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pullseye's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
max_rauhman's review against another edition
5.0
This was Steinbeck’s greatest work. It represents a lifetime of learning, effort, and love. He delivers deeper insight through casual letters to his favorite people than many encounter in the course of their whole lives.
I would highly recommend using tabs to mark your favorites, because you will certainly want to return to them over the years.
I would highly recommend using tabs to mark your favorites, because you will certainly want to return to them over the years.
jinjer's review against another edition
1.0
Update 05-01-2021. I'm going to have to give this book at least 1 star, only because it makes me crazy when I see books with no stars in my stats and then I have to investigate to see if I forgot to plug in a rating and/or a review.
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I can’t really rate this book of letters because, for me personally, all the talk of his writing was boring and I had to skim for what is interesting to me: Day to Day living. Other readers might be the opposite.
I did enjoy reading about his travels throughout America, Europe and Asia. Too bad he never made it to Africa.
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I can’t really rate this book of letters because, for me personally, all the talk of his writing was boring and I had to skim for what is interesting to me: Day to Day living. Other readers might be the opposite.
I did enjoy reading about his travels throughout America, Europe and Asia. Too bad he never made it to Africa.
mcardlejf's review
5.0
This is one to dip into and savor from time to time. What a spectacular glimpse into the mind of John Steinbeck. Here's two excerpts:
“It is snowing again. Confound it, will the winter never be over? I crave to have the solid ground under my feet. You cannot understand that craving if you have never lived in a country where every step was unstable. It is very tiresome and tiring to walk and have the ground give way under you at every step.”
and
“Oh! honey–I feel sick. I guess maybe it is the subsurface panting because you are not here.”
“It is snowing again. Confound it, will the winter never be over? I crave to have the solid ground under my feet. You cannot understand that craving if you have never lived in a country where every step was unstable. It is very tiresome and tiring to walk and have the ground give way under you at every step.”
and
“Oh! honey–I feel sick. I guess maybe it is the subsurface panting because you are not here.”
xaviershay's review against another edition
This was amazing, but after 400 pages I didn't feel like I needed to read anymore.
fiddlythings's review
5.0
Sage advice from Steinbeck's letter to his son in boarding school, on this Feb 14:
New York
November 10, 1958
Dear Thom:
We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.
First -- if you are in love -- that's a good thing -- that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.
Second -- There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you -- of kindness and consideration and respect -- not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn't know you had.
You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply -- of course it isn't puppy love.
But I don't think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it -- and that I can tell you.
Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.
The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.
If you love someone -- there is no possible harm in saying so -- only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.
Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.
It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another -- but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.
Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I'm glad you have it.
We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.
And don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens -- The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
Love,
Fa
New York
November 10, 1958
Dear Thom:
We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.
First -- if you are in love -- that's a good thing -- that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.
Second -- There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you -- of kindness and consideration and respect -- not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn't know you had.
You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply -- of course it isn't puppy love.
But I don't think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it -- and that I can tell you.
Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.
The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.
If you love someone -- there is no possible harm in saying so -- only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.
Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.
It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another -- but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.
Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I'm glad you have it.
We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.
And don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens -- The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
Love,
Fa
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