Every time I do a re-read of it I find something new. It's crazy-weird! To quote Steinbeck's intro:I loved that book in high school... read it on my own because we were never assigned it...
'Dear Pat,
You came upon me carving some kind of little figure out of wood and you said "Why don't you make something for me?"
I asked you what you wanted, and you said "A box."
"What for?"
"To put things in."
"What things?"
"Whatever you have," you said.
Well, here's your box. Nearly everything I have is in it, and it is not full. Pain and excitement are in, and feeling good or bad and evil thoughts and good thoughts - the pleasure of design and some despair and the indescribable joy of creation.
And on top of these are all the gratitude and love I have for you.
And still the box is not full.
John.'
This book is a treasure!
This intro reminds me of the one Steve has in The Stand:
'For Tabby,
This dark chest of wonders.'
I always find something new in this one, too.