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eraserharris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, and Death
everyatom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I felt the big swell of the message. Where the Joads' story and pains
I'll be thinking of this book for years. Can almost guarantee. Just sits deeply in me and feels magnificent in scope, message, and pain.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
An unnamed dog is hit in the road and dies in the first part of the booksundayfever's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Classism, Violence, Animal death, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Police brutality, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Minor: Racial slurs
kristiniad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, Animal death, Murder, Child death, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Vomit
Minor: Death of parent
meanbeanreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Violence
Minor: Animal death
menomica's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
We can’t depend on it. The bank—the monster has to have profits all the time. It can’t wait. It’ll die. No, taxes go on. When the monster stops growing, it dies. It can’t stay one size.
Reading this book made me fall out of love with reading. It made me give up my no dnf goal for the year. It’s not a bad story, and John Steinbeck is a good storyteller in his own right, but he definitely is not a good writer. I do like the way he portrays events effecting the Joads as effecting the rest of the migrants into California; the only problem is he is just really bad at prose and syntax.
Also, in the words of femkereindeer, I never want to read this man talk about a woman’s body ever again, thank you very much. Like my god, this is so creepily horny for all the female characters in this book, or very weirdly sexualizes them.
I think it’s weird how this book got flack for being communist propaganda when it was literally just like «poor ppl got fuck over domestically because of capitalist practices that denied ppl access to basic needs like food and shelter, not because of lack of access but because of lack of capital» which is, exactly what happened!
Tom was kinda funny cause he really would just say whatever and not give a fuck. Love that for him.
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Violence and Death
Minor: Racial slurs, Vomit, Miscarriage, and Animal death
surdiablo's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
So Grapes of Wrath focuses on the Great Depression and the mass migration that happened during that era. We read about the Joads family embarking on such a long journey towards California after losing their land and the several hardships faced by them during and after the aforementioned journey. It's definitely one of the most immersive novels I have ever read, since as I felt as if I was with them throughout the whole time, witnessing everything first-hand, sharing their pain. The prose is nothing short of amazing ( ofc it's bloody Steinbeck we are talking about so that was never in question! ) and everything just felt so raw and real. I have never empathized with a family so swiftly and wholeheartedly like I did in this novel, and I think Steinbeck nails the characterization, dialogue and atmosphere in such a way that even the people that appeared for a short time managed to instill such a keen sense of sadness in me due to how real it felt. I never really cried at any part ( which is extremely rare when it comes to books anyway ) but there were several moments that left me either shocked or devastated, like when
The only thing I would consider as a drawback ( which personally isn't a drawback for me since I find it powerful and it fits the theme very well ) is that the somewhat 'meta commentary' can occasionally feel a bit heavy-handed. I can see people considering this book simply a tirade against Capitalism or as Communist propaganda only, but I think there's more to it than all that. For me it's about the everlasting hope and persistence, that innate goodness within us, helping people even during our worst moments ( signified further by that ending ). It also shines light upon how hard people suffered back then, how hard refugees these days may suffer, and how easily they can be dehumanized ( I feel like we could always use more empathy when it comes to these matters in general anyway ). Steinbeck acted as a voice for those unfortunate souls back then, and considering the current affairs, it remains eternally relevant. This quote below is a favorite of mine and conveys the message way better than I ever could.
"Fear the time when the bombs stop falling while the bombers live—for every bomb is proof that the spirit has not died. And fear the time when the strikes stop while the great owners live—for every little beaten strike is proof that the step is being taken. And this you can know—fear the time when Manself will not suffer and die for a concept, for this one quality is the foundation of Manself, and this one quality is man, distinctive in the universe."
I think it's safe to say this novel is gonna stay in my mind for a while.. Can't wait to read East of Eden one day but I will get to Cannery Row and other novellas before that, saving the best for last.
Graphic: Animal death and Death
Moderate: Murder, Miscarriage, and Racial slurs
gabriella_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Let me start with the problems.
I have some critiques. First - I felt like it didn’t capture the breadth of displaced Americans for the time. Second - It was very white-centric and seemed to buy into Manifest Destiny shit. I take major issue with both of these. These are my narrative issues
Clearly not as pressing but the pacing at point was inconsistent and dragged on. But I know at points that was the point.
Now the pros.
I really loved the way Ma and Tom were characterized throughout. The family relations at points felt complex. There were really moving moments throughout, and great commentary that’s still relevant now.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Abandonment, Animal death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Ableism, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Grief, Gun violence, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
gewrgia_lightwood's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Beautiful writing, brilliant story. Touching, hard, raw.
It deals with a very real problem, a problem as relevant now as ever. The consequences of capitalism, of greed, of money as a ruler are spread thought out this book.
If there is one thing to take away from this book is that solidarity and kindness will always be the weapon of the people. It’s at the darkest times, the people come closer, the people speak up, the people rise up.
Μόνο ο λαός σώζει τον λαό.
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Violence, Murder, Death of parent, and Child death
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Police brutality, Miscarriage, Animal death, Xenophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Sexism, Grief, Misogyny, and Colonisation
mondovertigo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Police brutality, Animal death, Pregnancy, Classism, Violence, Abandonment, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Misogyny, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Racial slurs