The Grapes of Wrath

Rating:
Summary: Strong throughout, odd finish
Review: I am 40 years old and just read this book for the first time. I found this story to be a page-turner and very absorbing. Excellent local color and superb character development. You know, I think today's younger generation could take a few lessons from this story - the stocism these people demonstrated throughout their ordeal was fascinating. The simply did what they had to do and only complained periodically (with exception of Rosasharn - who bitched and whined all the time). This is also a great review of a bleak period in American history.

My advice to people who haven't read it is: by all means, read it, learn something about history and the human spirit.

Now for the oddities:

1. Maybe this was symbolic and I just glossed over it, but several times in the book, drivers (including the protagonists) are squashing with their vehicles animals who have the misfortune of using or crossing the road they use. Well, that was kind of strange I thought.

2. Why Connie left Rosasharn is sort of a mystery. She was pregnant for crying out loud. Was her constant carping about her wanting a house and nice things just driving him bug-s---?

3. Noah left and was never heard from again. I suppose you could argue that this was symbolic of a family disintegrating and how they dealt with it.

4. Now the really odd thing. It ended at a weird spot. Not much closure. I had to check to make sure pages weren't torn out of this old paperback. Wonder if other reviewers thought that was kind of dissatisfying....?

Rating:
Summary: The Great Dust Bowl
Review: John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath in 1939 on account of the great dust bowl in the 1920's. This horrible blight upon the land caused the topsoil to be literally non-existent; choking off crops of grapes, corn, and other crops that tenant workers of the time depended on for every day survival.
The Grapes of Wrath is indisputably Steinbeck's best novel ever written, and is one of the best and most well known novels in history. The Grapes of Wrath also brought Steinbeck a Nobel Prize in literature, and world praise for his realistic depictions of daily, southern California life on the ranch, and the troubles that eat at the inhabitants daily.
The Grapes of Wrath is a story that starts out with tom, a regular man, who is in search of his family. Tom soon finds out that his family has been forced to move to California the land of "new opportunities," because the bank had repossessed everyone's land in that region for the growth of cotton, since the soil was so bad. Along the way, however, the family undergoes many hardships such as lack of money, food, and low, tired spirits. Finally, the family reaches a fertile valley in southern California where peaches are grown. The family picks the peaches for the farm, but soon loose their dream job due to difficulties. The family must now resume their search for a suitable job that is capable of supporting the over ten members of the family. The question is, will the family get their needs met by the new job, or will they find that hardships are too difficult in California, and they must move elsewhere? Steinbeck used chapters in the book describing the main family of the novel, but meant to be a broader, more generalized group. The dialogue in these chapters is not suggested with quotations, but is rather noticed by the reader through the different tones. This gives the further impression of hardship by allowing the reader to make associations to ones that they know whom have gone through the likewise.
Steinbeck's classic novel, The Grapes of Wrath is a very sad book, however shows a very realistic view of life at that time and location. It shows themes of endurance through hardship, the importance of family, and that one day, a hope may be come upon, no matter how hard it may be to get there. For Steinbeck's great story telling capabilities, as well as his great usage of local dialogue, intricate character description, and portrayal of daily life, I deem this one of the best novels that I have ever read, and I gladly recommend it to all those who are up for a good classic.

Rating:
Summary: Good but lengthy
Review: This book was one I read over summer because of the length of it. Its a revealing story that depicts true poverty and the struggle for survival. Steinback does an extraordinary job on giving us a glimpse of what life would be like if jobs and food was limited. It was shocking to see what people were willing to accept for a hard day's work. Families were broken up , children were starved and put to work, it was really demoralizing. This book was basically the struggles of a family in the 1930's to make it to the West where "work was plentiful" , but later discover that things are not how they pictured them. It was a great book but it was a little lengthy.

Rating:
Summary: A harrowing chronicle of poverty and helplessness
Review: Between 1936 and 1938, Steinbeck wrote a series of newspaper articles for the San Francisco News and the Monterey Trader about the horrendous plight of the migrant workers in California, many of whom arrived from Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond, seeking work during the "Dust Bowl migration" of the 1930s. (Earlier, he had written and published a novel "In Dubious Battle," about labor unrest among those same migrant workers.) The fruit of Steinbeck's years mingling with these workers and investigating their conditions, "The Grapes of Wrath" is a powerful and sympathetic fictional portrayal of one family's horrific odyssey across America in search of work after losing ownership of their farm.

There is certainly more than one way to read this novel: as an incendiary historical document that galvanized the country (Eleanor Roosevelt and various politicians took up the cause of the migrant workers, while conservative-leaning groups and towns banned--or burned--the book); as an epic about human perseverance, survival, and dignity (reflected symbolically in the much-maligned "turtle chapter"); as a political manifesto unflinching in its condemnation of the insensitivities of corporate capitalism (for which Steinbeck was accused of Communist sympathies). Readers who find the novel unrelentingly depressing or unrealistic in its portrayal of the Joad family's fate should understand that the Joads were actually quite lucky. (Very few migrant families, for example, were fortunate enough to live in government camps.)

The first hundred pages or so proceed rather slowly, in part because Steinbeck alternates the chapters about the Joad family with prosaic interludes describing the difficulties facing the migrant workers in general. But the pace of the novel accelerates (and the interludes become shorter), as various members of the Joad family experience frustration, sickness, brief periods of success, and death--never letting go of their dream of settling down somewhere and living in a house. The various members of the family are astonishingly realistic, and their motivations, if simple, are always believable. (The two children are, well, just like children). The ending, which must have been scandalously shocking in the 1930s, is still electrifying; it forcefully shows the desperate lengths the poor were willing to go to help each other when most of America didn't care about their plight.

