I may have said this before, and if so, it is still true as before. You can’t go wrong with Steinbeck. Maybe it is because I’m a California boy myself, but for practical damn good books, Steinbeck is the man!
I read Travels with Charley the best possible way. While I was unable to recreate the journey that Steinbeck takes in the book, I was able to listen to the audiobook while traveling up the California coast. The best part of my trip, aside from listening to some great writing was that I got to stop at the Steinbeck museum. That’s right, he has his own museum. He is the only American writer to have his own museum in America.
Rocinante is what Steinbeck named his truck that he traveled in. It is also the name on Don Quixote’s horse. The museum in Salinas has his truck on display even including a replica of his dog Charley in the front passenger seat. You can also see the inside of the camper (shown below):
The book was marvelous. I heartily give it a 5/5. Again, it follows Steinbeck on a trip across America. A trip he felt he needed to take to reacquaint himself with the American people. He felt he had lost his relationship with the common man and the trip was a way to rekindle that relationship.
