Rating: 
Summary: Simple and enjoyable.
Review: Steinbeck's "Tortilla Flat" is written in a purposefully simple yet effective language that is easy to read but makes it's point. I like to thing of this novel as "Steinbeck Lite" becasue is is a smooth reading book but not as deep as "Of Mice and Men." It does touch on important social themes, such as happiness in poverty and different blends of friendship, but is not as important or insightfulas other Steinbeck works. In other words, this book is a good read, but don't expect it to change your life. "Of Mice and Men" or "The Grapes of Wrath" are better if you have not read them already. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars but I rounded up.
Rating:
Summary: Typical Steinbeck book
Review: Tortilla Flat stays true to John Steinbeck's simple sentence and plot structure. Tortilla Flat is a short novel that exploits the "paisanos" of Tortilla Flat. "Paisonos" are people of mixed hispanic, indian, and caucasion blood. Steinbeck is a master of writing about social injustices and human nature. Although he doesn't come and out and tell you his opinions, he subconciously reveals his thoughts in his novels. Tortilla Flat is a little slow at times, but has its good moments. I like how the group of friends spend their time just drinking and chasing women. Its a nice change from just reading about suffering people who work all day to survive. I enjoyed reading this novel and I suggest you read it to if you are a Steinbeck fan.
Rating: 
Summary: I love Steinbeck
Review: I loved The Cannery Row and had the common feeling of joy and satisfaction after getting through a masterpiece as well as of regret that the book cannot be read again with the same satisfaction and interest. Thank goodness, there is Tortilla Flat. Very close to the sprit of the Cannery Row, it speaks about homeless guys who find a home (2 actually). Their life changes and now they are faced with the common world troubles: responsibilities, greed, and neighbours. The simple life of a homless was seems quiate attractive after you finish. Good read. Great MBA book - good humor and story. Simplicity and simple people are always appreciated. There is more wisdom in common sense than in any finance book. Get this one.
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: Steinbeck at his best...
Review: This was the first of John Steinbeck's books that I ever read and is still my favorite. The sweet humor that comes through is more a result of the book's wonderful writing style and wording than from the plot itself; although the combined character traits of the paisanos work perfectly together-from the genius and comedy of Pilon to the morality of Danny the story that emerges is charming but not sentimental. The reader from Boston seems either too young or perhaps just not astute enough to realize these subtle shadings of character. Also in regards to his review, nowhere in the book does it say that the paisanos were Mexican immigrants, only of Mexican heritage. I highly recommend Tortilla Flat to anyone who appreciates Steinbeck's writing.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Steinbeck
Review: "Tortilla Flat" tells the story of a group of friends who spend their time drinking wine and doing little else - except for thieving, cavorting with various women, and occasionally fighting with each other. Yet through all of these adventures, and some mishaps, they remain the truest of friends. They have formed a bond that even their conflicting desires and greedy natures cannot break. After returning from WWI, Danny (the main character and leader of the gang) finds himself an heir to two houses from his grandfather. His friends quickly take up residence in first one house and then in Danny's house. They look out for each other, these six grown men, who vacilate from wisdom to foolishness, and bcome better men for having such friends. As usual, Steinbeck's prose is at times sparse, at other times poetic. His characters are vividly drawn, and their sometimes larger-than-life antics are alive. "Tortilla Flat" may be hard to get into at the beginning of the novel, but once you've entered their world, you won't want to leave it.
Rating:
Summary: A Steinbeck Essential
Review: This is a fable set in John Steinbeck's beloved Northern California. What it's all about are friendships and the dynamics of interpersonal dealings between immortal characters. Immortal in that every generation has their Pilons and Dannys, and of having things that you can hold in your own hand versus things that cannot ultimately be bought or sold. The appeal is due in part to the parallels in our own lives and the people in our lives. In every Steinbeck novel is a little gift of insight. This has many.
Rating: 
Summary: The characters are anything but flat
Review: Tortilla Flat was a very humorous book, and I started out thinking I had found a new favorite. However, after about the half-way point in the book, I started to feel as if the story was going nowhere. It lacked a certain building tension that I usually feel when reading a truly great novel -- one that puts its claws into me and won't let go until I reach the dramatic climax of the story. So, it is a tough story to rate because the characters and their episodes are truly humorous, but the plotline gets to be too much of a diary and not enough of a building crescendo. So, to tell you a little bit about the book, the story revolves around a group of people called paisanos living in/near Monterey, CA. A group of these paisanos lives their lives eschewing anything that smacks of responsibility, living in the woods and spending any money they come across on wine. This might seem tragic, but they seem to love their lives and have no compulsion to change. The protagonist is Danny, who inherits two houses from a relative and ends up sharing the houses with his paisano friends. Steinbeck develops incredible characters with subtle humor in everything I have read of his, and these are no exception. They are drunkards, thieves, and fighters, yet they also adhere to a certain moral code with ferocity. The most humorous recurring episode is the rationalization of any wrong behavior. You can see their resolve eroding as they come up with some bizarre explanation of how their action actually benefits someone else. A great example is when Pilone steals Big Joe's pants in order to teach him a moral lesson...and if he gets some wine out of the deal, what harm is done? Anyway, I want to rate this book higher because it is extremely humorous throughout, but I am only giving it a three because of the lack of build-up and because I thought the ending was lacking.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book
Review: I am constantly amazed by Steinbeck's characters. His dialogue is so fresh and real, and the people who populate his seaside town are so vivid and different, that I can't even think of what to compare it to. I know everyone talks about the King Arthur parallel, but I could care less. I'm wrapped up in these lives regardless of grand themes and overarching motives. I leave that to the critics and the professors. Did I feel something, that's my only criteria. And I did. Check out Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden for Steinbeck's best. Also check out Pastures of Heaven (a personal favorite).
Rating:
Summary: Tortilla Flat -- An unexpected delight.
Review: "Tortilla Flat" was an unexpected delight. I started reading without any knowledge of plot or character. The simplified perspective of Pilon, Danny and the other Paisanos helped me realize that some of my own concerns were really not that important. I found myself laughing and crying; all the while quite eager to share each episode with my friends. The message of "Tortilla Flat" is quite relevant in today's society, even though so much has changed and modernized. The stories of the vacuum and what the friends do with the two houses were particularly humorous. "Tortilla Flat" is a beautiful sentiment about friendship and wine. I loved this book and would highly recommend it to others.
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