Was that from Librivox, Tom? It sounds like a good listen and I'm looking for a recommendation.

And speaking of listening, I was at a loose end and decided to start For Whom the Bell Tolls and I'm totally blown away. I'll still have time for the eventual winner if something else.

Well, three days to go, and we're starting to see some spread here. The best part is, I don't think there's a single book in this list I wouldn't like to read, and certainly the front runners are high up on my list. They are "classics" but they're not at all fusty and tired. Oh, I guess that's what classic means. :duh: Unfortunately, the leader is also the most expensive book in the list and NOT available in eBook format from the BC Library.

By the way -- if you want a WhisperSync for Voice version of Cannery Row, use this link instead of the one in the top post. For some reason, Amazon is hiding the WhisperSync version, but it is available. Same eBook price, and the Audible is then $7.99. The Audible version is narrated by Jerry Farden, and a quick sample sounded promising. A deep, craggy kind of voice, which feels right for this book.

I missed out on nominations for this month. Lot's of good selections. I'd probably vote for Shogun and/or Dickens had I voted. As it is, I've started a classic already. Since it's Easter season coming up, i'm reading Quo Vadis. I'd have nominated it had I not been out of town and missed nominations. Enjoy whatever wins!

Thanks CRussel for the extra link and BelleZora for the photos - very cool that you visited there recently. I'm looking forward to Cannery Row with it being so highly recommended by a few people around here (you know who you are :D) and enjoying The Grapes of Wrath so much. Anyone on the fence about joining in the read this month, the book is only around 181 pages so it's very doable.

Yes, a short, highly entertaining read!

This is how you'll feel after reading it:

LOL! The song that immediately popped into mind there was "Walking on Sunshine"...which, depending on the episode, I suppose they well could be.

Here are some more photos taken in Monterey on Cannery Row last week. The first is of Ed Ricketts' Pacific Biological Laboratories. Steinbeck called it Doc's Western Biological Laboratories.

Dora Flood and her Bear Flag Restaurant Bordello was based upon the real Lone Star Cafe operated by Flora Woods. Mackerel Jack's Trading Company now stands on the site. The next two photos, including an artist's idea of Mack and the boys, were taken of the wall of the building.

I'm reposting the historical marker listing the actual sites (with their fictional names) that Steinbeck used in his story.

Yay Cannery Row!!! I was going to read it soon anyway, but it will be nice to read it as part of the book club.

I loved Grapes of Wrath and I have fond memories of Of Mice and Men from high school.

Thanks for the photos BelleZora.

and....

"Feds Cancel Commercial Sardine Fishing After Stocks Crash..."

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/..._campaign=news

Hi guys... I came around too late to vote but saw who won (cannery row) and have started to read it in anticipation of the conversation here. Is there a separate thread for discussion, because if there is I can't find it.... help would be muchly appreciated

There will be a thread tomorrow. Discussion starts on the 20th of the month. This gives, in theory, everyone time to read the selection before the discussion starts. So, hang in there, and along about sometime tomorrow, Tom will put up the discussion thread.

Great Caesar's Ghost! The 20th sneaked up on me. I'm usually right there at my PC waiting to post the threads one minute after midnight. I'll have all the goodies posted soon!

Both the Discussion and the May Nominations threads have been posted. The category for May is the ever-popular Mystery/Thriller.