This site is an archive of ChiotsRun.com. For the latest information about Susy and her adventrures, visit the Cultivate Simple site.
Thank you for all your support over the years!

Something to Think About

June 21st, 2010

Every now and then I feel like sitting down with a good book, not just any good book, a good classic. My favorite author is John Steinbeck, I have never read a book of his that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed. He has such a wonderful way of writing that is perfectly descriptive, yet not too wordy. I like that his stories are true to life, not always ending happily and not every story works out neatly in the end. They are at times very harsh, but that’s what I love about them. I love that his endings have a way of making you think.

Yesterday I finally found some time to sit down with a cup of coffee and one of his books I haven’t read before, The Red Pony. I especially love the last last little short story in this book titled: Julias Maltby. It’s a wonderful story that makes you wonder about happiness and cultural norms and whether poverty has anything to do with money. This is why I love his books, they usually give me something great to think about and contemplate while I’m out working in the garden.

I have a few other books from the library on my “to read” pile and I can’t wait to find some time for them.

Who’s your favorite author? Do you love any of the classics?

24 Comments to “Something to Think About”
  1. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by mark mile, Susy Morris. Susy Morris said: Something to Think About http://goo.gl/fb/3Eec4 #aboutme #books #johnstenbeck #reading […]

    Reply to Tweets that mention Something to Think About | Chiot’s Run — Topsy.com's comment

  2. Sense of Home on June 21, 2010 at 8:36 am

    I don’t have a favorite author, but right now I am reading Jane Austen again (Pride and Prejudice), I just love the language and humor.
    .-= Sense of Home´s last blog ..Rhubarb Juice =-.

    Reply to Sense of Home's comment

  3. carla on June 21, 2010 at 9:18 am

    Steinbeck is one of my favorites, too. East of Eden may be the best book I have ever read.

    Reply to carla's comment

    • Susy on June 21, 2010 at 9:32 am

      I would have to say East of Eden if my favorite book of all time. I read it every couple years.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  4. Rose on June 21, 2010 at 9:37 am

    Gormenghast – I love the language Mervyn Peake uses but also the satirical statement he makes upon the decay of “traditions” especially in the context of royalty (which you’d have to live in the UK to appreciate fully) and the caricatures which, I think, we can all recognise in ourselves and others dear to us.
    .-= Rose´s last blog ..Stage 3 complete =-.

    Reply to Rose's comment

  5. Amy on June 21, 2010 at 9:39 am

    I have several favorite authors…..and am always reading many books at one time……I just finished Gone With The Wind(an education on the Civil War of which I did not get in HS) which surprised me……And now I am reading Eat Love and Pray and I really am not sure what I think or feel thus far…….Actually I normally ingest books rapidly but with this one…….I don’t read far before I need to ponder…..she is a good writer…..but my quandary is whether I like or care enough about her to go on……if that makes any sense:)

    Reply to Amy's comment

    • Lynn on June 22, 2010 at 12:03 pm

      Amy, I totally agree with you on this book. I didn’t finish it.

      Reply to Lynn's comment

  6. megan on June 21, 2010 at 10:14 am

    Junius Maltby is my favorite story of all–I’ve always loved it and go back to read it every few years! Like you, I’ve never read a Steinbeck that I didn’t like. Have you read The Pastures of Heaven, yet? It’s my other favorite.
    .-= megan´s last blog ..Canadian County =-.

    Reply to megan's comment

    • Susy on June 21, 2010 at 10:29 am

      Pastures of Heaven is on my pile right now, I’m going to start it today.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  7. megan on June 21, 2010 at 10:18 am

    *well, not other really, but the rest of my favorite…you know what I mean. :)
    .-= megan´s last blog ..Canadian County =-.

    Reply to megan's comment

  8. Amy @ Homestead Revival on June 21, 2010 at 10:55 am

    I’m another Jane Austen fan. Love her works; I only wish there were more! I’ve also be reading some children’s classics along with my kids for homeschool. They’re so good, even adults enjoy them – thus the reason they are classics, yes?
    .-= Amy @ Homestead Revival´s last blog ..Need More Space In Your Home? =-.

    Reply to Amy @ Homestead Revival's comment

  9. lee on June 21, 2010 at 11:21 am

    If I have to pick only one, then it would be Isaac Bashevis Singer.

    Reply to lee's comment

  10. Ivan on June 21, 2010 at 12:58 pm

    I have to be careful with Steinbeck, especially during these tough times. I get so frustrated and angry with the human condition. It takes me two weeks to wind down for reading The Grapes of Wrath!