This is my second time reading the novel, and--although I again found it gripping and moving--I was not as impressed as the first time I read it two decades ago. (I was much more idealistic then, I suppose.) One of the novel's greatest weaknesses is that Steinbeck overstates the evil machinations of the "bad guys" and the good-natured intentions of the "good guys." All the police and the bankers and the landowners are thoroughly malevolent; all the displaced migrant workers and the sharecroppers are faultless (or their shortcomings are unsophisticated, understandable, or well-meaning). As a result, the novel reads in a few places like agitprop rather than fiction.

Of course, that was Steinbeck's intent: he wanted to wake up the country. Yet, as a work of art, this style doesn't date well. Nevertheless, only a cynic or a monopolist could be unmoved by the story of the Joad family. It is truly a classic proletarian novel.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful depiction of the times......
Review: But those times are long gone and the book is extremely boring if you're reading it for school. GET THE CLIFFNOTES!

Rating:
Summary: Perhaps just not suited for me....
Review: Considering the age I was (12 years old) when I first read this book, I should probably be somewhat hesitant in giving my frank opinion about it. I imagine many older readers with affectionate emotions attached to this book would have a thing or two to say about my rating. Either way, I should enjoy recalling what my personal experience was like with this interesting piece.

Steinbeck is a brilliant author. No need to deny that. He has written many different works that both the young and old can enjoy and contemplate on. I believe Grapes of Wrath may have been on of them. I gave this a 3 stars although I would've preferred a 3 1/2.

This book was somewhat long and a bit slow-paced for me. Yet, luckily, it managed to barely hold my attention with a calming and vaguely melancholy air. It is definitely not a read if you were looking for tragedy and disaster and bucketfuls of tears by your bedside. Instead, Steinbeck tends to sneak in touches of bittersweet passages and theme that mingles with the smooth flow of the words. It certainly describes the lives of the common family during the Great Depression and I suggest it for educational purposes as well.

I find that most books its length would have to be pretty catching to make me read through it and Grapes of Wrath did manage to do that. I probably would've rated it higher had I not had the experience of reading a book of comparable length (Helter Skelter) and seen how much more I could enjoy one . But I have, and it has made it evident that this classic was not satisfying enough to my tastes. It is a neutral opinion overall, that really depends on what kind of person you are or what kind of book you aim to read. I do suggest you read it at least once but perhaps you might want to try it out at a library before you actually invest and buy it. It might be a while before you feel like reading again as it likes to describe somewhat similar things or events that makes the whole book blend together into a blurry illusion. The ending was not particularily enjoyable for me, either. I admit that I am the kind of person that likes a clear, stable, and satisfactory finale which leaves me thinking "Yes, that's right. All is said and done and as it should be." Grapes of Wrath might leave you in a bit of a fluster after ending a bit abruptly and mysteriously.

Still, it is generally an enjoyable book and I wouldn't advise a person to avoid it. I think many of you will find that you can develop quite a few opinions about it depending on your mood. I enjoyed it in it's own way and I presume the majority of others will be able to, too.

Rating:
Summary: take the time
Review: So often I find myself chasing the best sellers when looking for a book to read but more recently I have moved back to the classics and after The Grapes of Wrath I am thankful I made the move. The story is perplexing and scares you into wondering how the country let its fellow citizens live the way they did. There are some wonderful characters and they come and go in mysterious ways. Take the time to read some of the classics and start with the Grapes of Wrath.

Rating:
Summary: The Grapes of Wrath- A Great Reak
Review: * * * * *
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is a great read. It's worth sticking with all 619 pages. With this book John Steinbeck discusses the Dust Bowl migration. It may seem as though this may be a boring topic for a book, but this novel is actually very interesting. Plus, it is a great read when studying about these hard times during history class. The book looks at the situation from two different angels. It first looks at the migration from the west to California from the eyes of the Joad family and then it looks at the situation from the eyes of any person who has lost everything and has to travel from the west to the east. The Grapes of Wrath touches on many different themes such as the suppression of man, and how man can pull together though hard times with wrath. Once you begin to read you really do get into it. I would have to recommend this book for teenagers on up. This is because there is some light language and I feel that a young adult would better be able to grasp all of the symbolism and meaning that this book encompasses.

Rating:
Summary: Grapes of Wrath an Outstanding Classic
Review: The Grapes of Wrath is one of the most informational and interesting books I have ever read. It dates back to a time in which recent generations may not understand. The 1930's were a difficult time for a lot of people. The Joad family demonstrates the struggles of some of these people on their quest for life.

The main character in this book is Tom Joad. He and his family leave their home in Oklahoma because they are pushed out by the banks and forced to move west. Their journey is like no other as they struggle to stay on the road and find money for food. Like the Joad's, thousands of other families are compelled to do the same. These families move in hopes to find a better life.

The Grapes of Wrath is a one of a kind novel that widens a person's outlook on life. It shows the audacity and strength of families that have nothing to rely on, except each other. It demonstrates both sides of man; the cruelty and the love. John Steinbeck has filled this book with unforgettable characters that can only be seen through the eyes of the reader. The Grapes of Wrath is an outstanding book that brings to life the courage of mankind.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I enjoyed this book, but I read East of Eden right after and found it to be the better of the two.