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Summary: Dylan Baker Brings Grapes of Wrath to Life
Review: I can't say enough about Dylan Baker's reading of this extraordinary book. I've read the book and fully enjoyed the experience but Baker's reading brought my appreciation of this timeless novel to a new level.
Rating:
Summary: The fruits of thy labor taste so bitter...
Review: In years to come, probably two generations after my own, a young reader will look over this book and dismiss it as being a sensationalized, fictitious account of a period in American history. Those of us with parents and grandparents whose behavior is a direct reflection of living through those horrible years of American economic depression can only partially appreciate this story. The miracle of day-to-day survival that the characters in this saga endured can only be substantiated by those who have actually been in these very same shoes.The Joads, a family of Oklahoma sharecroppers are forced off the land that they have maintained for generations because the crops have dried-up and disappeared. Try as they might, the weather conditions and climate of a time in Oklahoma known as "The Dust Bowl" are not conducive to their continued survival as simple farmers. Gathering all that they can carry and raising little money from what they can sell to uninterested profiteers, they head westward to California, based on the sight of a mass-produced advertisement falsely promising all the work and riches they can imagine. Albeit the fruits of their labors are not what they had worked for, anger over their unprovoked circumstance is subdued to engage a daily struggle to eat and survive. Steinbeck has outdone himself with this novel, written in the 1930's. Although its length is intimidating, dear reader becomes lost with hopeless sympathy for this family who seems to fail no matter how hard they try. He illustrates just how creative a human being can be in order to survive, all the while maintaining a simple honesty that does not take advantage of or harm others who are probably in similar dire straits. Time and time again, I asked myself if I could be a survivor like the Joads, when everything around me hopelessly fails. I thought about which friends and acquaintances of my own might or might not have this same ability. The number of individuals who came to mind were very few. The number of individuals who might lend me a helping hand were even fewer. Steinbeck poignantly points out that during times like these, the only help a person in trouble may ever receive will only come from someone equally desperate. I wholeheartedly recommend this as one of the only three books I've ever read worthy of a five star rating. Please consider it for your own enlightenment.
Rating: 
Summary: Bite me Steinbeck...
Review: If one could have rated this book as a negative star amount, I would have been that person. This book is 600 pages of pure torture. My opinion is that the law enforcement agencies should use the form of this book on tape, along with some Woodie Guthrie Dust Bowl Hits, to force criminals out of hostage situations. I, along with my fellow A.P. classmates, were subjected to this horrible display of literature by the ever lovin' Mrs. Ehteshami-Afshar fo Morris, Illinois. The ending is as if Mr. Steinbeck was bored out of his mind, so he just decided to stop writing and tie up ends. This book reads more of a history document than of anything closely resembling a novel. A.P. students unite, and rid the classroom of this boring work of literature! WORD...
Rating:
Summary: Boring beyond words!
Review: This book seemingly has no point. Despite it's philisophical ideas that are highly intelligent and meaningful, Grapes of Wrath still sinks. The main ideas of being nice and decent end up being bogged down in 30 page chapters of the endless rants of Car Salesmen who cheat customers or the pointless plight of a land turtle.
Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece like no other
Review: As a reader, I move pretty quick. I tend to devour books in weekends, or in some cases, overnight. It took me over two months to read Grapes of Wrath. And it was well worth the time invested. I can liken reading it to drinking a fine wine. You don't gulp, but savor. Enjoy. Relax.
Steinbeck nailed it. He captured the flavor, feeling, behaviors, attitudes, societal woes, and speech of that era. The prose was beautiful, and the ending was extremely profound on so many different levels. A great novel will educate the reader in some way, or at least challenge their thinking about the world around them. This book did just that. I've heard the term "Okies" used a slur several times during my childhood, but never understood where it originated. Now, I do. Whenever I hear that term again, I will have an image ingrained in my mind of Americans, our brothers and sisters, searching for not just a new way of life, but FOR survival. I won't soon forget this novel.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing other than a classic.
Review: The grass is green and sky is blue in this American classic by John Steinback. Who would of ever thought the journey of a poor American family could be as moving and filled with the American spirit to succed would provaile in such a detailed and moving experience.
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Summary: The Perfect American Novel
Review: I first read 'The Grapes of Wrath' about 15 years ago as an assignment in school. I HATED this book! I thought it was the most droll, boring, depressing piece of ... I had ever read, at that time anyway. I read it again a few years ago and was amazed at how wrong I had previously been! It may have just been the difference between reading something because I was forced to and reading something because I wanted to, or I may have just been too young and/or naïve to appreciate it back then, I don't know for sure.
Anyway, since then, I have gone on to read every other book Steinbeck wrote, and this is by far my favorite! This is the quintessential American novel and Steinbeck is the quintessential American writer. His character development, historical knowledge, vivid imagery are amazing, and the underlying sediments of human goodwill in, granted, often depressing circumstances, should be an example to us all. The way that Rose of Sharon, by far, the most ego-centric character in the book, winds up committing the most self-less act brought me to tears every time I read this.
Anyone who gives this book a bad review is either too young and inexperienced to appreciate it (as I was when I first did), or doesn't know a thing about literature. Have a mentioned that this is my all-time favorite read (besides also 'To Kill A Mockingbird')?
P.S. If you do like this, I would also HIGHLY recommend Woody Guthrie's 'Seeds of Man', another, much more humorous Okie tale. Also, if your into Steinbeck, check out "In Dubious Battle", the 2nd best book he wrote.
Rating:
Summary: Very Moving Book
Review: I've always thought the best measure of art is how it moves someone emotionally. The Grapes of Wrath is a work of art that irradiates such movement. A story set in during the Great Depression in a part of the Great American Dust Bowl, Oklahoma; the humanity of man in utter and total destitution is presented in a very interesting way. It also has a VERY gripping ending. Highly recommended classic.
Rating:
Summary: an American classic...
Review: This book is undoubtedly one of the greatest books ever written. It is Steinbeck's classic, which is really saying something. I've read some bad reviews here (though one spelled the name of the family wrong), but I just don't know how anyone can give this book 1 star. The Grapes of Wrath is the essential story of that time period, as it perfectly sums up the Dust Bowl and the Depression era American. Out of this setting, Steinbeck creates vivid characters that you will not soon forget. This book is not, however, uplifting. Yes it is pessimistic, but he is trying to make a point. And it can also be dry at times, though when you finish it I believe you will have found it well worth the read.
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Summary: Not just a book, a death trap!!!!
Review: Pee, u. This book has all the makings of a real crapper. At first I thought it might be interesting but then came Grandpa Jode and the book went downhill ever since.
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