The Winter of Our Discontent | 
pickRead in January.
It‘s no surprise that this Steinbeck was a pick as I have enjoyed almost all I have read so far.* Ethan Allen Hawley comes from a wealthy old New England family, but there is no longer wealth, just a name and the home he shares with his wife and 2 children. Ethan is a grocery store clerk and is scrupulously honest. Until one spring/summer, when he sets in to motion a plan to restore a little of that wealth. #MyPartnerPickedIt
pick“The Winter of Our Discontent”, technically it‘s a reread but because it‘s been more than 20 years it read almost like a new story. A story of a man lost between a glorious past of his ancestors and brutal present of not only his diminished status, but also a struggle to gain his place in the world. He finds out he can take certain steps to make gain but nothing comes without price. I loved this book before and I loved it now.
pickSteinbeck‘s last novel had been sitting unread on my shelves for years until #authoramonth gave me the incentive to finally pick it up. While it did not unseat my favorites of his, it did remind my why I have listed as one of my favorite authors for decades. #booked2023 #inmemoriam
It‘s Steinbeck‘s birthday today! He is one of my favorite authors and I‘m really excited to read the tagged book for March‘s #authoramonth! Happy reading, everyone!
pickThe first Steinbeck novel I‘ve read for some time and a reminder of why he made such an impact on me as a young reader. His final novel is a tale of morality and what a man is prepared to sacrifice in order to enjoy money and success. There‘s a clear moral message that in a lesser writer‘s hands could feel forced. With Steinbeck it builds in a taut, tense developing story around characters who feel painfully real.
pickAnother excellent book by Steinbeck. This one is a bit slower, but the way he writes about relationships and human nature is so accurate still today. Greed, dishonesty, love, and friendship are all explored as this slightly dark novel unfolds revealing the ugliness of the human condition.
I have to say, he's definitely one of my favorite authors.
Late in posting the October wrap-up! Slower month as I also started War and Peace early on. All really good reads this month, topped off be Steinbeck who never disappoints me. #octoberwrapup
pickSteinbeck has never disappointed me. The Winter of our Discontent is much shorter than, slower to develop than, and not as complex as East of Eden nor are the secondary characters fleshed out as thoroughly, but the story is gripping and the moral degeneration of the main character, Ethan Allen Hawley was something to experience.
The novel gets progressively darker as it goes on and I thought the ending was perfect. A great work.
Steinbeck‘s last novel. Good stuff per usual.
For me: ☕️ < 🍵 < 🥃. I‘ve only had one cup of coffee in my life, I‘m certainly a caffeine anomaly. Love my tea and whiskey, though,
pickI thought this one started out slow, for a Steinbeck book, but I really enjoyed how it all gathered speed and came together at the end. I think this is best described as a book of ironies. Ethan Allen Hawley is a conflicted man, wanting to break free from humble life, sometimes with questionable motives and methods.
"When the fair gold morning of April stirred Mary Hawley awake, she turned over to her husband and saw him, little fingers pulling a frog mouth at her."
#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl
pickThis is the first Steinbeck novel I read and I became a fan immediately. The Winter of Our Discontent has some of the best character development I've seen in a story, and Steinbeck creates tension and release beautifully. This book displays the talent that has made Steinbeck one of the greats.
#Steinbeck #classics #thewinterofourdiscontent
pickThis is one of the few Steinbeck books that I never read. But, living through this 2020 pandemic made me think of the title of this book. I know they have nothing to do with each other but I just kept thinking “the winter of our discontent“ over and over. So I guess the universe was nudging me to read this book next. Plus, you can‘t go wrong with Steinbeck.
1960 was Ethan Allen Hawley‘s winter of discontent. 2020 is/was mine.
My local library has a display pushing Steinbeck books to its visitors. When I was in my late teens Steinbeck was one of my favorite authors - maybe it‘s time to revisit some of his novels? 📕📗📘😊😊
pickThis was nothing like any of the other Steinbeck novels I‘ve read, except that the characterization was really well done. I felt the foreboding throughout the entire book and I was hoping so much that things would work out for Ethan because I loved him. So much! He had such a good heart and wanted to make something of his life, but he went about it all wrong. I need to talk about the ending to someone!!!
I love how all of Steinbeck's books have such different voices. The Winter of our Discontent is a story of a man's ethical quandary and its effect on his family.
#riotgrams, #day3, #favoritetitle, Late at getting this posted, but always loved this title. Like the story too.
Steinbeck is one of my top three favorite authors! I have a favorite book, I always thought people were insane when they‘d ask if I did until I read East of Eden. I‘ve so many more of his novels to read including TWOOD. Are you a Steinbeck fan? Do you have a favorite? #repost #litsy #steinbeck
Bread and cheese, bread and cheese; when a man marries he lives in the trees. with apologies to John Steinbeck. #bread #cheese #grilledcheese #comfortfood #cozylunch #pickles #rubikscube
Day 22:A Book📖when I feel I might not make it-Steinbeck is my ultimate go to, especially when I‘m feeling distressed or down in the dumps or need reflection etc. This book is one of many of his that I find a beautiful solace in♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ #SurvivingDecember #BookTherapy #PhotoChallenge #Day22
“To be alive at all is to have scars.” #scarstoyourbeautiful #tuneintonovember
September line up! I've been waiting to read Out of Africa for forever, but I've heard rave reviews about Stoner, and I am a huge Steinbeck fan, so hoping it's going to be a good month!
I got some of my Steinbeck's back from my mum. East of Eden is the TV-tie in. And yes I have that movie. And The Winter of Our Discontent is in the editions that I am collecting.
"Farewell has a sweet sound of reluctance. Good-by is short and final, a word with teeth sharp to bite through the string that ties past to the future."
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"I shall revenge myself in the cruelest way you can imagine. I shall forget it."
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?was taken this past winter
#johnsteinbeck #thewinterofourdiscontent #bookquotes #currentreads #farewell #goodbyes #igreads
#summerwinterreads #junebookbugs
While I do have a weakness for holiday books, I will read whatever whenever including Christmas books in summer.
"All men are moral. Only their neighbors are not." - John Steinbeck from 'The Winter of Our Discontent'
I couldn't find any more books #publishedinthe1960s on my shelves, but I bet there's more. Fortunately, the ones I did find I have either liked or loved, so doing okay in that respect! 👍
#AprilBookShowers
#marchintoreading Day 20 I haven't read this one yet, but my husband recommends it. It's his second favorite Steinbeck, tied with In Dubious Battle. The Grapes of Wrath is his favorite. #aseasoninthetitle #randomhusbandrecommendations
#marchintoreading #seasonintitle day 20
A few TBRs! *Winter* and *summer* seem to be much more popular in titles rather than *spring* or *autumn/fall*.. fall's my favorite 😔
@RealLifeReading
Please go away, snow and ice!
#marchintoreading #aseasoninthetitle
@RealLifeReading
"No man really knows about other human beings. The best he can do is to suppose they are like himself."
This entire passage contains some of the most beautiful, melancholy, loving thoughts I've ever read. ?????????
With all the books I've brought home lately, I really need to follow the example set by @Liberty and do some #springcleaning . But this shelf stays. Along with the My Little Ponies and the sheepie dog. Because I'm apparently still an 8 yr old girl inside. And I'm ok with that. 😄
pickA brutally pessimistic commentary on the American Dream and the lengths to which one must go to attain success. Steinbeck makes a deeply cynical case for moral consequentialism, suggesting that man must inevitably "tromp on each other" to get ahead and that ultimately it's worthwhile since western society values strength and success over virtue and decency. A necessary and scathing critique of American ideals that feels relevant today.
