Brown Baggers read and discussed John Steinbeck’s “Travels with Charley: In Search of America” in April with two group members facilitating the discussion.  This non-fiction title describes the adventures of Steinbeck and his poodle named Charley as they road-tripped across 1960 America in a specially made camper.  

Steinbeck was in failing health just prior to the trip and this was his last adventure.  Traveling with his dog Charley drew people to Steinbeck and he surely interacted with more people during the trip due to Charley.  One reader was not sure if she had met Steinbeck that she would have liked him as he seems to have a high opinion of himself.  Others felt that while Steinbeck showed some bias in his writing about his interactions and observations, he tried to stay neutral. 

Our readers found the conversations very dynamic and the dialogue seemed very natural. Some readers laughed out loud over certain passages.  Several were reading this title for the second time and enjoyed it more on the 2nd read.

Readers recommended Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men; East of Eden is also a favorite of many.

Readers observed that Steinbeck seemed disappointed in what he found as he traveled.

If you were going on a trip to discover America, where would you go? What would you do? How would you get there?

Upcoming Brown Baggers selections:

• May 16 – Sapphira and the Slave Girl by Willa Cather
• June 20, 2024: Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane 
• July 18, 2024: The Plot Against America by Philip Roth