There are few authors that feel as essential to Depression-Era California quite like John Steinbeck. He had a gift for not only capturing a moment but embodying the figures who are doing everything they can to survive. It is why "Of Mice and Men" remains timeless, exploring the working class during a fraught period of history. Even in his lesser books like "Cannery Row," he has a gift for conveying a scene with nothing more than a man standing on a street corner, wondering what the rest of his day will look like. It is here that his novels come to life. In this particular case, he forgoes conventional plot for a slice of life narrative that finds multiple narratives overlapping as they go about their jobs in Cannery Row, CA. It's a story full of mundanity, reflecting loneliness and desperation to try and cure that feeling. What it lacks in urgency it more than makes up for with compelling prose and a strong sense of introspection.
The name Cannery Row is given to a seaside town known for its fishing industry. While not every character will make it to the docks, many of them will talk about fish at some point. The story begins, unassumingly, at the convenience store, diligently ran to the point that even the merchandise has a known currency. Not everyone will drop dollars on fresh food, but through bargaining, they will find ways to compromise, to agree on their goals. Even with a dated portrayal of an Asian shopkeep, he finds a way to convey how centralized this community is, at times feeling so small that the roads are claustrophobic. Still, he manages to create an ecosystem that isn't only about careers, but of the many factors of humanity including addiction, sex, and marriage.
None of the stories are necessarily exceptional. Nobody sets out to change the world. All that happens is a town doing its best to stay in motion. Much like Larry McMurtry's "The Last Picture Show," there's more interest in allowing the characters to exist, following them in their downtime as they try to stay sane. Readers may learn a thing or two about the fishing industry, but that's not as important as Steinbeck's deconstruction of masculinity, of understanding the bonds that unite everyone. There needs to be something more than a 9 to 5. People need something more to feel fulfilled, and by reveling in the absence, Steinbeck has been able to capture a story that has a profound sadness underneath it. The only difference is that where "Of Mice and Men" is a rip-roaring tale full of suspense, "Cannery Row" is one more reliant on individual moments brought together as an interpretive image.
The story must've had some appeal to the author, especially since he would go on to write a sequel. What's true is that none of these characters have the timelessness of his other work, even if they still feel real and familiar even decades later. The push to keep working no matter what wears on everyone, showing how economics does not equal happiness. Even then, what makes "Cannery Row" exciting is that Steinbeck takes time to emphasize community, reflecting the geography in ways that are at times compelling. Beauty and awe are often hidden in plain sight, and he stops to admire it all. More than his other books, this is a story rich with descriptions of landscapes, making one feel transported. It may not be the most elegant town, but there's a fantasy at play. These characters may feel down and out, but there's something comforting at the same time, reflecting why the chance to just get up and leave doesn't sound as promising as one would think.
Plain and simple, this isn't the most plot-driven story that Steinbeck has ever released. Those wanting gut-wrenching moments would do best to look elsewhere. However, those wanting a vision of California that immediately transports them to a time and place will do great to pick it up. There's so many small moments that reflect life at the time that may not be suitable for a bigger narrative. They're often moments that are just done to get by. As a result, the ability to find joy and loneliness often within the same chapters is an astounding achievement. It's an empathetic read that reflects his gift for capturing history in fiction, making not only his voice as an author stand out, but to preserve a sense of purpose. Not everyone from the fishing industry will be remembered, but at least thanks to Steinbeck their careers can begin to be understood on a regimented and personal level.
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