Reviews with content warning for Child death - The Grapes of Wrath

Like all Steinbeck novels, the technical skill cannot be questioned - it is wonderful in that sense. His descriptive ability is second to none, no one is arguing otherwise - at least not to me. However, given that Steinbeck took the notes for this book from Sanora Babb’s Whose Names Are Unknown, it changes the whole tone for me from that of an earnest attempt at portraying an issue he cares a lot about - which, I am sure, given the foreword that he did, to an extent, care! - to something a little… I don’t know. The fact that he never once mentions her even before he dies is upsetting. He used her lived experience to write this book because he felt the ends justified the means of getting it out there, and sure. To some extent I agree. But didn’t she deserve a chance to do that, too, in her own words first? It just doesn’t feel right, and takes away from the whole experience for me. I plan on reading her book as well, because I’ve heard comparatively The Grapes of Wrath reads rather stale because of the lack of having lived it.

Content Warnings

capnhist's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark informative inspiring sad medium-paced

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? No

5.0

Content Warnings

everyatom's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

The way that the Grapes of Wrath moves as a story is unlike anything else I remember reading. The story makes the reader feel the abrupt pain of

losing the family members that walk off, leave, or die

. It never feels whole or complete or like those characters'

endings

were justified. Because they weren't. And the folks they left behind weren't able to

get closure or process the absence of their loved ones. I mourned not only the characters as well as how their family was deprived of proper mourning

.

I felt the big swell of the message. Where the Joads' story and pains

got continually harsher, slimmer, and harder to comprehend

the message of the book becomes stronger and more epic in scope. The chapters between the story of the Joads' were so important to help the reader get that scope and to see the place of the Joads in the larger, unfair system.

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.

Content Warnings

kristiniad's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark sad medium-paced

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

Content Warnings

readerette's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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? Yes

4.25

This book is pretty immersive, and despite the heavy use of phonically-spelled dialogue, it was a smooth read. It was easy to feel empathy for the families who had to do what they could to escape the Dust Bowl.

The ending really threw me. I get perhaps an allegory of giving life to something dying but not dead yet, and a continuation of the book theme of these traveling families sharing what they had even when they truly had nothing by most measures, but the specifics are activating my sense of wrongness, for sure. Perhaps mostly because I wonder if a non-male author would have chosen the same action to convey the intended message.

Much too long. Every other chapter is more about broader societal conditions or other families besides the Joads, and I skimmed most of that without feeling like I missed much. People who like lots of detail will probably enjoy reading more closely. I definitely gathered some interesting context from the "extra" chapters, but I didn't need as much as there was.

This story has aged less poorly than other classics I've read, though it's also not that old. Period-typical racism and sexism, including use of the n-word and mention of domestic abuse.

Content Warnings

gewrgia_lightwood's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

5.0

One of the best books I’ve ever come across
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.

Content Warnings

kaitoro_walker13's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.75

Content Warnings

arszania's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

Content Warnings

More...