Reviews

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

ovenbird_reads's review

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5.0

Mind. Blown.

I often avoid "the classics." After being forced to read so many books that were developmentally irrelevant as a teenager in highschool I have often given the classics a pass. But this book came up in the writing of a few authors I deeply admire so I thought I would give it a try. I was completely transfixed. The Grapes of Wrath is, of course, about the Dust Bowl, but it could so easily apply to our own times with the great unrest in the American south, environmental refugees beginning to shift over the globe, and political refugees pouring over the borders. There was so much in this story that could be about problematic race relations today and resonates with the intense protectionist measures being touted by Trump.

The deep relevance of this book makes me sad to some degree. People are suffering in similar ways now and it seems that we have not evolved much socially when it comes to helping the downtrodden. There is still hatred and fear of "the other" and huge communities of people who have been forced from their homes for a variety of upsetting reasons.

But the extraordinary, flawed, loyal, and persistent humanity at the core of this book provides an ongoing thread of hope that might be visible even now. These characters are exquisite. Perfect in their deep imperfection.

And Steinbeck writes with a masterful style and rhythm. From a purely formal level this book sings, and stamps its feet on the ground in time to the slow march of migrants and the repetitive motion of picking peaches, picking cotton. There is so much poetry to be found in these pages. I'm so grateful I took on the 600+ pages of this book. It was absolutely worth the investment and will go on my "to re-read" list. Can't believe I missed this one for so long.

electric_death_'s review

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dark emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

katymorsony's review

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

wunderkindl's review against another edition

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3.0

I picked this book up because I thought, "I should have read this book in high school, but failed to do". The length of time it took me to read this book (about a year), probably is a good estimation of my unenthusiastic response to the book.

I loved the parts about the Dust Bowl in the beginning and the visual language describing farming or life conditions that are wedged in between the chapters about the Joads. Which brings me to the Joads...I felt sorry for the struggle, but I struggled through their saga.

Glad I read it, but not one of my favorites.

sammyric's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

yycreading's review against another edition

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challenging sad medium-paced

4.0

_dustypage_'s review

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5.0

One of the best and saddest books I’ve ever read

innipinni's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0

Joka luulee, että Nobelin voittaneiden kirjat ovat liian vaikeita luettavaksi, ei voisi olla enempää väärässä. Onhan tämä kiistattomasti pitkä, mutta ei hiukkaakaan luotaan työntävä. 
Ihailen suunnattomasti sitä tapaa, jolla samaan kirjaan yhdistetään naturalistinen, jopa groteski tarinankuljetus, impressionistinen tapa kuvailla pölykulhon aiheuttamia seurauksia ja lopulta päällimmäiseksi jäävä, melkein mytologiaa synnyttävä symbolismi. 
Steinbeck onnistuu kuvaamaan hahmoja niin, että hiljalleen Tomista syntyy intuitiivisesti vanhan testamentin profeettojen kaltaisena totuudenpuhuja ja Saaronin Ruusu on kuin onkin Neitsyt Maria, joka Jeesus-lapsen sijaan suojelee rinnallaan jokaista Dust Bowlin uhria. Mikään ei ratkea lopussa, sen sijaan syntyy jotain tärkeämpää, pyhä viha epäoikeudenmukaisuutta vastaan.  

evmondo's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Who knew the Great Depression could be so depressing. Hideously gorgeous. Gruesomely informative. Hauntingly relevant to American capitalism 100 years later. Immensely powerful work about the necessity of connection, understanding, love, persistence, character, and generosity in the face of overwhelming, violent, and corrupt systemic oppression in a rotting world

gabrielleh8934's review against another edition

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challenging sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25