Travels with Charley: In Search of America
- Downloads：2554
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-12-27 10:19:38
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：John Steinbeck
- ISBN：B0BNMVT5SX
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
laura
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I listened to this book。 The narration was easy to understand and the voice was pleasant and appropriate。 Apparently John Steinbeck wrote this travelogue in 1962， but it wasn’t published until 1980？ Basically it is the story of his months long road trip with his standard poodle Charley。 Steinbeck had a pretty cool tricked out， pickup with a camper top and he traveled throughout America observing and meeting people in various parts of the country。 He stayed at campgrounds， spoke with every day pe I listened to this book。 The narration was easy to understand and the voice was pleasant and appropriate。 Apparently John Steinbeck wrote this travelogue in 1962， but it wasn’t published until 1980？ Basically it is the story of his months long road trip with his standard poodle Charley。 Steinbeck had a pretty cool tricked out， pickup with a camper top and he traveled throughout America observing and meeting people in various parts of the country。 He stayed at campgrounds， spoke with every day people， and reconnected himself with the country by talking with folks he met along the way。 It was somewhat interesting， particularly his observations of racial tensions in the south at that time。 All in all， can’t say I was blown away。 。。。more
Dino Wilson
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Should I do Travels with Sparky？ I think this book has really fed into the motivation to travel America。 See the North。 See the sycamore trees out west。 Man， just everything！ Then the company of Sparky would be so fun。 Having this husky in my life has been a joy and I think him saying “pff” to me in in the middle of nowhere would be good for the soul。 God willing a little out west trip is in the works。
Elena Henreckson
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I'm mad I didn't read this book sooner。 Steinbeck's writing style is so charming and he gives an honest depiction of his experience in the different regions of America。 I love that his poodle Charley came along for the journey and had such a distinct personality。 This is a must-read of American literature。 I'm mad I didn't read this book sooner。 Steinbeck's writing style is so charming and he gives an honest depiction of his experience in the different regions of America。 I love that his poodle Charley came along for the journey and had such a distinct personality。 This is a must-read of American literature。 。。。more
Jessica McMaster
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I had a lot of hope for this book。 It was small and cute and sounded like a good story。 It started out well。 I live in Maine， so I enjoyed reading and hearing how someone else viewed our beautiful state。 I just could not stay interested in it for the life of me。 I was reading maybe 2 pages a day， and every time I would pick it back up ， I wouldn't remember reading anything on the page。 It is obvious that people really love this book。 And maybe if I gave it a chance ， I would have loved it also。 I had a lot of hope for this book。 It was small and cute and sounded like a good story。 It started out well。 I live in Maine， so I enjoyed reading and hearing how someone else viewed our beautiful state。 I just could not stay interested in it for the life of me。 I was reading maybe 2 pages a day， and every time I would pick it back up ， I wouldn't remember reading anything on the page。 It is obvious that people really love this book。 And maybe if I gave it a chance ， I would have loved it also。 Unfortunately， this book has gotten added to my DNF pile （my very short pile）。 I made it a little more than halfway （145 pages） in 2 weeks。 When I reasoned， there were millions more books that I would love to read， I had to put it down。 。。。more
Carolyn Deboer
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Really charming first hand account of one man's journey across America in a time long past yet almost everything remains the same。 Really charming first hand account of one man's journey across America in a time long past yet almost everything remains the same。 。。。more
Wylder Fondaw
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This book was truly such a treat。 Highly recommend to read this while on a road trip
Karen
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I was skeptical as I began this book—expected the prose to be outdated and a slow read。 A beautiful book。 At times melodic and at other times very disruptive。 The perplexities of our country continue and what Steinbeck identified as confounding political apathy is now confounding political polarization。 Should be a required read！ Which it probably is somewhere but wasn’t for me so I’m glad I finally got to it。 It was published and won the Nobel Prize the year I was born。 So it is very old but ve I was skeptical as I began this book—expected the prose to be outdated and a slow read。 A beautiful book。 At times melodic and at other times very disruptive。 The perplexities of our country continue and what Steinbeck identified as confounding political apathy is now confounding political polarization。 Should be a required read！ Which it probably is somewhere but wasn’t for me so I’m glad I finally got to it。 It was published and won the Nobel Prize the year I was born。 So it is very old but very relevant。 I like to think I’m still relevant as well。 。。。more
Nate
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 This edition had some missing pages unfortunately。 I understand it’s place in the literary field but it’s content feels dated， and it’s commentary on race seems specifically so。 It’s tough reading about race coming from an author who doesn’t necessarily have a reason to be talking about it。 It becomes more complicated knowing this book is likely factionalized—why must he include all this sensitive commentary in a book about a road trip and a dog？
Nelle Swchuk
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my first introduction to steinbeck and now i have a crush！
Keegan Hinsley
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Steinbeck had no way of knowing that he’d be awarded the Nobel Prize the same year that Travels with Charley was published。 He was， and readers promptly catapulted this book to the top of the NYT Nonfiction Best Seller List in 1962。 Here we meet a more mature Steinbeck – one more ready to quip over and flex the cynicisms that color his more major works。 I’ll admit that it’s extremely charming， even comfortable， to read Steinbeck without a fictional filter。 While the steady pacing that readers ha Steinbeck had no way of knowing that he’d be awarded the Nobel Prize the same year that Travels with Charley was published。 He was， and readers promptly catapulted this book to the top of the NYT Nonfiction Best Seller List in 1962。 Here we meet a more mature Steinbeck – one more ready to quip over and flex the cynicisms that color his more major works。 I’ll admit that it’s extremely charming， even comfortable， to read Steinbeck without a fictional filter。 While the steady pacing that readers have come to love is still here， though， a recreational vehicle can only burn the fuel of meandering spirit for so many miles。 Certain sections do， however， stand apart in this travelogue。 I’m genuinely excited when Steinbeck dedicates the time to make a focused treatment of a place。 In a particularly tremendous chapter on the “orgy” of dining and shooting at a friend’s ranch in Texas， John realizes that his Texan friends don’t “eat chili con carne or roast turkey every day” （184）。 Perhaps one of my problems with this book is that Steinbeck desperately wants to elide his characters under one umbrella of Americanness。 The most fascinating thing about it， then， is that it admits defeat both against its time and against its terms:“。。。the more I inspected this American image， the less sure I became of what it is。 It appeared to me increasingly paradoxical， and it has been my experience that when paradox crops up too often for comfort， it means that certain factors are missing in the equation” （186）。Although we certainly do travel with Charley， I’m not sure we find all that much。 Carson’s Silent Spring would take its spot atop the Nonfiction Best Seller List a week later。 His beloved poodle， though， is very cute。 。。。more
Lycan Davis
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To be honest， I found this book to be boring。 I know that it's a semi- autobiography by Steinbeck about a cross country trip that he took。 I just found it to be lifeless。 He's written books that are a lot better。 I'd recommend avoiding this one。 Just my opinion。 If you choose not to take my advice， it is a fast read。 To be honest， I found this book to be boring。 I know that it's a semi- autobiography by Steinbeck about a cross country trip that he took。 I just found it to be lifeless。 He's written books that are a lot better。 I'd recommend avoiding this one。 Just my opinion。 If you choose not to take my advice， it is a fast read。 。。。more
Megan Cooper
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Just beautiful prose， never overwrought， feeling effortless， and expressing exactly what I would want to say if only I were clever enough to think to say it that way。 A wonderful exploration of America， and a bit of a reminder that the more things change， the more they stay the same。 I would read this one again。 And maybe again。 I am so glad no one made me read this in high school--I might not have "discovered" it to love。 Just beautiful prose， never overwrought， feeling effortless， and expressing exactly what I would want to say if only I were clever enough to think to say it that way。 A wonderful exploration of America， and a bit of a reminder that the more things change， the more they stay the same。 I would read this one again。 And maybe again。 I am so glad no one made me read this in high school--I might not have "discovered" it to love。 。。。more
Robin Zink
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I took a long time to get into this book。 Then all of a sudden it grabbed me， and I couldn't put it down。 Steinbeck's musings on nationally and roots complimented an ongoing discussion Annie and I have been having about family and land。 I read her a few passages featuring poodle antics， which she understands very well。The conversations all seemed like Steinbeck talking to himself。 Characters shoot the same flavour of witticisms back and forth so relentlessly， I often got muddled as to which one I took a long time to get into this book。 Then all of a sudden it grabbed me， and I couldn't put it down。 Steinbeck's musings on nationally and roots complimented an ongoing discussion Annie and I have been having about family and land。 I read her a few passages featuring poodle antics， which she understands very well。The conversations all seemed like Steinbeck talking to himself。 Characters shoot the same flavour of witticisms back and forth so relentlessly， I often got muddled as to which one was who。 。。。more
Margaret
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This was a reread after many years from my personal collection。 john Steinbeck is my favorite author and my go-to when my desire is for classic comfort reading。
Marisa Bantjes
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Steinbeck's 1960 travelogue of a journey across America in a camper van accompanied by his dog Charley。 Steinbeck wanted to rediscover America with which he felt he had lost touch。 He hoped to find out some truth or secret of what the American identity might be。 He didn't find it。 And although at times he felt very American， and at least wanted to feel part of the land and the people he was rediscovering， he seems to me quite apart from it， an observer most of the time。 As he sets out people are Steinbeck's 1960 travelogue of a journey across America in a camper van accompanied by his dog Charley。 Steinbeck wanted to rediscover America with which he felt he had lost touch。 He hoped to find out some truth or secret of what the American identity might be。 He didn't find it。 And although at times he felt very American， and at least wanted to feel part of the land and the people he was rediscovering， he seems to me quite apart from it， an observer most of the time。 As he sets out people are envious of his quest。 Who wouldn't want to embark on such a trip of adventure and discovery， but sometimes， especially towards the end of the journey Steinbeck makes the trip sound like hard work， a chore to complete and be done with， and that is a pity for the romantic reader。The writing is beautiful， the descriptions of nature， surroundings and people are fresh and never outdated。 The book read as if written today， and I guess actually not much has changed in the more than sixty years since this trip was documented。 。。。more
Donald Schopflocher
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Written over 60 years， this travel memoir by a brilliant observer and brilliant writer at about an age I recognize， charmed me by returning me to my youth， by taking me back to places I visited after he had， by underlining what is the same， and by highlighting what is different， about America now。 Steinbeck’s interactions with his trusty canine companion， and some of those persons who crossed his path are intimate peeks into a simpler world， but not one with fewer problems or challenges。 Here to Written over 60 years， this travel memoir by a brilliant observer and brilliant writer at about an age I recognize， charmed me by returning me to my youth， by taking me back to places I visited after he had， by underlining what is the same， and by highlighting what is different， about America now。 Steinbeck’s interactions with his trusty canine companion， and some of those persons who crossed his path are intimate peeks into a simpler world， but not one with fewer problems or challenges。 Here too are his reflections on entering old age， and revelling in his solitude， though his internal life is most often only represented by his choice of topics， sometimes curmudgeonly， sometimes prophetic， sometimes humorous。 。。。more
Jane Sweatt
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I liked reading this book printed in 1961！ Noticing the thickness of the paper used to print this book with， John Steinbeck's language and all of the great imagery he used。 My grandfather read this book over and over， now I wished I had asked him why。 He wasn't a traveler but apparently liked reading and thinking about John Steinbeck's writing。 Read it and wonder。 Are we in a different place today December 17th， 2023？ Or not？J。 I liked reading this book printed in 1961！ Noticing the thickness of the paper used to print this book with， John Steinbeck's language and all of the great imagery he used。 My grandfather read this book over and over， now I wished I had asked him why。 He wasn't a traveler but apparently liked reading and thinking about John Steinbeck's writing。 Read it and wonder。 Are we in a different place today December 17th， 2023？ Or not？J。 。。。more
Deity World
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This was so beautiful a man goes on on a journey round the USA with Charley who is a French poodle I adore dogs and glad it was a happy emotional ending
William Weber
