Rating: 
Summary: Surprisingly sympathetic
Review: Here's another great author that I've somehow never read until now. If this book is typical of his writing, it won't be my last. The group of scoundrels in this story are not the type of characters I ordinarily would find sympathetic, but these ne'er-do-wells have their own kind of honor and a moral code of sorts. The cover blurb compares them to knights of the round table, but to me they were more like Robin Hood and his merry men. This story is funny and poignant, and I was truly drawn into this community.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I find Steinbeck to be one of the best writters, this story is funny and sometimes sad, but always entertaining.
I do not believe it is fair to compare this book to the grapes of wrath, I have read several reviews comparing both and it is not fair, these are very different books and very different stories, the two of them are great in their own way.
This is a story about friendship, about love beetween friends, I liked this book especially because many different stories develope as the book progresses, and because of the many characters, I especially liked the Pirate.
I encourage you to read this book, it is not to long and if you like it and you have never read Steinbeck before, this is a good beggining.
Rating: 
Summary: Laughing on the Floor
Review: I literally laughed while reading this excellent book. This is a good example of why JS won the Nobel Peace Prize for literature. His writing is so beautiful and full of irony. Hilarious to see these paisanos and how they do anything for wine. After I finished it, I bought a bottle of wine and drank it. Also gave a copy of this book to my step-mom. I recommend this to anyone, even children.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining... at first
Review: I read about half of this book and just could not keep enough interest to finish it. While the writing is wonderful, there is just not much development of the story. Halfway through the book we have the same characters in the same place doing the same things. I suppose that's a theme of the story itself, but it was just a little too hopeless for my taste. If you want vintage Steinbeck, read 'The Grapes of Wrath.'
Rating:
Summary: Great book from a great writer
Review: If you enjoyed books such as Faulkner's AS I LAY DYING or McCrae's CHILDREN'S CORNER, then you'll love TORTILLA FLAT. Tortilla Flat is truly one of Steinbeck's many masterpieces -- funny, touching, and exciting all at once. The novel is about Danny, a paisano from Monterey, his friends, and all of their crazy drunken antics. The stories in Tortilla Flat are charming and hilarious. Some of the best include the tale of Teresina Cortez, who fed her nine children solely tortillas and beans, and the chapter about Sweets Ramirez and her vacuum cleaner. The main characters are lovable too. Who could forget the child-like Pirate, the ingenious Pablo, the kind Jesus Maria, or the sharp Pilon? I would definitely recommend Tortilla Flat to anybody who is not offended by excess alcohol. This is a book that everybody should read!
Rating:
Summary: not steinbeck's best
Review: Interesting basis, but the writing is not nearly as good as his later writing. There's not much along the lines of character development. It's a story about freedom, friendship and the burden of property. If you want to read Steinbeck I would recommend "East of Eden."
