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Summary: This book was a swan song for John Steinbeck.
Review: He pours all of his heart, soul and everything he has left into this book. It is the last novel he wrote in his career. Many of the small essays concerning his experiences are very touching but also make you think. He somehow turns a subjects such as sleeping near a mountain into an adventure as he writes down every detail from the crack of a limb to the smell of whiskey from a nearby dump. He puts his life into perspective and what I found the most interesting was his struggle to comprehend age. He uses all off his writing tools from his creative metaphors to his fantastic descriptions. When reading this book you learn not only about this country but also Stienbecks writing style. He also give articulate opinions, not bland insults when he is describing places, people, or ideas that he doesn't like. But above all, he admits his errors willingly. Steinbeck started the book months before he even was on the road, but the journey had while he was planning it, so that is where he started the novel. It was over before he every reached home because there was a point in his travel where he just stopped thinking, and taking in all that was around him. But, the journey was over and there was nothing he could do about it because in Steinbeck's works, "You don't take the journey, the journey takes you."
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Summary: Steinbeck Knows America Like No Other
Review: I love Steinbeck. Travels With Charley only makes me love him more. The way he writes just touches people so easily. It's not at all difficult to read, but, at the same time, it is incredibly poetic.
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Summary: One of the best books I've ever read!
Review: I'm a Steinbeck fan anyway, of the mindset that about anything he does is marvellous- but this book ranks right up there with the Grapes of Wrath for me. I had an old dog-eared copy of my Mother's at home, so on a road trip of my own, I picked it up to read. I was blown away by this book, and the intensely personal memoirs of Steinbeck's. This book not only gave me a feel for Steinbeck as a person, but for America's true blood. He chronicles an actual trip he took in this book, travelling fromt he east coat, through his hometown of Salinas, CA, and back home through the southern states. He deals with real people, not a glamorized stereotype of what Americans are. Some of the attitudes and slang seem a bit dated, but don't let that deter you. It is like a time-capsule left for us by a magician of the pen. I highly reccomend this book for anyone who is a fan of Steinbeck's, or going on a trip of their own. Steinbeck's journey of self-discovery beats Kerouac's "On the Road" hands down! I found him to be a very down-to-earth writer, more so in this book, as opposed to Jack Kerouac, whose pointless, drab novel failed in comparison to this.
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Summary: Entertaining and profound
Review: I found Travels With Charleyt to be a very entertaining and profound book. John Steinbeck is very good at bringing up many things in one book without making it seem cluttered. The book does not have a story line the way that a novel or short story usually does. Instead, it is more like a travel journal meant to express the author's ideas and enlighten the reader about America and its people. Many people would enjoy this book, but particularly those who enjoy traveling, because they could sympathize with how Steinbeck feels when he talks about how much he loved his journey. Overall, Travels With Charley is an interesting book that presents John Steinbeck's ideas in a unique and effective way.
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Summary: One of Steinbeck's best.
Review: Travels with Charley is a story which can be read and appreciated by all ages. for the young it offers a kindhearted and rich story of a man and his dog. For adults, the book offers a road story on par with On the Road. Steinbeck's treatment of Charley (and even his anthropomorphization of his mobile home) are reminiscent of Kerouac. Most people's first encounter with Steinbeck is in grade school because of the accessibility of his lanuage. I find I appreciate his work more now, as an adult, than I ever did as a kid. Also check out his other very warm hearted books for kids and adults - Cannery Row and Tortilla Flats.
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Summary: The all-time best book!
Review: Steinbeck's Travels With Charley is not one of his better-known books; however, it is the all-time best book that has ever been written,
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Summary: Well written.
Review: With wisdom that can only be attained through years of true living. Steinbeck captures the true essence of what it means to be an American. His legendary "travels" epitomize the American experience in a manner that is impossible to surpass. He deals remarkably well with the constant and ongoing struggle for Americans to form a unique identity. Although these are the main issues, there are several innuendoes of other topics, such as human independence, self-reliance, and devotion. This book is a most prudent example of the American character and how we Americans live our daily lives. Steinbeck harnesses all these powers in his historic novel, Travels With Charley.
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Summary: Not entertaining.
Review: It started off nice, but then the bordom sat in. I was required to read this to pass an english class and didn't see the literary merit to it. Steinbeck wrote in an easy to understand manner and added some humor (in my opinion) on how people act. It was a book that was well written, but really should have been shorter.
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Summary: Although this was a required book for a class, I loved it!
Review: Like my one line summary says Travels with Charley was a required book for one of my high school english classes. Although I love to read I usually don't enjoy being forced to read a book that I did not pick out. The only major thing wrong about this book (besides the sometimes excessive details) was the way he portrayed my home town- Detroit Lakes. Although it was just a little segment in the book I felt that he looked at our town as a little hick town. It may have been in 1960 but I assure everyone now that is definitly not.
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Summary: Good book to understand USA for an european
Review: After my own travel through USA I red Steinbekc's book. It has given me the oportunity to understand a lot of your spirit. His openminded vision is one I have not seen so often over your interesting nation
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