Pastures of Heaven - John Steinbeck

[Cal Trask]

Las Pasturas del Cielo was first discovered in California by a Spanish military officer in the late 1700’s. Its lush farmland attracted pioneers who settled, irrigated, and farmed the land. POH is a collection of short episodes connecting the lives of the distant descendents of those first settlers. Although the characters in this are in the main from a farming background, this isn’t Walton’s Mountain. This book was first published in 1932 and was three years before JS hit Kerchingville with Tortilla Flat. But unlike a lot of writers before they break through, he wasn’t pulling any punches with the subjects he chose to write about. The characters and situations in this show human beings on the edge of, and also plummeting over the edge of what we would class as ‘normal’ behaviour.

As with a lot of writers around the world in the 1920’s and 1930’s, Steinbeck started to write about life as it was and not as some contrived happily ever after scenario. I find JS’s stuff very similar to Scott Fitzgeralds short stories from the twenties with regard to how he opens the shutters on the human condition in those early years of mass consumerism and industry. A good read and a great slice of early Steinbeck.

[Artdude]

"started to write about life as it was and not as some contrived happily ever after scenario."

Would love to know of one example which proves this... name one serious/respected novel which deals with a happily ever after scenario. You make it sound as if Steinbeck was the first... Steinbeck is a terrible author - I wonder what his day job was. What about the hundreds of years of woe, suffering, death, murder, torture, psychological torment and social hardship which came before? Steinbeck is innovator of nothing.

F.Scott.Fitzgerald (you got the name wrong) is infinitely better, and an author of genuine talent. Do let me know of one comparison between these two authors, if you can find one, since I think its impossible, and would love to be proved wrong.

Glorifying Steinbeck is the Everest of optimism: an attempt to claw back something from the wreckage and general poor quality of his novels. I don't envy your task in trying to find Steinbeck interesting - its not possible.

-- Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:34 pm --

And what does Steinbeck expose - specifically - about the 'human condition'? Again, I can't wait to read what you think this is, and how he deals with it.

[Cal Trask]

First off, I didn't get the name wrong. I thought on a book forum that I wouldn't have to put the F. in for people to understand who I meant. As for the other points I'm not going to answer or discuss them in a reasonable manner as your post is totally agressive and antagonistic.

[StephenKingman]

^ Cal Trask and Artdude, you both are capable of being civil and reasonable so please dont resort to verbal abuse or i will have to lock the thread, keep it civil please.

[Cal Trask]

Hi SK, could you please lock it. Actually, just delete it please. I was only defending myself. On second thoughts, delete the post and my membership from the forum.

Cheers

Cal

[StephenKingman]

Hi SK, could you please lock it. Actually, just delete it please. I was only defending myself. On second thoughts, delete the post and my membership from the forum.

Cheers

Cal

There is no need for that, you are both valued members of the forum and we dont want to lose anyone; if you cant be civil to each other then avoid each other, ill keep the thread open.

[Artdude]

Well, I didn't intend any of it to offend you - if it did, I'm sorry, it was not my intention.

Just writing my outrage at how Steinbeck is considered a serious novelist.

[Philip]

In my opinion John Steinbeck is an outstanding author. I rate The Grapes of Wrath the greatest novel I have ever read.

[Fran]

In my opinion John Steinbeck is an outstanding author. I rate The Grapes of Wrath the greatest novel I have ever read.

I agree ... his evocation of a particular era is superb.

[henriet]

I am very surprised by the very negative comments about John Steinbeck's work. wow. He is at the top of my list of favorite authors, and authors who have had a huge impact on my life. East of Eden opened my eyes and mind when I first read it about age 20. That book more than any other impacted my understanding of the importance of wrestling with the meaning or words, and the power of choice. Steinbeck's observations about the stories recorded in Genesis being stories of us all... I found that totally profound, and , and continue to be inspired by it. This summer I read a biography about Steinbeck, hoping to better understand who he was and what influenced his life and writing. Interesting!

[Fran]

I am very surprised by the very negative comments about John Steinbeck's work. wow. He is at the top of my list of favorite authors, and authors who have had a huge impact on my life. East of Eden opened my eyes and mind when I first read it about age 20. That book more than any other impacted my understanding of the importance of wrestling with the meaning or words, and the power of choice. Steinbeck's observations about the stories recorded in Genesis being stories of us all... I found that totally profound, and , and continue to be inspired by it. This summer I read a biography about Steinbeck, hoping to better understand who he was and what influenced his life and writing. Interesting!

I think because avid readers tend to take their reading very serious they can, on occasion, become somewhat excitable & may go a little OTT when defending their likes and attacking the book or authors they dislike. Reading tends to raise strong emotions in some ... it's a very violent activity.

I heard yesterday that the BBC are currently running a series on American literature and this week have a full programme on Steinbeck, his life & works, unfortunately I didn't register which night it's on but I think it's BBC4 if you are interested.

[Artdude]

I am very surprised by the very negative comments about John Steinbeck's work. wow. He is at the top of my list of favorite authors, and authors who have had a huge impact on my life. East of Eden opened my eyes and mind when I first read it about age 20. That book more than any other impacted my understanding of the importance of wrestling with the meaning or words, and the power of choice. Steinbeck's observations about the stories recorded in Genesis being stories of us all... I found that totally profound, and , and continue to be inspired by it. This summer I read a biography about Steinbeck, hoping to better understand who he was and what influenced his life and writing. Interesting!

I think because avid readers tend to take their reading very serious they can, on occasion, become somewhat excitable & may go a little OTT when defending their likes and attacking the book or authors they dislike. Reading tends to raise strong emotions in some ... it's a very violent activity.

I heard yesterday that the BBC are currently running a series on American literature and this week have a full programme on Steinbeck, his life & works, unfortunately I didn't register which night it's on but I think it's BBC4 if you are interested.

May I quickly add that my comments weren't "OTT" - they were exactly what I think.

[henriet]

Artdude... have you read East of Eden? I'm curious about your reaction to it.

[Artdude]

No I haven't. But if it's as uninspiring, bland, and careless as 'Of Mice and Men' and 'Grapes of Wrath', then I don't expect to like it.

I'm more than happy for someone to convince me that 'Of Mice and Men' is fantastic - I'm literally waiting for someone to. But so far, there have been no genuine cases for this.

[henriet]

I won't try to convince you that Mice and Men is fantastic - I didn't care for it. Or The Pearl. I know one person who found Mice and Men to be the most depressing book he'd ever read - he never opened another Steinbeck. I fortunately didn't read that as my first Steinbeck novel - if I had, I might never read others.

-- Tue Nov 29, 2011 12:49 am --

ps - I haven't read Pastures of Heaven, yet. It's on my list.