Rating: 
Summary: Long, but worth the time.
Review: I chose to listen to this on audio, not because I thought it looked like a good book, but because there wasn't alot to pick from. I'm glad I did, though, as I loved the story. We hear all the time about the dirty 30's and all the hard times (like walking 3 miles to school uphill in a raging blizzard) but this really makes a person appreciate what these people must have gone through. The story tended to move slowly, but that let the reader get to know the Joad family well, especially young Tom Joad. They managed to make do with very little in the way of money or food and yet wouldn't hesitate to share what they had with someone else. It makes a person feel kind of ashamed to think we look into a full refrigerator and still think there's nothing to eat. I was hoping the story would end with a happy Joad family finding a home and work, but that was left up to the reader's imagination. I don't know if John Steinbeck just got tired of writing or what, but the ending left a little to be desired. I was sure they would meet up with their son again, but that probably wasn't a realistic look at how it most likely was then. The book will definitely make me think differently about migrant workers that come into our area. Things may not be quite as bad now as back then, but they probably face many of the same circumstances.
Rating:
Summary: Possibly THE Greatest American Novel
Review: I have never read a better novel written by an American than THE GRAPES OF WRATH. Steinbeck's deeply touching tale of displaced families and a nation rent by Depression will never cease to be relevant. The Joads and thousands of others are driven out of Oklahoma by drought and the Depression. It is bad enough they lose their farms to homes and have to move. It is worse that the big business fruit growers in California print misleading flyers claiming to have far more well-paying jobs available than they ever intended to have. It is miserable when they get to California (where the people curse them as "Okies") and find out that as few as one man owns as much a million acres--much of it lying fallow in front of their eyes. As difficult as the plight of the Joads and families like them, Steinbeck does not paint the Californians or their police as evil so much as scared into treachery and violence in order to protect their own. No one wants to starve and starvation after the dust bowl and thanks to the exploitative wages paid by the vineyard owners is a very real possibility. Nor does he canonize the migrants--the societies that grow up by the side of the road each night have their own laws and lawbreakers, stout hearts and slatterns--but does show them as civilized people who don't deserve being treated like animals. Many fearful Californians don't agree. Steinbeck's character Tom Joad (whose ghost lives on in a Bruce Springsteen's song recently covered by Rage Against the Machine) is as important to American literature as Huckleberry Finn, Holden Caulfield and Jay Gatsby. Joad knows life offers no simple solutions, but he also knows that fair is fair. When a man's employers charge him for his work gear AND operate the stores where he must buy his food so that he often ends up OWING his employers more at the end of the week than his pitiful wages can cover, Tom Joad knows that's not just. He knows the land is fertile enough to feed everyone, so don't try giving him any speeches about "private property" and "supply and demand." If the test of a system and a society is how it treats it poorest members (especially in a crisis like the Depression), then the world the Joads live in fails miserably. No less strong a character than her son Tom, Ma Joad embodies all the cliches about being a tower of strength without actually being a cliché herself. She and her family possess all the true grit and hearty spirit America prides itself on as a nation of pioneers, but by the 1930s the frontier has been bought up and the pioneers are in desperate straits. This book is occasionally criticized for being too socialistic. This criticism is misguided; what THE GRAPES OF WRATH does is show how capitalism can and often does enrich the few while the many suffer. Steinbeck shows how breadbasket farmers were thrown off the land they had worked for generations so bankers in the East can make more profit. Can this happen today, even in a time of tremendous prosperity? Ask today's family farmers what agribusiness has done to them. THE GRAPES OF WRATH is no call to play the "Internationale," but it does starkly and intelligently raise questions about the meaning of equal opportunity and justice for all. This is a book that should be required reading for Alan Greenspan, the editors of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, and triumphal capitalists everywhere who wince for their stock dividends when the unemployment rate goes down. Not to mention every single elected official in the United States. The subject matter is extremely heavy and sad, but Steinbeck's style is straightforward and easy (even with the various dialects he employs perfectly). THE GRAPES OF WRATH does what so very few great novels can: it will take a lot out of you, but leave you with much more than you had when you began.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Amazing Story
Review: I bought this book on a whim, drawn by the attractive binding and it's reputation as a classic. My friends thought that I was crazy to read it on my own will, and, to tell the truth, I was somewhat hesistant myself to begin such a daunting book. Going in, I was expecting it to be boring. However, as I started to read I found that it was hard to stop. It's not that the story is compelling, but I truly loved the style of writing. Sure, the story is not fast, but from the start I felt as though I was a member of the central family, suffering in their misfortune and rejoicing in their joys. The abundant dialog allowed me to truly discover the character of everyone in the story. I admit that if I were forced to read this for classes, as well as having to contend with 4 other subjects, I would become frustrated at the slow pace. However, for never one moment did I regret my decision to read it. I highly recommend it to anyone who can enjoy the writing stlye.
