Lisa Bush    Reverend Everett Klein   Zac Pawlowski   Maddie Timmers

Tom Hinken      Debra Lambers      Erin Lambers     Paul Lambers

Surfer Dude        Annibel

Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck

What has drawn me to Steinbeck is the fact that Of Mice and Men was the first book I had to read in school that I actually enjoyed. His leftist views and opinions are evident in any of his works. Perhaps that’s why I chose to read this book, to know more about the man whose works were a huge influence on me even wanting to read in the first place. With that said, I found Travels with Charley to be a wonderful study of both Steinbeck and American way of life at the time. It is also easy to note how much this country hasn’t changed since 1960. Essentially the book is the author’s social commentary, one I found to be fairly easy read since my own personal viewpoints didn’t seem to differ greatly at all. What it lacks however is that there is no tremendous story or driving force that keeps you riveted from start to finish. I found that I was able to pick it up and put it down at will and never really find myself immersed in it. I recommend it though, simply for Steinbeck’s nuggets of wisdom that are thrown in, and the insight it gives into the mind of one of the greatest American authors of all time. It also gives great advice for anyone planning a trip. The line at the beginning “a journey is like a marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” describes any vacation I have ever taken.

Lisa Bush    Reverend Everett Klein   Zac Pawlowski   Maddie Timmers

Tom Hinken      Debra Lambers      Erin Lambers     Paul Lambers

Surfer Dude        Annibel