John Steinbeck is the master of creating very humane and touching stories. His descriptions of the nature and the people are quite extraordinary. You can really tell that he studied biology, the nature parts were some of my favorites in this book, but I know others might find them somewhat boring. The characters feel lovable and real, having interesting personalities and obscure life styles. You might not like everything they do, but you do like them. The focus in Cannery Row is in human nature, not in a complex plot, which proceeds quite slowly. That is something I enjoy, as everything Steinbeck does seems to be.