Rating: 
Summary: A Student's view
Review: I thought that this book moved very slowly. It was also very hard to get in to. After I figured out how the Steinbeck was writing the novel, it became a bit easier. I thought that the Joad chapters were too long and could have been broken down to read easier. As a lover of historical/fiction, I thought this was a bad book because, although it portrayed an accurate storyline, it was just not written well. I would not suggest this book to anyone who does not have to read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Remarkable.
Review: I always hesitate before attempting to write a critical review of a classic novel, particularly one as monumental as "The Grapes of Wrath." So let me start this out by saying, YES, the book is a well-deserved classic, and YES, I would recommend that each and every person go out and get a copy. As many other reviewers have pointed out, this novel has an uncanny ability to affect its readers, to make them re-evaluate the nature of compassion, fortitude, and human dignity. Much of this is due to Steinbeck's brilliant structuring of the novel, as he alternates the chapters dealing with the direct struggles of the Joad family with more elaborate "big-picture" depictions of the migrant movement in general. That being said, however, "The Grapes of Wrath" can be an extremely frustrating reading experience for an unprepared reader. Its sheer length (around 600 pages) can be initially daunting, and the copious amounts of dialogue (all written in dialect) take some time to get used to. "Grapes" can even be difficult for Steinbeck fans because it is in many ways rather an anomaly in his canon. Though the story of the Joads is compelling, there is evidence that Steinbeck was somewhat uncomfortable with these parts of the novel: Characters introduced in the beginning simply disappear halfway through, contributing little to the overall story, and in general the characterization is weaker here than it is in other novels like "Of Mice And Men," curious considering that "Mice" is about one-fifth the size of "Grapes." There is repetitiveness in the dialogue and the trials faced by the Joads, and the novel's pacing likewise suffers. In my opinion, the "Big picture" chapters are better written than the Joad chapters--on the whole more interesting, more powerful, and certainly more complex (as Steinbeck switches back and forth with his narrative voice and point of view). Chapter 25, in which the novel's title (taken from the Battle Hymn of the Republic) appears is probably the finest of the novel. Moreover, in spite of some weaknesses in pacing and plot, the story of the Joads personal hardships contain several scenes which are infused with a similar ability to produce a devestating and uplifting feeling in the reader. The novel's final scene with Rosasharn is positively brilliant in its conception and execution. I've tried to be fair and honest in this review, and I hope my comments will help you to enjoy "Grapes" without frustration. It is a remarkable novel.
Rating:
Summary: powerful
Review: I did not expect to like this book because I hated Of Mice and Men, but I really liked it a lot. Although slow at times, I thought the way that the plot was layed out, and the strange inter-chapters were intrigueing. The story was extremely believable, and I found myself wanting to know what would happen to the Joads next. This is truly a great piece of American literature. I'm glad I was forced to read it in English! :)
Rating:
Summary: A Magnificent Novel
Review: That THE GRAPES OF WRATH is a timeless classic is not news. It is one of those rare books that was recognized as genius from its initial publication and it has endured in popularity to this day. A staple of high school required reading lists, John Steinbeck's tale of displaced Okies hits the reader on so many levels that it bears repeated reading. The dialogue sparkles with depth and emotion. For those who are only familiar with THE GRAPES OF WRATH through the splendid movie with Henry Fonda, the book opens up even more vistas and provides a compelling view of Depression-era America. Through the eyes of Americans in a time of traumatic transition, John Steinbeck paints a lasting portrait of our culture and heritage.
