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forgottensecret's review
5.0
Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. If Casy knowed, why, I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad an’—I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry n’ they know supper’s ready. An’ when our folks eat the stuff they raise an’ live in the houses they build—why, I’ll be there. See? God, I’m talkin’ like Casy. Comes of thinkin’ about him so much. Seems like I can see him sometimes.
'The Grapes of Wrath' by John Steinbeck is a hot water bottle for concerns that fester in Western modern society. Any discontent about one's job, or the state of the world are slingshotted into perspective when we read the Joad's story.
The tale is simple. Due to failing industry in Oklahoma, the Joads have no choice but to pack up all their belongings to find work in California. The two standouts of the family are Tom, the recently released convict, and his mother, Ma. Other characters are critical to the work as well: Pa, the former reverend Casy, Ruthie, Winfield, Rose of Sharon, Al and Uncle John. Each of them are worth spending time with. Little by little, the optimism which is so bright at the start, dims by their confrontation with reality. Despite this, Tom and Ma uphold it all. Time and time again, they rally everyone into action. Late in the novel, I nearly cried when they both said goodbye to one another!
Several themes are tackled by Steinbeck in this work. The two that I found most intriguing were the kindness and cruelty of people. Some of the acts of kindness make you marvel at society - the Joads partnering up with the Wilsons. Other times, in particular, when they arrive in California, is how easily a people can be vilified. A difference in nationality or skin colour is not needed for loathing to grow.
The story ends in an open-ended note. We are left to ponder what happened to Tom and the family who were still alive.
Overall, this novel was proof yet again that some classics are classics for a reason. Exceptionally well written, and it makes me excited to dive further into Steinbeck's work.
'The Grapes of Wrath' by John Steinbeck is a hot water bottle for concerns that fester in Western modern society. Any discontent about one's job, or the state of the world are slingshotted into perspective when we read the Joad's story.
The tale is simple. Due to failing industry in Oklahoma, the Joads have no choice but to pack up all their belongings to find work in California. The two standouts of the family are Tom, the recently released convict, and his mother, Ma. Other characters are critical to the work as well: Pa, the former reverend Casy, Ruthie, Winfield, Rose of Sharon, Al and Uncle John. Each of them are worth spending time with. Little by little, the optimism which is so bright at the start, dims by their confrontation with reality. Despite this, Tom and Ma uphold it all. Time and time again, they rally everyone into action. Late in the novel, I nearly cried when they both said goodbye to one another!
Several themes are tackled by Steinbeck in this work. The two that I found most intriguing were the kindness and cruelty of people. Some of the acts of kindness make you marvel at society - the Joads partnering up with the Wilsons. Other times, in particular, when they arrive in California, is how easily a people can be vilified. A difference in nationality or skin colour is not needed for loathing to grow.
The story ends in an open-ended note. We are left to ponder what happened to Tom and the family who were still alive.
Overall, this novel was proof yet again that some classics are classics for a reason. Exceptionally well written, and it makes me excited to dive further into Steinbeck's work.
aristarcodisamo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Gun violence, Blood, Dementia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
rhubarbandflowers's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
sunsetsandstories's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
tylercasey16's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
brunes07's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
iamother's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I think the influence of this book and why it has stood the test of time is in its themes. Themes that are still relevant in our society today. Showing that even though some things may change a lot of things still remain the same. The author is able to firmly plant us in the environment of these people in the hopes that we would gain empathy for their plight. How given the circumstances, would we have behaved any differently? The author is deliberate in the way that it doesn’t make out people to be villains in these scenarios. In a micro sense the Joad family is dealing with people that impede their ability to provide for their loved ones, but in a macro sense this is all apart of some unnamed conglomerate’s desire to put profits above the human cost. It is why people can justify their actions because they are doing it in the service of their family rather than in service to some unfeeling company. Regardless if it hurts someone else in the process, something that society acknowledges that happens and ultimately accepts, that points to something more systemic. The Joad family represents what happens when the ideals our society portrays meet reality. When our faith is these systems is put to the test, will we remain steadfast? I think that’s why the question of religions was utilized heavily in this text through various characters. The way they struggle with their faith and what they have to do to survive. If the same actions that God would deem reprehensible are something that I can live with, was I even a Christian to begin with? Or was it just a relationship of convenience? The author’s use of the Joad family’s stay at the government camp along with the burning of another separate migrant camp shows the dichotomy that exists in government. That people have the potential for empathy and understanding but our worse instincts have to be curtailed with guardrails while in positions of power. I loved how the author presented each member of the family as having their own character flaws that they were struggling with however despite this they were willing to put them aside in service of the family. Especially the women of the family, namely the mother, acting as an anchor for them. Issues of wealth disparity, regionalism, migration, and educational gaps still persist in society and shows we still have so much still to work on. Also I liked this sentiment throughout that we have moved away from people helping others for the sake of helping instead of this idea that doing so somehow takes away from your family. That helping others is helping society as a whole instead of hoarding resources for ourselves just because we can. I also liked the subtlety of the writing style. The way the author was able to hint at the struggles and faults of the characters without being so overt with it. In a way it allows the reader to relate with the characters that much more because they are able to attach their own difficulties onto them.
pendularium's review
3.5
There are two wolves inside you, one of them loved the crushingly, depressingly real yet hopeful depiction of life for the rural poor during the Great Depression, and the other really really wants John Steinbeck to stop comparing things to breasts.
_traveler_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
beautifulminutiae's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, and Murder