Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Grapes of Wrath is as potent a commentary on the human condition and American life today in 2018 as it was when it was published in 1939. I am absolutely staggered by how much this book has affected me as I’ve read it. I read the book as I traveled on a road trip along Route 66 from St. Louis to California and the entire way I marveled at the strength of both the fictional Joad family and the thousands of their real life contemporaries who followed that route to what they thought was a better life in California. The true history behind the book makes it all the more potent and impactful, especially given the current climate in this country surrounding issues of immigration and migrant workers. There really isn’t much I can say about it that I’m sure hasn’t been said for decades in English classes and literary journals. I will agree with other reviewers that say the book isn’t for teenage high school students, but should be required reading for every adult at some point in their lives. There are very few books out there that manage to simultaneously capture the strength and tragedy of the human condition, the genetically ingrained xenophobia of the human race and the tragic consequences that unchecked capitalism can have on a nation’s identity. Truly a powerful book.
A big minus for the characters. I couldn't get to them very well but the stunning prose almost makes up for it. A great example of beautiful descriptions that make the story's world vivid and very close not to mention a magnificent social commentary.
"I want to put a tag of shame on the greedy bastards who are responsible for this."
- John Steinbeck, 1936
I just finished reading The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I have always known of this book but never read it or even knew very much about what is was about.
I really wasn't prepared by how relevant it was to so many situations occurring globally at the moment. The mass migration of populations due to climate changes, infrastructure collapse and economics, the refusal of a system to help and indeed the full demonisation of those in transit.
The language is beautifully simple and yet says so much about strength, sadness, suffering, perseverance and dignity.
- John Steinbeck, 1936
I just finished reading The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I have always known of this book but never read it or even knew very much about what is was about.
I really wasn't prepared by how relevant it was to so many situations occurring globally at the moment. The mass migration of populations due to climate changes, infrastructure collapse and economics, the refusal of a system to help and indeed the full demonisation of those in transit.
The language is beautifully simple and yet says so much about strength, sadness, suffering, perseverance and dignity.
Do knihy jsem se začítala s nejistotou a pochybnostmi. Teď, čerstvě po přečtení, ve mně ale zanechala hluboké pocity a nové myšlenky. Nemůžu říci, že by se mě osud Joadovy rodiny (a tím pádem osud všech nešťastných rodin, které zastupovala) hluboce nedotkl. Byla jsem smutná, byla jsem otřesená a měla jsem zlost. Čím více stránek bylo za mnou, tím hůře se od knihy odtrhávalo. A čím více jsem spěla je konci, tím jasnější bylo, že žádný happyend se samozřejmě nekoná. Přesto pro mě byl tento neukončený závěr trochu nečekaný. Po celou knihu jste cítili ty takzvané dozrávající hrozny hněvu, stále jste čekali na tu osudnou sklizeň, na ten okamžik, kdy se hlad opravdu přemění v zlost a nastane nějaké velké povstání... ale nakonec k ničemu takovému nedojde, ne v této knize.
Při Hroznech hněvu mě napadá jedno výstižné slovo a není to hněv ani hlad. Je to lidskost. Lidskost ve své vlastní největší a nejupřímější podstatě.
Při Hroznech hněvu mě napadá jedno výstižné slovo a není to hněv ani hlad. Je to lidskost. Lidskost ve své vlastní největší a nejupřímější podstatě.
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I finally did it, I completed a John Steinbeck novel!
Honestly, I think even in high school I only partially read The Red Pony and The Pearl (or maybe I did actually read them, because they’re both novellas and pretty short), but the point is I finished a BIG one! In addition to it being a “full” Steinbeck novel, it counts toward both my Classic Club list (32/100) and as part of my 30 x 30 list!
I’ve always felt a little guilty at the lack of American authors on my read list and not having Steinbeck seems like a big omission. I’ve read many American authors, mostly before I started this blog, but Steinbeck is one of those which really is synonymous with America. He is America, a very specific swath and very specific time period of America, but he is America none-the-less.
Continue reading on my book blog at geoffwhaley.com.
Honestly, I think even in high school I only partially read The Red Pony and The Pearl (or maybe I did actually read them, because they’re both novellas and pretty short), but the point is I finished a BIG one! In addition to it being a “full” Steinbeck novel, it counts toward both my Classic Club list (32/100) and as part of my 30 x 30 list!
I’ve always felt a little guilty at the lack of American authors on my read list and not having Steinbeck seems like a big omission. I’ve read many American authors, mostly before I started this blog, but Steinbeck is one of those which really is synonymous with America. He is America, a very specific swath and very specific time period of America, but he is America none-the-less.
Continue reading on my book blog at geoffwhaley.com.
I remember discussing the title of this book in high school English class...and really nothing else about it. I'm really glad I picked it back up because I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I found the story of the Joad family fascinating - and each of the characters quickly drew me in. I just wish that the book had continued on - there was so much more I wanted to know about this family and what happened next for them.