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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
i enjoyed this thoroughly (i mean, it's steinbeck so it was always going to be excellent), but it's not without its flaws. some of the conversations were a little long-winded and repetitive and many of the characters felt like archetypes or mouthpieces for steinbeck's opinions rather than fully formed human beings. ma joad was the only exception and she made the other characters look extra flat by comparison. plus, that ending was crazy and i need steinbeck to explain himself.
but believe it or not, this book has cemented steinbeck as one of my favorite authors of all time. the bleak, grey portrait he paints of industrial farming and emergent capitalism, how hard it is to just find a damn job... i actually felt like putting the book down once or twice because it was hitting too close to home lol. really i'm just grateful that steinbeck was prolific as he was; i'm excited to get to the next one.
but believe it or not, this book has cemented steinbeck as one of my favorite authors of all time. the bleak, grey portrait he paints of industrial farming and emergent capitalism, how hard it is to just find a damn job... i actually felt like putting the book down once or twice because it was hitting too close to home lol. really i'm just grateful that steinbeck was prolific as he was; i'm excited to get to the next one.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It took me awhile for me to get into the book at first, but after I hit a good rhythm...I still did not like reading it. Steinbeck certainly didn't write this book to make anyone comfortable in the 30's and it still has the same effect today. I can't honestly say I if I will read this book again but it is an incredible piece of literature and I'm very happy I read it when I did. A well deserved classic.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
The ending was really sad and twisted...not sure if I would have given a stranger any of "my milk". Because the book took place during the depression, the mood is equally depressing. Like many third world countries today, the government was unable to help the people who were the most desolate. The emotions and struggles of the characters gave an insightful glance of the era. It's amazing some things haves changed since the publication of this book any how some things remain the same...
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It’s a real sad cautionary tale that we seem to be in the midst of with the orange monster encouraging this behavior where people are paid less and less and the cost of living grows in a way that wages can never keep up.
This poor woman. Just trying to keep her family together and fed and it’s just hopeless.
The whole story could be 1/2 as long, but there are these long pointless descriptions of things that don’t add to the plot.
The first 25% of the book makes it real hard to want to keep reading. But some of the less likable characters die off around then and make it more bearable. But for the first 25% it’s hard not to just think that these people are getting what they deserve for treating native Americans like they were animals. But after a while you feel bad for the family when other people treat the main family and other people to poor to live the same way.
The whole thing is just sad.
This poor woman. Just trying to keep her family together and fed and it’s just hopeless.
The whole story could be 1/2 as long, but there are these long pointless descriptions of things that don’t add to the plot.
The first 25% of the book makes it real hard to want to keep reading. But some of the less likable characters die off around then and make it more bearable. But for the first 25% it’s hard not to just think that these people are getting what they deserve for treating native Americans like they were animals. But after a while you feel bad for the family when other people treat the main family and other people to poor to live the same way.
The whole thing is just sad.
Interesting book - found quite intense but in a good way. Quite discombobulating to read such an American book while in Spain. I understand where the word "okie" comes from now!