John Steinbeck

[sloth]

Is he any good?

[sloth]

I mean, has he written any good books?

[SmoothPebble]

Yes - Grapes of Wrath, Mice and Men. (Dare I say) he's a little overrated, but worth a look. Definitely for Grapes, if nothing else.

[homer]

well, his did win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.. "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social perception". It is not necessarily easy reading, but he is regarded as having a brilliant mind and is certainly one of America's best-respected writers. Steinbeck (1902-1968), hailed from California, and his novels are centred on the poor. He wrote about the economic difficulties of rural labor. They are detailed, tought and touching. His most famous was The Grapes of Wrath, which featured a group of Oklahoma farmers who failed to earn enough to live on, so they moved to California, where they became casual labourers. There lots about him and other Nobel Prize-winning writers on: http://www.literature-awards.com/the_nobel_prize.h
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[PeteC]

Of Mice & Men is good, avoid The Grapes of Wrath - cack

[davver]

well I have to disagree with PeteC. The Grapes of Wrath is a fantastic novel, which could be why it was voted 9th greatest book of the 20th century.

[sloth]

Thank you everyone, that's all very handy!

[_josie_]

yes, i have only read two of his books though. Read The Pearl, it's quite short, but it's a good story and a good starting point if you're unsure whether you'll like him or not.

[beweypm]

I was disappointed with 'Mice and Men' - not a mouse anywhere