5.77k reviews for:

The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck

3.79 AVERAGE


If you have ever read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, you will understand what I mean when I say this story is similar in it’s emotional toll. It is incredible to read about what people went through during the Dust Bowl/Great Depression time period, and the lessons learned then are still, if not more than ever, potent today. This was an excellent read with fantastic lessons and fascinating characters. I’ve always been enamored with the seemingly poor and simple-minded character that, once dug down into, is actually the wisest one of the narrative - and this book has many characters like that. Tolkien’s Samwise Gamgee is another I think of, or perhaps Rowling’s Neville Longbottom, or Sinclair’s Jurgis Rudkis, or Stowe’s Uncle Tom, among many others.

Also, a friend found this video that covers this time period and I found it very enlightening:

https://vimeo.com/150192017
challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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: Complicated
challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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: Complicated
dark emotional sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
challenging emotional hopeful 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: Complicated
adventurous challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective relaxing sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
reflective sad medium-paced

Exceptionnel mais terrifiant récit de l'exode fermier qui suit la crise de 1929 aux États-Unis. 

Qui retrace l'histoire des familles fermières du centre des USA. Forcées de fuir leurs terres, familles de métayers expatriées en faveur des tracteurs et de l'agri extensive. Familles qui se déplacent en masse vers l'ouest, le "paradis" californien = ses champs et vergers à perte de vue. 

Pourtant, pour les métayers, aucun avenir radieux en ces terres de l'Ouest. Pas de terres vierges à exploiter, pas ou peu de travail. Très très mal payé. 

Ce livre c'est la description de la misère à laquelle sont livrées ces familles. Conséquences du capitalisme et d'un système absurde que les métayers ne comprennent pas. 

Vent de révolte, raisins de la colère qui grandissent, mûrissent dans les cœurs. Pendant que des familles, des enfants meurent de faim, les grands exploitants laissent leurs récoltes pourrir sur pied, les brûlent, tuent les bêtes à la chaux vive. 

Un paradoxe de la consommation complètement absurde. Qui dès 1929 nous alerte sur les dérives d'un modèle économique délirant. 

لولا النهاية كانت أخدت ٥ نجوم
السرد عبقري، انهيت ٥٠٠ صفحة في يوم!!