Rating:
Summary: Read this book -- it's astounding
Review: I can't remember the last time I was moved so profoundly by a work of fiction. I finished the book two weeks ago and have not been able to stop talking or thinking about it. Read this book. It will truly change the way you view the world. The book is beautifully written. Steinbeck's style flows so smoothly and is so accessible. The book follows the Joad family for about nine months as they are driven from the place they've called home for generations and travel to California, only to find out that it is not the land of opportunity they expected. Steinbeck's formula here is to intersperse the lengthy chapters chronicling the Joads' journey with short chapters that encapsulate some nuance about the period or the people, giving you a picture of the greater struggle taking place, of which the Joads are just a small part. It creates a very powerful effect. This migration west involved hundreds of thousands of individuals. You see in a few pages the big picture, then you are pulled back into the intimacies of the Joads' lives and the tragedy is made very personal. In one especially startling example, Steinbeck puts these words into the mouth of a character after selling a nameless migrant and his family some gas for their car, "Well, you and me got sense. Them goddamn Okies got no sense and no feeling. They ain't human. A human being wouldn't live like they do. A human being couldn't stand it to be so dirty and miserable. They ain't a hell of a lot better than gorillas." In the next chapter, the Joads make camp along a stream and Ma is so happy for the clean water and the chance to stay put for a day so that she can take a bath and wash the family's clothes. The Joads are good, honest, decent people looking for the means to earn an honest wage and thereby feed their family. The thought of charity repels them. At one point Pa talks about the prospect of picking cotton and is so excited about the fact that it's good, hard work, worthy of the wage he'll earn. How soft and incredibly privileged it makes us all seem. "They streamed over the mountains, hungry and restless - restless as ants, scurrying to find work to do - to lift, to push, to pull, to pick, to cut - anything, any burden to bear, for food." I live in a citrus community in Florida, which is populated by a large number of migrant workers. It never occurred to me to wonder how they felt about their lives. I never thought to wonder if they had dreams of someday owning their own home and staying put for a while. I've read criticism that "The Grapes of Wrath" is a communist manifesto. It may have socialist leanings, but how long can individuals or a society overlook the less fortunate without feeling some shame? Read this book. It should be mandatory, but would be wasted on most teenagers. Pick it up as an adult, as I did, and read it. You'll never again look at others or yourself in the same way.
Rating:
Summary: the rotting grapes
Review: 'Grapes of wrath' are the rotting grapes which represent the waste and selfishness of those with wealth. One really sees what Roosevelt meant when he said to fear fear. Justice is served in this book by the attitudes the characters maintain.
Rating:
Summary: Indomitable Spirits
Review: John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath is the definitive work on the westward migration of the 1930s. It's hard to imagine even a non-fiction scholarly work being as true to the subject matter as Steinbeck's novel. The Grapes of Wrath was first published in 1939 to much criticism and controversy. Many people saw it as an exagerrated account of what life was like for America's poor in the Depression Era as a way to promote a socialist agenda. Others were offended by the vulgar language and the supposed sexual connotation of the story's ending. The Grapes of Wrath follows the Joad family on their migratory experiences. About one-third of the book is devoted to their actual trip to California and the remainder covers their experiences in Cailfornia, which was still a very migratory life. They are sharecroppers who've been kicked off their land because the drought has kept them from meeting their rent payments. They receive copies of handbills from California that say they need men to work the fields. It's not until they are well on their that the Joads find out the gimmick that the California agribusinesses employ to depres wages. The amazing thing about the Joads and the other 'Okie' families is that, even in a time of harsh living and hand-to-mouth survival, they actually increase their sphere of caring. You would expect that in a time of crisis and starvation that it would become an everyman for himself situation. This did happen on occasion, but in most instances there is always someone there to lend a helping hand to someone in need even when they know they can't afford to spare any of what they've got. The Grapes of Wrath does offer a slight political statement. Steinbeck takes the time to compare the conditions in the Hoovervilles with that in the government camps. The Hoovervilles are under local jurisdictions and are burned every so often by the local 'police' in order to keep the workers from even being able to organize. The government camps on the other hand are run by the federal government and are offhands to the local authorities, so long as the camp is able to maintain its own peace. Life in the camps is supremely better than that in the Hoovervilles. In the camps they have running water, a solid home, and even toilet paper. The members of the camps form their own committees to set the rules and to run the camp. The local authorities often tried to infiltrate the camps and stir up trouble to give them an excuse for busting it up. The Grapes of Wrath is ultimately a story about man's ability to persevere through amazing hardships. The Joads come through time and again when they have every excuse for laying down and quitting. Not only do they survive, but they survive as a family. They lose members on the way through death and desertion, but the essence of their family, the love and respect that they feel for each other carries them through. I feel they honestly belived that, even if they had no material possessions, so long as they had each other, they had everything they needed.
| 
