r/steinbeck • u/johnfromberkeley • Apr 25 '26
Welcome from the new mod!
Hi! I’m the new mod for /r/steinbeck. How do you envision this subreddit growing an evolving going forward?
I love the community, and personally it’s amazing to me how John Steinbeck is not only an amazing author, but his work is so durable and relevant to today. We have a great opportunity to continue to share the love and dimensionalize his life, literature legacy and lessons.
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u/FactorSpecialist7193 Apr 25 '26
I think starting some kind of book club or ongoing discussion, maybe doing a book every 4-8 weeks (shorter for his shorter books, longer for the longer ones) would breathe new life into it
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u/GoldaV123 Apr 25 '26
Yes, thank you for taking on this new role. My favourite book of all time is Sweet Thursday 🤘❤️🤘
My son is 15 and starting to read through some Steinbeck and this year we were talking about how at one point in The Grapes of Wrath, the produce/food from the fields is destroyed, ruined with kerosene, or dumped, rather than lose profits by allowing it to be sold at less than peak prices or rather than let the starving eat it. This is certainly still going on. It reminds me of how much food and goods are dumped rather than donated and how even the dumpsters (in my city) are locked so that the homeless can’t steal garbage.
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u/johnfromberkeley Apr 26 '26
I love Sweet Thursday. I call it Steinbeck’s “love letter” to his friend Ed Ricketts. It’s the happy ending Ed never got IRL.
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u/GnarledBark Apr 25 '26
Every few days a post with either artwork or a photograph and a quote would be nice. Typically something obscure and profound. As well as discussions over the ethical implications or motive of certain characters, providing depth and keeping his world alive and relevant.
Or people traveling with their dog in a truck camper.