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Summary: A changing nation
Review: Steinbeck's travel through a changing America shows the things of the past, present, and the more terrifying things of the future. His book is a good place to look for the changes that people faced in the turmoil of the '50s-'60s jump.
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Summary: I really think everyone should read this book!
Review: T. Griffin After reading Travels with Charley I have new insights on many things. He broadens your perspective on subjects that you would never even think about. John Steinbeck's journey across America was like being in a movie. Everything he did he described in every full and minor detail so the reader was able to follow along with him as if you were really there. I rate this book a 9. It was almost a 10 but I'm extremely picky about my books. This has been one of the best book I've ever read, though. Steinbeck has many different opinions and sayings on everything under the sun. My favorite was his opinion on God and life and us. He said, "It is our practice now...to find from our psychiatric priesthood that our sins aren't really sins at all but accidents that are set in motion by forces beyond our control." This phrase of his made me think for a long time after and I enjoyed discussing it with other readers from my class. I recommend this book to everyone and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: good book
Review: I found this book to be one of the more interesting ones I've read in a while. Mr Steinbeck, in my opinion, was a genius. One great example of this comment is how when the huricane was approaching he put his boat in the middle of the bay...pure genius. This man had a dream of going and seeing this massive place of which he had been writing about for so long without a clear understanding of exactly what he was refering to in all his works. So in preparation for his trip he got the truck he would need and a traveling companing named Charley. The book is about exactly what the title said, a trip with 'Charley' in search of a place that he has yet to find. The only part I found to be sort of boring was his habit of having long dialogue with almost every one he met. I thought we the readers could have done with out all of the talking. But dont get me wrong I loved the book and must reccomend it to anyone who lives in America and would like to explore the country without the actual effort.
Rating: 
Summary: The book is very interesting.
Review: Travels With Charley was a very good book. Altough everything that Steinbeck sees he describes in extreme detail. Despite this he still was able to keep my attention. The book was full of one liners. Every situation that Steinbeck comes across brings some interesting idea comment. My favorite of all his fortune cookie wisdom was that everyone sees the world in a different way, so everyone has their own world. The only thing that bothered me about this book is the section about my home town. He represents my town as a racist place. Overall I would recomend this book others.
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Summary: This is a great book for readers of all ages.
Review: I have recently finished reading John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley, and without thinking I can say two thumbs up. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, I give it a solid nine. An old, experienced author, Steinbeck decides that he does not know enogh about the American world he has been writing about for so many years. Things have changed and he decides that he and his k9 friend Charley should go and have a new look at things. During his three month road trip in a well eqipped motor home Steinbeck experiences his country for what seems like the first time. From visiting his home town in California, camping on roadsides and visiting with stangers from state to state, Steinbeck learns Americans' perspective of their world and how they too cope with change. With the help of his French poodle Charley, Steinbeck discovers his constancy in a forever changing world. Sarah A.S.
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Summary: Traveling America is Fun
Review: Spyderman The book,_Travels With Charley_, by John Steinbeck was one of the most interesting books I have come across. Mr. Steinbeck uses his informal style through the book to make the reader feel at home with him as he travels the countryside. His personal accounts and author intrusions explain more into the life and beliefs of John Steinbeck. The dog, Charley, and him are friends on an almost human level, that compliment each other. The strong descriptions of the places, people, and actions give a mental picture to the reader of where the duo have gone. The informal structure and simple sentence structure keep a steady rhythm. The adventures that happen on the trip and the people he talks with all contribute to a non-stop reader. Spyderman
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Summary: Steinbeck is a genius.
Review: For ages 12-up, this book is an excellent journey. Steinbeck is a great writer, story teller, and I think I'm in love! If I could find a man with the sense of adventure, humor, and passion for life that he has, I would be the happiest girl alive. I cherish the fact that he has such a passion for life. He says, "For I have always lived violently, drunk hugely, eaten too much or not at all,..." (17). I love that fact that he cares so much for his wife and devotes much of his time to his "...old Franch gentleman poodle known as Charley" (7). He also has a wise personality, and one can tell that he loves to investigate. In one part of the book he talks about how he is "over-interested injunk...Recently I stopped my car in front of the display yard of a junk dealer...it suddenly occurred to me that I had more than he had" (35). Anyway, if you want to read a book by an incredibly brilliant author who will take you on an across the country tour, meeting lots of people, read this! MReynolds
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Summary: Steinbeck's thoughts are impeccable.
Review: I truly enjoyed this book. I have never read a book that used such diction in a way that made the reader feel as though they were going on the adventure with him. His explanations of the people and their way of life and ways of communication amoungst each other are immaculate in the fact that I have never read a book where the author says things like that and I can understand them. Overall, _Travels with Charley_ was one of the best books I have read in my high school career, and I hope that other students are required to read it or chose to read it too. G. Landers
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Summary: You need to read this book!
Review: I definitely reccommend this book. This book is about John Steinbeck and his journey across America. His only companion is a dog named Charley, and he travels through the country meeting all sorts of people and visiting all sorts of places. Steinbeck's odd ideas and amusing opinions kept my attention throughout the entire book. So many things that Steinbeck talked about were things that I have experienced and could relate to with ease and amusement. The fluidity of his writing makes it easy to understand so the book moves quickly. I loved the comical style of his writing and often found myself laughing outloud. Also, Steinbeck's thinking is so logical. He often brings things to my attention that I may have normally overlooked. If you're ever in the mood for a little light reading I would definitly suggest this book to you. This page turner holds your interest and makes a hard day a lot easier to manage.
Rating:
Summary: A great book that makes you think....
Review: When I first began reading this book I had no idea that it would be this good. I loved everything about it. The only reason why I gave it an nine is that I have a hard time believing that a book is perfect and there have been books that I have enjoyed more. Though, it wasn't the best book I've ever read, it definitely was one of my two favorite autbiographies. The thing that I liked the most about it was the way John Steinbeck came to certain conclusions. He traveled all across the United States and met all kinds of interesting people. He was able to gain so much insight into human nature. During one of his many nights alone he began to experience a little depression. He was sulking in the bathtub and then he began to recall a time when he was in north Africa. He told of an "old Arab" (38) who offered him tea out of glass "so coated with use it was opaque" (38). He knew that it was dirty, but the man had extended his hand in kindness and "the tea was wonderful because of it" (38). He survived the filth and his final comment on the whole thing was that "A sad soul can kill you quicker, far quicker than a germ" (38). I really liked that because even though he was feeling sad he could remember something as beautiful as a man's kindness. John Steinbeck seemed to make these kind of interesting observations all throughout his book and through simple words he challenged to think about life and to remember to not dwell on the insignificant things. emb523
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