Poverty, alienation and loneliness portrayed with compassion and hope - Rated 
Cannery Row consists of a series of vignettes linking an exuberant set of characters who reside on the Monterey seafront in northern California during the Depression era: Lee Chong who owns the cluttered corner shop; the kind but lonely Doc, pickler and preserver of marine organisms in the Western Biological laboratory; Mack and his boys, unambitious layabouts who live by their wits in the Palace Flop House; Dora Flood and her respectable (no alcohol, no profanities) whorehouse at the Bear Flag Restaurant. There is no discernible plot other than the desire of the locals to organise a party for the well-loved Doc, who they fear is very lonely tucked away in his lab. As ever with Steinbeck - probably the best of America's interwar `proletarian writers' - poverty, alienation and loneliness are portrayed with deep compassion, humour and hope, a lesson to lesser writers who feel the need to wallow luridly in the degradation and hopelessness of life's victims. The author's love of humanity shines beautifully through every page. Aspiring and wannabe novelists, read and learn.
A heart-warming book - Rated 
Steinbeck's novel, based on the area in and around Cannery Row, Monterey is a jigsaw puzzle of lives and events. The author presents us with docks, a sardine cannery, a grocery store, a brothel and a vacant lot. This decaying part of a town, inhabited by group of seemingly trashy, sleazy low-lifes, develops into a warm, contented community during the course of the novel. You cannot help but fall for the characters, seeing past their lazy, foolish and often unlawful behaviour; one can only admire their way of negotiating situations and that they don't let being poor get in the way of their happiness. Though the plot is somewhat broken up, by the end of the novel the snapshots of the inhabitants' lives present a well-rounded portrait. Steinbeck's writing is eloquent, almost poetic and the humour is subtle yet had me laughing aloud. The real beauty of the story is that the outward appearance of Cannery Row and first impressions of its "whores, pimps, gamblers and sons of bitches" are soon forgotten. Not particularly challenging but a very rewarding read. I shall definitely go on to read more Steinbeck, and am very pleased to have this sitting on my shelf to re-read later.
Reviewed 26 Oct 2000
WAW!!!!! - Rated
If you want to know the plot, read the book...you will not be dissapointed! To be honest, I don't think that there is a plot, as Steinbeck said himself he just "opened the pages and let the stories crawl in by themselves"!!!!!!!!! Even though there isn't a main "happening" I would highly recommend this book to anyone. His descriptive work blew me away.....really philosophical and hard to put down. It really is an amazing story about a fine community and I'm planning on getting into the sequel "sweet thursday". A beautiful book. I would also recomend "Of Mice And Men" and "Grapes of Wrath"
Beautiful, funny, warm and inciteful - Rated
On appearances this book appears surprisingly small. Once opened though every sentence grabs you. Steinbeck describes scenes and characters so vividly, with such unusual imagery, that even after finishing the book I find myself still recalling parts of it,even reciting parts of the book back to myself just to remember how beautifully phrased the words were. Sad, perhaps, but then you don't know until you read it yourself.There is no plot particularly. There seems no aim, just day to day life in a small community (I won't say Amercian community because these characters could be from any country). I was sorry to finish it and like many of the other reviewers, I will definately read more Steinbeck.
Just mesmerising. - Rated
Steinbeck is one of literatures greats. He breathes such life into his characters, especially here, that every page is a joy to behold. Cannery Row is a book you hate to finish as it is so beautifully written. Never before have a bunch of small town wastrels seemed so beguiling. You know you are in the midst of writing genius as you read it and you will be left with an enveloping feeling of sadness and warmth. This little book will stay with you forever and prompt you to indulge in some of Steinbeck's more challenging masterpieces as well as his equally enthralling novellas. Steinbeck, I salute you and cannot thank you enough for sharing your wonderful, almost poetic writings with the world.
Buy this, people. Read and re-read as I'd be surprised if you are disappointed.
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