his very successful short stories are The Pearl, Of Mice and Men, The Red Pony, The Moon is Down, etc. There is an extensive collection of non-fiction such as his journals: Travel with Charley, Sea of Cortez, Russian Journal. His stories were often set in California, his birthplace. Read this, it is extremely enjoyable! ......MzRizz

Nothing flat about this one:
Steinbeck simply cannot write a bad book. I thought his GRAPES OF WRATH was one of the most powerful and moving tributes to mankind ever. The only book that I've enjoyed more than this one is Jackson McCrae's THE BARK OF THE DOGWOOD. This book is funny, endearing and very entertaining. Who would have thought Steinbeck could write humor so well?

I love Steinbeck:
I loved The Cannery Row and had the common feeling of joy and satisfaction after getting through a masterpiece as well as of regret that the book cannot be read again with the same satisfaction and interest. Thank goodness, there is Tortilla Flat. Very close to the sprit of the Cannery Row, it speaks about homeless guys who find a home (2 actually). Their life changes and now they are faced with the common world troubles: responsibilities, greed, and neighbours. The simple life of a homless was seems quiate attractive after you finish. Good read. Great MBA book - good humor and story. Simplicity and simple people are always appreciated. There is more wisdom in common sense than in any finance book. Get this one.

Entertaining... at first:
I read about half of this book and just could not keep enough interest to finish it. While the writing is wonderful, there is just not much development of the story. Halfway through the book we have the same characters in the same place doing the same things. I suppose that's a theme of the story itself, but it was just a little too hopeless for my taste. If you want vintage Steinbeck, read 'The Grapes of Wrath.'