Journal Entry 1 by HikingReader from Las Vegas, Nevada USA on Thursday, January 08, 2004

Read this one a long time ago, but it has to be one of the great travel narratives. Great writer travels across America--with dog- perfect! Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 2 by Mountainwren from Rockville, Maryland USA on Wednesday, January 14, 2004

Nifty! I've always wanted to read this book, and it arrived at my doorstep today as part of the travel bookbox. Thank you! 

Journal Entry 3 by Mountainwren from Rockville, Maryland USA on Thursday, April 14, 2005

I keep a record of daily quotations as I read. I scan the book where I stop reading each day, looking for insight, imagery, humor, or clever phrasing. Rarely am I disappointed!

April 14, 2005:
"Thus it was in Salinas, in the great dark walnut bookcase with the glass doors, there were strange and wonderful things to be found. My parents never offered them, and the glass door obviously guarded them, and so I pilfered from that case. It was neither forbidden nor discouraged. I think today if we forbade our illiterate children to touch the wonderful things of our literature, perhaps they might steal them and find secret joy."
page 38

April 15, 2005
"The new American finds his challenge and his love in traffic-choked streets, skies nested in smog, choking with the acids of industry, the screech of rubber and houses leashed in against one another while the townlets wither a time and die."
page 72

April 16, 2005
"Everywhere frantic growth, a carcinomatous growth. Bulldozers rolled up the green forests and heaped the resulting trash for burning. The torn white lumber from concrete forms was piled beside gray walls. I wonder why progress looks so much like destruction."
page 181

April 17, 2005
"When a man makes his fortune in oil or government contracts, in chemicals or wholesale groceries, his first act is to buy a ranch, the largest he can afford, and to run some cattle. A candidate for public office who does not own a ranch is said to have little chance of election. The tradition of the land is deep fixed in the Texas psyche."
page 230 

Journal Entry 4 by Mountainwren from Rockville, Maryland USA on Monday, April 18, 2005

Steinbeck's facility with language and keenness of observation had me nodding with recognition and smiling with wonder on nearly every page. What amazes me most is that he wrote the book after traveling the country nearly forty five years ago. Much of what Steinbeck and his loyal dog Charley observed on their journey, literally from sea to shining sea, still holds true today. And what doesn't hold true was often prophesied in Steinbeck's musings.

This book was meant to travel, and will be continuing on its own journey, heading clear across the country to Steinbeck's home state of California. I appreciate the chance to read it. 

Journal Entry 5 by caligula03 from Hayward, California USA on Saturday, April 30, 2005

Book has arrived. Thank you. 

Journal Entry 6 by caligula03 from Hayward, California USA on Monday, May 08, 2006

Still TBR but offering on http://bookrelay.com/relay.php?id=1326.

May 22: Reserved for SKingList. 

Journal Entry 7 by caligula03 from Hayward, California USA on Monday, July 03, 2006

Steinbeck may have been living on Long Island at the end of his life but he was still a Californian through and through. His travelogue, Travels with Charley of a trip around the continental United States in 1960, is written from a recognizable Californian perspective. Take for example his description of his custom built truck and camper shell which he dubs "Rocinante" and has the name painted in gothic lettering on the sides of the truck. Cars and trucks (especially) are still decorated with names in such a fashion.

While Steinbeck did cover most of the continental states in the course of his trip, he doesn't provide a blow-by-blow itinerary. Instead he lets the events of the trip inspire his writing. Sometimes he writes a faithful description of a place he has seen or a person he has met. Other time he writes an essay on a politics, or economics, or some other topic inspired by that point in the trip.

There are a couple chapters that focus on some medical problems that Charley the dog (a French poodle) suffered over the course of the trip. These chapters reminded me I & Claudius, a travelogue written by Clare de Vries about her trip across the United States with her cat. What is it about people traveling with their pets? 

Journal Entry 8 by caligula03 at on Monday, July 03, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (8/2/2006 UTC) at

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Mailing to SKingList to complete a relay offer. 

Journal Entry 9 by SKingList on Wednesday, August 09, 2006

WOw, Charley travelled very quickly to get from CA to NY in only two days :)

My friends who know my love of travel are always surprised that I haven't read this one, so I'm about to remedy it. I think its size is perfect for me to take along with me this weekend.

Thanks, caligula03! 

Journal Entry 10 by SKingList on Sunday, June 03, 2007

Not sure it made it with me that weekend, but in the interim this book has done a lot of travelling. It travelled with me to London last week and on to Prague. This weekend it ventured with me to Krakow and Auschwitz, where it was very well educated. I intended to finish it then but it got put aside in favor of "Night", which I'd never read. This book is still the perfect size and I imagine it will go with me tomorrow to Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad). More when I finish it. 

Journal Entry 11 by SKingList on Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Journal Entry 12 by SKingList on Sunday, June 10, 2007

Journal Entry 13 by SKingList at Hotel Positano - via Palestro in Roma, Lazio Italy on Sunday, June 10, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (6/10/2007 UTC) at Hotel Positano - via Palestro in Roma, Lazio Italy

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(Sorry to BCers in Roma if I chose the wrong 'Roma', there are far too many and I don't know the city that well)

I toyed with leaving this where I finished it (see photo in last entry) but I didn't have any stickies for an outside label and was worried about the elements. Instead I donated this to the bookshelf at Hotel Positano. It's on via Palestro off via Marghera near Termini if anyone wants to go hunting :)

I miss Rome!