I’ve read a few of John Steinbecks books and it always amazes me how his writing leaves me with a feeling. I can’t remember the details of the book but the feeling of the characters, the smell of the streets, ocean, cheap wine, smoke from the fire place, dirt roads, the rising sun on your skin, the pine forrest still lingers.
After having reads hundreds of books in my life so far, I still can’t put words on what it is in his writing that just makes me completely absorbed when reading his books. I literally fell like a fly on the wall or a bystander.
Back to the Tortilla Flat (1935) the story revolves around the main character Danny and his friends in the books mentioned as paisanos living in Tortilla Flat in the outskirts of Monterey and actually working really hard to work as little as possible. The group of friends only own the shirt on their back until Danny inherits two houses. The freedom Danny knew from his days where he slept under the stars slowly began to decrease. He felt the weight of having to think of the house that he rents to his friends.
Their friendship goes way back and seem to be for life. On the other hand they can easily argue why one of the friends should have a good beating. They have their own set of unwritten rules and some things in a friendship is sacred to them. As an example, it is strictly forbidden to steal the Pirates money, but it is ok not to pay rent to Danny.
It is a very humorous book and it easily brings a smile to your face. Eventhough it seems to be a light and funny book it stills shows the difference between the poor paisanos living in Tortilla Flat compared to the people in Monterey, the difference in way of life. But also how important friendship is to people, what friends will do for each other.
It’s a beautiful book!