    Reply to Ivan's comment

    • Susy on June 21, 2010 at 2:39 pm

      Very true.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  11. Morgan G on June 21, 2010 at 1:44 pm

    My favorite author is Cormac McCarthy. He describes everything – from the flicker of a single candle flame to an old horse saddle – with raw, yet beautiful prose. I started with All the Pretty Horses and haven’t stopped.
    .-= Morgan G´s last blog ..So there’s these new chicks at work… =-.

    Reply to Morgan G's comment

  12. Tommy on June 21, 2010 at 2:18 pm

    Hemingway is my favorite, closely followed by Steinbeck and Oscar Wilde.
    I just finished To A God Unknown. Have you read that Steinbeck novel? It’s a good one, talking about earth and the power of the land, etc., basically worshipping the land as a form of power….

    Reply to Tommy's comment

    • Susy on June 21, 2010 at 2:38 pm

      I just finished Hemingway’s “The Short Happy like of Francis Marcomber”. I have “To A God Unknown” on my to read pile right now, can’t wait.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  13. Marlyn on June 21, 2010 at 2:51 pm

    I am a Steinbeck fan as well! The last time I read GoW I was lying in a hotel room in Rome, burning with fever from a kidney infection. That was a surreal experience to say the least — I thought I was one of the Joads in my hallucinations!

    My favorite writers of novels are probably Thomas Pynchon and Heinrich Boll. I am also a big poetry reader and love e.e. cummings.

    Right now I am reading:
    Sacred and Herbal Healing Bears, Stephen Harrod Buhner
    Storycatcher, Christina Baldwin
    Shaman, Healer, Sage, Alberto Villoldo
    and
    Winter House, Charlotte Moss

    This last one, I would have finished long ago if I could find it! I think it has either gotten buried in a basket of the girls’ books or left at the cabin. Boo!
    .-= Marlyn´s last blog ..Role Reversals, Funky Formulas, Summer Salutations, and Piles of Peas =-.

    Reply to Marlyn's comment

  14. Kelly on June 21, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    I have to admit, I am not a huge Steinbeck fan. I really tried to love him, but I find him the exact opposite: much too wordy, way too descriptive narrative. His writing style totally takes me out of the story. But, I LOVE the movies that have been made out of his books (for the most part). I think it’s because I don’t have to wade through all that descriptive narrative, but the story and the people are still there, and his stories are great.

    My favourite classics are the mid-20th century ones: On The Road, Fahrenheit 451, Catcher In The Rye… I reread those like they’re going out of style, and there’s always something new every time I read them that I never picked up on before.
    .-= Kelly´s last blog ..Weekly Flora: (Not So) Common Sage =-.

    Reply to Kelly's comment

    • Susy on June 21, 2010 at 8:19 pm

      Oh, Fahrenheit 451 is a good one! I don’t think I’ve ever read Catcher in the Rye, I’ll have to add that to my list.

      Reply to Susy's comment

      • Tommy on June 22, 2010 at 12:55 pm

        Catcher In the Rye is one of my top 5 favorites. I usually re-read it every few years. Salinger is unbelievable in this work! I also love his short stories about the Glass family. Cutting and poignant!

        to Tommy's comment

  15. Brittany Noel on June 21, 2010 at 10:47 pm

    “Prodigal Summer” by Barbara Kingsolver is such a great book. I don’t know if you’ve already read it and are revisiting, but I read a few of her books last summer and just love her. I’m reading “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” right now and I think “Prodigal Summer” will be next. Haven’t read Steinbeck, but I’ve been wanting to read “Grapes of Wrath”. Thanks for the reminder :)

    Reply to Brittany Noel's comment

  16. Lynn on June 22, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    O. Henry.

    Reply to Lynn's comment

  17. Kylee from Our Little Acre on June 23, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    I see you have Barbara Kingsolver’s “Prodigal Summer.” She’s one of my favorite authors! I also love Jodi Picoult and Elizabeth Berg. Favorite classic? Not sure, but I did love “Lost Horizon” by James Hilton.
    .-= Kylee from Our Little Acre´s last blog ..Throw a Garden Party! =-.

    Reply to Kylee from Our Little Acre's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

Admin
Read previous post:
Quote of the Day: Marilyn Monroe

"Imperfection is beauty. Madness is genius. It's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." ~ Marilyn Monroe Do something...

Close