The Grapes of Wrath (Pulitzer Prize Winner) by John Steinback
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Web ID: 15625345Classic
I remember in high school having the choice of reading The Grapes of Wrath or To Kill a Mockingbird for class. I chose the latter. I was glad, too. I actually read Mockingbird and genuinely liked it. I also remember after we read the books, the students who read The Grapes of Wrath were all a-twitter about *that* final scene. Now that I've read it... I understand. Let me say this right at the top: I do not believe this should be required reading in school. No, it shouldn't be banned. I don't believe in banning books. What I'm saying is that I appreciated this book a lot more as an adult than I ever could have as a high schooler. As much as I believe The Great Gatsby should be read while you're younger and full of dreams, The Grapes of Wrath should be read when you're older and wiser... and weary? Less than a year before reading this, I got my first introduction to John Steinbeck in Of Mice and Men. That was a short one, but it was good and lit a fire under me to read this one. All I really remember going in was that it takes place during the Great Depression, specifically during a period known as the Dust Bowl. The book follows the Joad family as they migrate from Oklahoma to find work in California. Young Tom, fresh out of prison (for murder; justifiable murder), is looking for a new start. When he hears about opportunities in California, he's ready to get out of the state and hit the road. And thus begins this road-trip epic. But Planes, Trains and Automobiles this is not. This is a long, sad story full of death and disappointment. It was fascinating to see the lengths that people would go to for their families. It's not like people were lazy. Quite the opposite - people wanted work! And even if they were told ahead of time that certain work was a sham, well, work is work. The pay may not be fair, but it will buy some food for dinner. Out of all the tribulations, the Joads are the epitome of kind-hearted souls. They barely had room for the immediate family, but they bring others along. They don't have enough food for the family, but they feed the hungry. Sadly, we also have to deal with the reality that there are people in the world who see fit to arrest someone just because, beat a preacher to death, or treat workers like prisoners or worse, slaves. It is amazing to me that this country was able to raise itself out of this period of history. Although, I would argue that there are many in this country today that are much like the Joads - Have-Nots, mistreated by the Haves, willing to work, but not given much of a chance... I won't talk about the ending here except to note that I had forgotten what my high school friends said about it until I was upon it. And that just so happens to be on the last page of this great novel. I shouldn't forget to note this won the Pulitzer Prize. I've read a few Pulitzer winners and, although they tend to be sad, I'm never disappointed. Oh and side note: I hated those kids, Ruthie and Winfield. Ruthie can't keep her mouth shut when it's most important and Winfield just good for nothing. Given that this is an American classic, I feel like I should give it 5 stars. However, I have to settle with a 4. A big reason behind this was how it ends after Ruthie opens her big mouth. Although Rose of Sharon is truly a saint, I didn't care about her like I did for Tom. I almost would have liked some kind of epilogue talking about his life after the events that ended his journey with this family.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Book review for average story
Paulo Coelho writes about a young man named Santiago who is a shepherd. He has a dream about finding his personal treasure at the Pyramids in Egypt. He displays courage and determination to find out what this treasure is by selling his sheep and travels to Africa. Along the way he will meet several people who will direct him toward that treasure. The Alchemist is the last person he meets who inspires him to complete his journey. He comes to believe in fate and personal legends. People will either love the simplicity of this story or be bored. One has to read with an open mind. This novel has a theme of if you are trying hard to find something, its usually in front of you.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Well worth reading
I was supposed to read this classic as a senior in high school. Instead, I read the Cliff’s Notes version. Knowing what I know now, I would have read this book on its own. It stands as one of the greatest pieces of fiction in the English language, certainly one of the greatest pieces set in America. Steinbeck rightfully won a Pulitzer Prize for it, and eighty years later, it evokes deep feelings of human dignity. Set in the Depression-era western United States, this story tells of a family who leaves their farm in Oklahoma since the so-called Dust Bowl has trampled opportunities for farmers. They leave for California, which promises a land of plenty and of high wages for migrant workers. The land-of-plenty part turned out to be true, but the economy was caught in the unhealthy effects of a two-class system, filled with oligarchy and collusion. With this economic backdrop, Steinbeck then explores the variegated cultural dynamics surrounding migrant workers in California. Hoovervilles, government camps, and other migrant settings fill their journey. In a dramatic final scene, this family conveys human dignity to strangers despite being universally demeaned in the California economy by greedy landlords. Steinbeck captures it all in this moving classic. He fills every-other chapter with a depersonalized story of the land. This functions to increase the intrigue and heighten the drama. It’s easy to see why this has been called a quintessential American story. It involves many themes that constituted twentieth-century life. While certainly not hopeful, this tale still pulls in sentiments of a deep humanity. In an age where Americans seem at each others’ throats with political strife, this book can remind us of the simple virtue of doing good to our neighbors.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
I'm so so sorry
I am an avid reader, last year I finished over 100 books. I read this book in high school, and I hated it so much. I've tried to reread it a couple times because I am, in general, a fan of Steinbeck. Of Mice in Men is truly one of my favorite books, and I'll never forget Cannery Row. But Lord, for me, this book was as dry as the dust bowl itself. I went so far as to recommend to my old HS English teacher that she trade out this book for The Things They Carried on her syllabus
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Pretty Good
Pretty good. Got better in the second half, though a lot of questions went unanswered. What happened to everybody?
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