"I don't know what the country's comin' to," the fat man continued. His complaint had shifted and he was no longer talking to or about the Joads. "Fifty-six cars a folks go by ever' day, folks all movin' West with kids an' househol' stuff. Where they goin'? What they gonna do?"
"Doin' the same as us," said Tom. "Goin' someplace to live. Tryin' to get along. That's all."
That just might be the theme of this novel: regular, ordinary people doing the best they can, "tryin' to get along", in a world where the cards all seem stacked against them. Just out of prison, Tom Joad comes home to find his family driven off the land they've farmed for generations. These sharecroppers are hard workers, but what are they without their land? So, they sell everything they own and set out for California, hoping to build a better life there. But there aren't jobs for them in California, at least not ones that pay enough for them to live on; and though they scrimp and scrabble, they never seem able to get ahead. Loss and tragedy seem to be their lot in life.
In this novel, John Steinbeck skillfully depicts what life was like during the great Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s, as well as the hardships, hopes and defeats of the Joad family. At 455 pages, this isn't a fast read. But there's a rhythm to Steinbeck's prose that I really appreciate; it's almost poetic. Like in this paragraph:
"66 is the path of people in flight, refugees from dust and shrinking land, from the thunder of tractors and shrinking ownership, from the desert's slow northward invasion, from the twisting winds that howl up out of Texas, from the floods that bring no richness to the land and steal what little richness is there. From all of these the people are in flight, and they come into 66 from the tributary side roads, from the wagon tracks and the rutted country roads. 66 is the mother road, the road of flight."
Did I love this one? Not exactly. But only because the Joads' story is so sad. No matter how hard they try they never get ahead; things just keep going from bad to worse for them. And I hated the hopelessness of their journey. But I do like the way Steinbeck writes. He tells a powerful and sweeping story, and I can see why The Grapes of Wrath is considered a classic. And I'm very glad I read it. Written in 1939, this one counts as my 20th Century Classic for Karen's Back to the Classics Challenge.
Happy Reading!
Although it has been years since I've read it, my memory of it is mostly of despair. Not an enjoyable book, but an important one.
ReplyDeleteYes! I totally agree. :)
DeleteThe Grapes of Wrath is probably my favourite Steinbeck novel but I understand your feelings. And I agree with Jen, certainly not a book to enjoy but very important to read.
ReplyDeleteI am very glad I finally read it. And I liked it...I just didn't love the sadness of it.
DeleteTotally understandable.
DeleteThis was a tough read I recall, but, there is sadness to be found in all the his books that I have read. Of Mice and Men and East of Eden are favorites.
ReplyDeleteHis books do always end sad. I've read Of Mice and Men and The Pearl, but still need to read East of Eden. :)
DeleteConfession - I have never read this book. I know it is a classic, and I've heard of it, but I don't even think I knew what it was about. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteI never knew too much about it before I read it either, only that it was about Okies moving to California. So, now we both know more. ;D
DeleteI read this book back in high school, and I agree with you. It's extremely well written , but the hopelessness really got to me.
ReplyDeleteExactly. I was rooting for them all the way through, but with each chapter things seemed to get worse. It's a sad read.
DeleteI haven't read this one but have thought about doing so multiple times. Of Mice and Men was one of my favorite reads back in high school. I always meant to read more of Steinbeck's work but have just never gotten around to it.
ReplyDeleteI really liked Of Mice and Men, too. Steinbeck writes well; but his stories do tend to be sad.
DeleteI read this many years ago and I remember well how distressing the story was. At the same time, as you say, Steinbeck's prose was so exquisite that it made it all bearable.
ReplyDeleteI do love the way Steinbeck writes!
DeleteHi Lark, I did read it when I was young and your very fine review has me interested in reading it again because maybe I was too young when I read it the first time. There is a very good nonfiction book on the Dust Bow out there called The Worst Hard Time by Thomas Egan but Grapes of Wrath probably gives one a more personal account of what that time was like so I need to put it on my list to reread.
ReplyDeleteMy mistake the author's name is Timothy Egan
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to know about his book. The Worst Hard Time sounds good, and since I'm trying to read more nonfiction this year, I'll have to see if my library has a copy. :)
DeleteThis sounds like a depressing read, but I guess at least his writing is good. Still, not one for me. Great review, Lark!
ReplyDeleteThe hopelessness of their situation really got to me. It's just so sad! But I am glad I finally read it.
DeleteI'm hoping to read this soon too - I loved East of Eden, so I'm looking forward to it. It does sound very sad, but at least you liked the writing!
ReplyDeleteI've always liked the way Steinbeck writes. And he really captures what life was like at that time, and draws you in to his characters and their struggles. He's a good author.
DeleteIt's been a long time since I read this one, too, but that's how I remember it: so dark it wasn't entirely an enjoyable read, but a powerful one.
ReplyDeletePowerful is a great way to describe this book. It's one I won't soon forget!
DeleteI think this is one of the first books that was required reading in high school, that I actually liked even though it was for a class.
ReplyDeleteI had to read Of Mice and Men in high school, and I ended up really liking that one, even though it ended sad, too. :)
DeleteThe Grapes of Wrath is powerful, and as someone else mentioned, Timothy Egan's The Worst Hard Time is the perfect non-fiction accompaniment to it. Egan's book is one of my all-time favorites, as is Steinbeck's East of Eden. I was fortunate enough to read East of Eden at the precise time I needed it during a very rough patch in my life. It never ceases to amaze me how literature can-- and does-- come to the rescue.
ReplyDeleteBooks are amazing in that way! And after reading this one, I totally want to read Egan's The Worst Hard Time!
DeleteI do want to read this! I picked up a copy a couple of years ago and swore I'd make it happen... but haven't yet. Hopefully this year!
ReplyDeleteIt's good! Just be prepared for lots of sad things to happen to the Joads.
DeleteI've never read but I can definitely see the appeal of the writing from what you've shared.
ReplyDeleteThe whole book has great passages like that. I really like Steinbeck's prose. :)
DeleteAn American classic for sure!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a memorable story. :)
DeleteIt's a classic and I think it is a good choice for a classics reading group or a high school literature course. I remember finding it dreary. I read several Steinbecks in my past, but Of Mice and Men is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI read Of Mice and Men in high school and ended up really liking it. I think it's still my favorite Steinbeck. :)
DeleteLove your Haiku reviews!
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteI remember reading this in high school and I have a positive feeling towards it. I don't remember much of the book itself, but I've been thinking of rereading it.
ReplyDeleteIt's worth another read. :)
DeleteEnjoyed reading your review. Steinbeck's Cannery Row is one of my favourite novels but I've never tackled Grapes of Wrath. I must read it!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a powerful and moving story. I haven't read Cannery Row, or Tortilla Flat, but I think they're the next two Steinbeck novels I want to read. :)
DeleteNicely reviewed. It is pretty bleak! Ohh that dust along the way! I'd like to reread it from my high school days. It was eye-opening to me then.
ReplyDeleteIt is very eye-opening, especially how all the Okies were treated when they finally got to California!
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