NUMBER: 107

Genre: Non-fiction; Origin: US; Pages: 300

Satisfaction rating: 2.o

OVERVIEW:

In 1940, John Steinbeck set out on an expedition with his friend Ed Ricketts, the biologist on whom he based the character of Doc in Cannery Row. Taking a sardine boat, Western Flyer, out of Monterey, California, they embarked on a 4,000-mile trip into the Sea of Cortez that combined the scientific collection and observation of marine life with high adventure, philosophy, ethics and art. The log of this journey gives a much rounder picture of Steinbeck – and his beliefs about man and the world – than any of his fictional works.

MATTHEW’S COMMENTS:

There are two fundamental things lacking in this book, despite being described in the blurb above. The first is ‘high adventure’, the second is the promised ’rounder picture of Steinbeck’. It is the latter I was hoping for when I finally got round to reading this novel after it sat on my shelf for a year or two. The wait wasn’t worth it, to say that this was a hard book to complete is an understatement. In fact, I even had a break from it for about three weeks, but I have to admit to be completely bored with the process of collecting marine life.

Yes, a little naive given the subject matter. However, I thought this work might give greater insight in to the influential relationship between Ricketts and Steinbeck. Largely it doesn’t. The strangest thing about this book is that it is written not from Steinbeck’s first person perspective, but rather the single perspective of himself and Ed Ricketts. So while we read charactures of the deck hands and captain we never read about the two authors. From my perspective this is a lost opportunity to broaden the base of the book from marine exploration to a personal adventure.

There are glimpses of adventure as the explorers engage with local communities, and there is certainly passages of philosophy which help resurrect my interest, but this was few and far between. Having now read 11 of Steinbeck’s novels I would suggest that the combined weight of his fictional work builds a better understanding of the man that this slice of non-fiction.

That said, the saving grace in this edition is the heartfelt, and at times quite funny, obituary for Ricketts written by Steinbeck following an untimely car accident. This 50 page introduction is a wonderful addition, without the substance between the two men would be lost.

FURTHER REFERENCES:

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Last Modified :April 21st, 2009 Filed under : The Log: novels Navigate : Previous post / Next post