Over the last couple of months I’ve read Tortilla Flat, Cannery Row, The Winter Of Our Discontent, East of Eden, and now am about to finish The Grapes of Wrath.
Other than Of Mice and Men, who should I read next? Something more or less of the same ilk. I have tried John Dos Passos and found him ok, not great.
Thanks Dopers!
Try some Zola. Start with Germinalor L’Assommoir.
Or try Germinalin English even.
I strongly, strongly, strongly recommend Wallace Stegner: Crossing to Safety and Angle of Repose. He is a western, humanist writer like Steinbeck, and both are truly beautiful and beautifully written books.
I was just looking at his stuff at the library! Thanks!
Have you tried any Jack London?
Are you implying that you’re sick of John Steinbeck? Because I quite liked Sweet Thursday and would recommend it.
For that matter, if you love brilliant writing, and a hard look at the human condition, where a individual is a well-drawn character AND speaking to the fate of larger populations, I must strong (strongly, strongly!) recommend JM Coetzee’s Disgrace. The best-crafted book I have read in years, and its layers of commentary on individuals, South Africa and how change…changes individuals, cultures and countries are just brilliant. If you love Steinbeck, I believe you’d love this book.
I’ll check that one out too. Thanks.
*The Wayward Bus*never gets any love either.
Oh, and of course, Steinbeck’s short stories. I know the collection The Long Valley, but I am sure they are collected many ways.
I read just about all of John Steinbeck’s stories when I was younger and I read ‘A Death in the Family’ by James Agee and 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter ’ by Carson McCullers afterward ,and I loved them as much as Steinbeck’s books. You should really read ‘Sweet Thursday’ too. All my books are packed away and I sure would love to read Sweet Thursday right now
I recently read his Remembering Laughter, and recommend it.
You might like Ragtime by E.L.Doctorow
It’s not for everyone, and has its flaws, but I love Henry Miller’s Rosy Crucifixion. It’s a three book set. The guy rambles, and could really have used an editor.
I second the recommendation for Emile Zola. I also liked Willa Cather (“My Antonia”, “O Pioneers!”), “McTeague” by Frank Norris, some of H. G. Wells’s realistic fiction (“Kipps”, “Tono-Bungay”, “The History of Mr Polly”) and I especially liked “An American Tragedy” by Theodore Dreiser.
Just because I really like Steinbeck and I really like well-written fiction, I’ll offer a couple - not that they are really similar to Steinbeck. Courtenay’s The Power of One. Walker Percy’s Moviegoer, Lancelot, Last Gentleman, Second Coming.
Percy might be a better counterpart to Graham Greene - another of my favorites.
I’ve read all his stuff. He’s one of my favorites, along with Paul Bowles.
Keep 'em coming, folks!
In Dubious Battle is my favorite Steinbeck.