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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
emotional
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
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
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
slow-paced
I should probably re-read this to see if intolerant little high school me will change her mind. But then I think of Rose of Sharon and the "uuugggghhhh" is overwhelming.
I was assigned the film my Junior year of High School in a History class, but mistakingly just now read the novel. Compliment Sandwich:
The Good: Casy. He's probably the best allegory for Jesus Christ I've read in literature. His understanding of societal injustice reminds me of teachings of Christianity that points to how we treat the worst among us under capitalism. His quotes are profound and his ultimate fate is well earned.
The Bad: First, the poetic alternate chapters are a bit much. At the start I didn't see myself finishing the book as they took away from the story of the family. The most quotable chapter (which gives the novel its title) comes far too late in the book. That's a minor complaint. My second one isn't. Steinbeck's repeated instances of the N-word take away from his political arguments. I get the prejudices that the Okies face (the negative comments towards their lifestyle, the bigotry they must overcome just for where they come from, etc.) So after all that work I don't see how he not once, not twice, but thrice uses the N-word as a shot against African Americans for the same reasons. These were people facing poverty in the same era. His narrative holds up as a timeless commentary; I saw similarities from the Great Depression and the South American migrants with "Looking for Work" signs here in my city. But his casual racism undercuts building cross racial class consciousness.
The Good: Tom Joad. If Casy is the more open hearted and harmonic Jesus figure, Tom becomes the flipping over tables in the temple version. I loved his opening scene. His interactions with his family fleshed out all those characters. And his violence and final speech are perfectly executed. He stands the test of time, and I can see why Henry Fonda was drawn to play him.
The Good: Casy. He's probably the best allegory for Jesus Christ I've read in literature. His understanding of societal injustice reminds me of teachings of Christianity that points to how we treat the worst among us under capitalism. His quotes are profound and his ultimate fate is well earned.
The Bad: First, the poetic alternate chapters are a bit much. At the start I didn't see myself finishing the book as they took away from the story of the family. The most quotable chapter (which gives the novel its title) comes far too late in the book. That's a minor complaint. My second one isn't. Steinbeck's repeated instances of the N-word take away from his political arguments. I get the prejudices that the Okies face (the negative comments towards their lifestyle, the bigotry they must overcome just for where they come from, etc.) So after all that work I don't see how he not once, not twice, but thrice uses the N-word as a shot against African Americans for the same reasons. These were people facing poverty in the same era. His narrative holds up as a timeless commentary; I saw similarities from the Great Depression and the South American migrants with "Looking for Work" signs here in my city. But his casual racism undercuts building cross racial class consciousness.
The Good: Tom Joad. If Casy is the more open hearted and harmonic Jesus figure, Tom becomes the flipping over tables in the temple version. I loved his opening scene. His interactions with his family fleshed out all those characters. And his violence and final speech are perfectly executed. He stands the test of time, and I can see why Henry Fonda was drawn to play him.
Another high school required book. I have to say it reminds me of the Chinese book I read in my middle school, Rickshaw Boy (骆驼祥子). Both books talk about how a small family is trying to just survive under a behemoth capitalist or bureaucratic society.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes