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: Slackers Then Slackers Now
Review: This book illustrates the fact that there has been "slackers" all through history. We hear so much today about "Generation X". We hear that the "Xers" are not going to be able to lead this nation when it is our turn. Well the paisanos didn't do much different than many of my peers are today. I have friends who lie about, drink alcohol and chase women just as Danny and the boys do. The similarities between Danny and the twenty-somethings of today show just how little America has changed in the last 100 years. Sure we have computers and mass transportation, but many of us just want wine, women and a good time.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: My favorite Steinbeck book, perhaps even my favorite book. Its characters are interesting and riveting. I first read the book when i was backpacking the UK and i found myself pulling it out whenever i had the chance to read a few pages. The paperback conveniently fit in my back pocket so i read everywhere from train stations to pubs. The story can be read as a light novella which can be enjoyed at face value or as the story of a modern King Arthur and his court with a little Robin Hood thrown in for good measure. The book is a great telling of the poor Danny and the boys as they banned together to get through life. This book is far superior to Steinbecks later and preachier novels such as The Grapes of Wrath.
Rating:
Summary: The party is over in Monterey.
Review: Tortilla Flats suggests that buried under every rock, concealed within every bush, throughout the Monterey peninsula of California, lie secreted bottles of wine, and that every tree shades a Paisano ready for a swallow of said wine. The following are the besotted knights in this tale of comic chivalry: Danny, The Portagee, Pirate and his dogs, Pilon, Jesus Maria and Pablo. You'll come to know and love each one. The Paisanos live in an economy where wine is the currency. Every action, from antics to amour, is done for a "little swallow of wine." This economy is threatened when Danny inherits two houses from his grandfather. Now he has risen in society. He sleeps with the woman next door, a fellow landowner, a triumph unthinkable prior to his fortuitous (?) inheritance. Danny chooses to live in one home and rent out the other to his friends. Now, they live comfortably, sleep warm. Predictably, into this Eden the snake shall come. Steinbeck describes the inevitable "Fall" with enough comedy so you'll laugh, but not forget to weep when misfortune strikes.
Rating:
Summary: Equal parts tedium, humor and sterotype
Review: For someone who allegedly spent a measurable amount of time with the Paisanos of this story, you'd think Steinbeck would do more about developing them as characters. The one-dimensional qualities of Danny and his crew ("We get drunk! We pine over women! We chase them!") gets kind of tired and though there are funny moments in the book, even those moments become cliched and border on cultural sterotype. Around twenty pages in, take note of a trend. Paisanos get money... they get drunk.... they get money.... they get drunk. To be fair, there is something positive to be said about the Paisanos in their comraderie, solid sense of right and wrong, their good humor about life. Steinbeck's prevailing image of this cultural group during the early part of the 20th century, however, is one of a motley bunch of do-nothings bent on getting drunk at any opportunity. If you like reading about a bunch of happy-go-lucky drunk Mexican immigrants and want a laugh or two, this is your book.
Rating: 
Summary: One of Steinbeck's best!
Review: Steinbeck creates very funny people in this novel. This book was Steinbeck's first bestseller and I can see why. I recommand this book to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Book of All Time
Review: there's just something about those deep friendships
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite books
Review: It seems that Christianity is evil in this book and nature is more correct. I didn't totally understand this book. Maybe I would if I read the Bible more. I love the connections that Steinbeck makes between humans and nature.
Rating:
Summary: Male movie, not enjoyed by women as much.
Review: I would like to know the names of the five dogs in the movie. Can anyone help?
Rating:
Summary: A Winner
Review: Not the best book ever, but the most enjoyable read
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