It is easy to understand why theater companies return to the works of John Steinbeck as often as they do. Coming to prominence in the midst of the 1930s depression, he has written quintessential stories about the little guy; lower class people whose dreams are prosaic, come from humble means and who possess huge hearts. Most people are familiar with the last two books of his "Dustbowl Trilogy," Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men, both of which could frequently be seen produced by theater companies looking for a reliable way to connect with an audience. more ›

When we mentioned to a friend that we're re-reading John Steinbeck's Travels With Charley, the friend remarked that he knew another reading same. With summer approaching, maybe the greatest of all American road-trip travelogues (sorry, Kerouac) is just the thing to whet one's appetite for the season of travel. more ›

Meteorologists are predicting heavy snow this Friday for north King County and the mountains, and if that isn't worthy of an exclamation point then we're not sure what is! Snow means, of course, sitting inside with peanut butter hot chocolate and thinking dreamy philosophical thoughts about individuality (snowflakes, etc.) or James Bond (On Her Majesty's Secret Service). It means reading Snow by Orhan Pamuk, A Winter's Love by Madeleine L'Engle, or The Winter Of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck. more ›