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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
MUST READ. One of my fave classics.
There are certain components in the story that I wouldn't have gotten if it weren't for my English teacher, but the overall story is an easy read. Steinbeck is just a genius when it comes to this story. The character development and the relationship established and developed between characters and readers is just on point. I really LOVED this classic; it is very human, and has such a raw approach to it. Also, his intercalary chapter style is just wonderful (intercalary chapters: chapters that overlap the main story and theme but that don't directly address the main story). My writing style has been influenced by him after reading this story--he shows a great balance, in my opinion, of adjectives and imagery without over doing it. Again, in my opinion. This is a book I'd like to read at least once a year--so beautiful.
There are certain components in the story that I wouldn't have gotten if it weren't for my English teacher, but the overall story is an easy read. Steinbeck is just a genius when it comes to this story. The character development and the relationship established and developed between characters and readers is just on point. I really LOVED this classic; it is very human, and has such a raw approach to it. Also, his intercalary chapter style is just wonderful (intercalary chapters: chapters that overlap the main story and theme but that don't directly address the main story). My writing style has been influenced by him after reading this story--he shows a great balance, in my opinion, of adjectives and imagery without over doing it. Again, in my opinion. This is a book I'd like to read at least once a year--so beautiful.
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've been meaning to pick up the Grapes of Wrath after I really enjoyed East of Eden and several of his novellas. I'm not the type of person that likes classics just to like classics; John Steinbeck novels are actually fun to read. I've always loved John Steinbeck for his understandable, yet elegant prose and his tragic endings- East of Eden notwithstanding. The Grapes of Wrath stretches the brutality of his novellas out over a longer book, and it works to great effect. The Joads are salt of the earth Oklahoma farmers with the world against them. It is never through their own folly that the Joads fail, but their circumstances are tragically inevitable.
The arc of the story is ironically tragically punctuated with happy moments. You get the sense that every good moment is bound to have a definite ending. And while this story does not go well for the Joads, I think this novel is ultimately a positive outlook on humanity. Little acts of kindness and friends made along the way drive the Joads in their tragic journey for a better life. In fact, Steinbeck goes as far as to posit that even the people who do bad things aren't necessarily bad people, but are rather a replaceable cog in a machine. "A man's got to eat" absolves individuals and Steinbeck spends his time excoriating capitalism and banks that 'create' these people.
Almost 80 years after publication, this book is still amazingly relevant. In a lot of ways, the flight of the Okies to California mirrors the flight of most migrant groups to the U.S.
I think that's the reason this book has a lot of staying power beyond the tragic story and beautiful prose. Steinbeck really manages to capture something truly essential to America in this story about the clash between strivers and those with power.
Spoiler
The Joads furiously fight for their home against a storm by building a dam, only to have it destroyed by a falling tree and THEN they discover that their daughter gave birth to a stillborn. Ma Joad heartbreakingly cries out, "Well—couldn' we—of did nothin'?"The arc of the story is ironically tragically punctuated with happy moments. You get the sense that every good moment is bound to have a definite ending. And while this story does not go well for the Joads, I think this novel is ultimately a positive outlook on humanity. Little acts of kindness and friends made along the way drive the Joads in their tragic journey for a better life. In fact, Steinbeck goes as far as to posit that even the people who do bad things aren't necessarily bad people, but are rather a replaceable cog in a machine. "A man's got to eat" absolves individuals and Steinbeck spends his time excoriating capitalism and banks that 'create' these people.
Almost 80 years after publication, this book is still amazingly relevant. In a lot of ways, the flight of the Okies to California mirrors the flight of most migrant groups to the U.S.
Men who had never been hungry saw the eyes of the hungry. Men who had never wanted anything very much saw the flare of want in the eyes of the migrants. And the men of the towns and of the soft suburban country gathered to defend themselves; and they reassured themselves that they were good and the invaders bad, as a man must do before he fights.
I think that's the reason this book has a lot of staying power beyond the tragic story and beautiful prose. Steinbeck really manages to capture something truly essential to America in this story about the clash between strivers and those with power.
While it seems the family upon which the novel focuses does not achieve some sort of happy ending, the overall social criticism that Steinbeck is communicating is a powerful one. I would recommend the book to anyone that can see past the sorrowful conclusion, and extract deeper meaning from this incredible author's work.
This book was a true masterpiece and now my favorite book of all time. It took me a lot of time from start to finish because the first chapter focused on the turtle crossing the road. Once I got past that when I picked it up a second time, I couldn’t put it down. The dialogue, vivid descriptions, were amazing. American classic, recommend to anyone.