SWEET THURSDAY

SWEET THURSDAY by John Steinbeck

From the back of the book:

In Monterey, on the California coast, Sweet Thursday is what they call the day after Lousy Wednesday, which is one of those days that is just naturally bad.  Returning to the scene of CANNERY ROW, the weedy lots and junk heaps and flophouses of Monterey, John Steinbeck once more brings to life the denizens of a netherworld of laughter and tears - from Fauna, new headmistress of the local brothel, to Hazel, a bum whose mother must have wanted a daughter.

I read CANNERY ROW last week and loved it.  This book was just as good.  The mixed-up adventures of Mack and Eddie and Hazel - residents of the Palace Flophouse - continue, culminating in a fixed raffle and a masquerade party where everyone is expected to be a character from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  Doc, the marine biologist, is trying to write a paper about the emotional state of octopi.  Fauna is teaching manners and etiquette to the ladies of her establishment.  Joseph and Mary Rivas (that's his name!) takes over Lee Chong's grocery store.  And Suzy enters town and changes everything.

There was a movie made in 1982 - Cannery Row - starring Nick Nolte and Debra Winger which combines these two books.  I'm not especially fond of movies, but this is one that I really want to watch.  I'm ordering the DVD tonight!