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I’d have actually bought that truck and moved to Montana， if I’d read this book during the summer of 2020。 Plainly stated: I absolutely love reading John Steinbeck！
Robyn
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4。5⭐️Great book！ There is no denying that Steinbeck truly has a way with words。 Beautiful writing— very interesting and raw story about his travels across the country。
tillie lefforge
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Sweet and entertaining， some interesting glimpses into the problems of america most pressing in the 60s， I love Charley， first half was better than the last half， can tell that Steinbeck was not satisfied with his own thoughts which surprisingly added a depth that I really appreciated。 Don’t read before reading Grapes of Wrath or Of Mice and Men or East of Eden or some great Steinbeck novel—this is much more rambling and you won’t appreciate it if you don’t already appreciate him
David Smeresky
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Honestly I am extremely surprised by this book。 Things that were said in it seem as relevant today as they did back in the 60s。 It was insightful， wonderfully prosed， and entertaining/depressing at the right times。 It did help to sate and speak to a wanderlust I have been fighting recently。 This is definitely courage me to go back and re-read some of Steinbeck‘s other work as the only time I ever have it was when I was in high school English class。
Andrew McClarnon
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Hard to think this journey predates the major moments of the Civil Rights movement， let alone Bill Bryson’s search for Amalgam， here we are on the road in 1960， already there’s concern about sprawl， ugliness and the rush of modern living。 There’s also conversations， coffee and canine concern。 A nice read but not the final word。
Sarah
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I very much enjoyed this。 Some of this made me laugh， was interesting or made me think。 My favorite bit was about how he doesn't understand everyone's obsession with Florida。 "But I do wonder if a down-Easter， sitting on a nylon and aluminum chair out on a changelessly green lawn slapping mosquitoes in the evening of a Florida October -I do wonder if the stab of memory doesn't strike him high in the stomach just below the ribs where it hurts。 And in the humid ever-summer I dare his picturing min I very much enjoyed this。 Some of this made me laugh， was interesting or made me think。 My favorite bit was about how he doesn't understand everyone's obsession with Florida。 "But I do wonder if a down-Easter， sitting on a nylon and aluminum chair out on a changelessly green lawn slapping mosquitoes in the evening of a Florida October -I do wonder if the stab of memory doesn't strike him high in the stomach just below the ribs where it hurts。 And in the humid ever-summer I dare his picturing mind not to go back to the shout of color， to the clean rasp of frosty air， to the smell of pine wood burning and the caressing warmth of kitchens。 For how can one know color in perpetual green， and what good is warmth without cold to give it sweetness？" 。。。more
Eduard
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2。5 Stars if you Audiobook it which I highly recommend with Gary Sinise reading。 This might be a bore to read otherwise。 Apparently， Steinbeck used a lot of creative license here making up many of the characters he 'met'。 Book seemed kind of fragmented （like a movie that jump cut from place to place）。 But a fairly decent travel log of Steinbeck's perspective on America driving across the country。 A very decent listen with Sinise narration。 Not something you need to listen to more than once thoug 2。5 Stars if you Audiobook it which I highly recommend with Gary Sinise reading。 This might be a bore to read otherwise。 Apparently， Steinbeck used a lot of creative license here making up many of the characters he 'met'。 Book seemed kind of fragmented （like a movie that jump cut from place to place）。 But a fairly decent travel log of Steinbeck's perspective on America driving across the country。 A very decent listen with Sinise narration。 Not something you need to listen to more than once though。 So this was ok， not bad but 2。5 stars。 For an entertaining 'drive across USA travel log' I recommend is John Waters "Carsick" audiobook with Waters reading it。 。。。more
Steph
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I loved this a lot more than I thought I would。 I’d never say， “I love Steinbeck，” but I did love East of Eden and truly I just admire his writing style。 It’s effortless to read。 I didn’t realize that this one was a memoir， but that made me enjoy it even more。 He traveled around the US for months and no one recognized him — that’s definitely my favorite detail！
Leslie Basney
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So historically significant yet very spot on for this day and age。
Galen Kydd
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this convinced me to buy a stupid huge car and hit the road。 a+
Logan DeJarlais
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Great road tripping story of America
Robbie Greenwell
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