No, the evil and the hope in the book is the nature of man itself. I absolutely loved this book and still do. I've read a few more short Steinbeck novels, but this one is my favourite or the bunch so far (The Pearl, Of Mice and Men, and Tortilla Flat were the others). I can see Steinbeck's writing not faring well with many in a longer story like The Grapes of Wrath. He is prone to over-description. But that is what I love about this book. His descriptions of place and people just hit me and in a short book like Cannery Row it doesn't get a chance to wear on one. I reread bits and pieces as I had already read this one recently and I'm still struck by his descriptions.
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Originally Posted by CanneryRow
"Oh!" said Hazel and he cast frantically about for a peg to hang a new question on. He hated to have a conversation die out like this. He wasn't quick enough. While he was looking for a question Doc asked one. Hazel hated that, it meant casting about in his mind for an answer and casting about in Hazel's mind was like wandering alone in a deserted museum. Hazel's mind was choked with uncatalogued exhibits. He never forgot anything, but he never bothered to arrange his memories. Everything was thrown together like fishing-tackle in the bottom of a rowboat, hooks and sinkers and lines and lures and gaffs all snared up."
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