Rating:
Summary: Wine, Women, Paisanos! What a great trio
Review: Pulitzer Prize winner, John Steinbeck is a classic master storyteller. Born in 1902 and died in 1968 he exemplified diversity in storytelling as "Tortilla Flat" demonstrates freshness to the ear. The story's main character Danny becomes an heir to two homes, but his paisanos in the small town of Tortilla Flat convince him to "rent" one home to them. Paisanos are of Mexican, Indian, Spanish and assorted Caucasian blood. None of his friends can pay rent; they live off the benefit of others. Steinbeck ingeniously plays out a humorous story of camaraderie, loyalty, wine, women and more wine. The paisanos share a philosophy that boasts good honest intention leading to a justifiable need for wine instead. The plot continuously unfolds with humor, wit, bonding, hospitality, visions, treasure, ethics, scheming, greed and evil. The friendship of all men evolves and slowly disintegrates as they separate. Their philosophy is a departure from the socially conventional: Pilon, feeling guilty about owing Danny rent money, takes a job, earns two dollars in a day, and intends to pay Danny some rent, but he is swayed by the power of wine. He says "If I give him hard money, it doesn't express how I feel toward my friend." He buys and indulges a present of wine for two dollars and tells Danny it cost five dollars. To get eggs, Pilon knows of neighbor, Mrs. Morales' chickens. He feels if he tears a hole in his fence, the chickens would like to nest in his tall grass. If they didn't pick her apples, they would spoil anyway. When the house Danny rents to his friends burns, the men move in with him, and soon the story compounds as they scheme and entice more friends in. Drinking cheap wine is a priority among the group as money is a chief problem. But with their loyal friendship they share laughs, music, more women, more wine, pets, and stolen or borrowed food. The story is wonderful and Steinbeck book's are always page turners. He fills each page with critical vivid diction and brilliant prose. Steinbeck's most famous classics include the novels, The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, Winter of Discontent, Cannery Row and the Wayward Bus. Some of his very successful short stories are The Pearl, Of Mice and Men, The Red Pony, The Moon is Down, etc. There is an extensive collection of non-fiction such as his journals: Travel with Charley, Sea of Cortez, Russian Journal. His stories were often set in California, his birthplace. Read this, it is extremely enjoyable! ......MzRizz
Rating:
Summary: Written After Black Tuesday
Review: This book was written in 1934 which was in the middle of the depression years after the 1929 Black Tuesday and the economic crash. There weren't many jobs and poverty prevailed nationwide-not just in the ghetto or barrio. However, these guys (Danny and Company) had absolutely no ambition or motivation to improve their living situation. They lived a pitiful existence of drunkenness and thievery. Thievery was common during the depression years and became a way of life for many hungry, or in this case thirsty, Americans regardless of national origin. This may seem like a story about an ex-soldier and his drunken friends but it is really about riches and loss of riches when we don't take care of what we have. The setting takes place in a location I would interpret as a Chicano Barrio even though it never specifically says so. This barrio, found just above Monterey, California, is called, "Tortilla Flat." The theme in this story almost coincides with another of Steinbeck's books, The Pearl. Both stories begin with the obtaining of something of value, the struggles of keeping the item of value, and its eventual loss. In Tortilla Flat, it was the renters who were always trying to get money to pay their rent but when they got the money they would by more wine and forget the rent. Their guilt had them continually trying to get more money and it always ended the same way-more wine. Tortilla Flat is quick easy reading. It can be read in one day. Even through the uninteresting parts, I felt compelled to go on. I couldn't put it down until I had finished reading the last word on the last page of the last chapter.
Rating:
Summary: A Spicy Tortilla
Review: This is not Steinbeck's best work, for that you need to read "The Grapes of Wrath" or "East of Eden," but it is still an important and enjoyable book none the less. The setting is Monterey, California shortly after World War I and the characters are paisanos who have little ambition other than finding adventure, drinking and being part of an adult fraternity. They resist real work and spend much of their time in search of easy money and food to steal, but despite their failings the characters remain interesting and sympathetic. Steinbeck, as always, writes about the downtrodden with masterful prose (though I'm sure there are many who find his descriptions in this book racist) and the story is fun and entertaining. High schoolers and adults alike will enjoy this book and I would recommend it to anyone, though only after they've read Steinbeck's greatest work.
Rating:
Summary: Energizing and spirited life of the Monterey paisanos
Review: Tortilla Flat is the lively tale of Danny, a down on his luck paisano in the slums off Monterey, and a cadre of housemates that join him after he inherits his grandfather's property.
The novel operates in short story fashion, covering a sequence of their misadventures as the band grows. Despite a willingness to backstab each other for a jug of wine, you are drawn in to their fraternity, and cheer them on as the search for windmills to fight. Although not as explicit as Cervantes, the mock gallantry in the face of adversity makes for an endearing tale.
Although cited as a lesser work of Steinbeck's, it was certainly solid enough to keep me coming back for more.
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