Read this in 1954 at age 13. My house was full of books. Was home sick with flu. I have never forgotten the story. The movie followed the book. It is the story of human misery, but full of courage and strength. Takes place during the dust bowl era when many poor farmers fled Oklahoma and headed to California to find work. It is about class warfare, extreme poverty, human cruelty. But it is also about the human spirit that survives in the throes of such extreme hardship. It is a must read for everyone.
Don’t read it as history?!? But it IS history! Living history! Steinbeck used field notes from government agencies, as well as notes from an author who was collecting personal stories about migrant farm workers, not to mention his own research into migrant camps, like the one at Weedpatch, which really existed. As “historical fiction” goes, it’s as close to historical as you can get.
I am in the minority but I find his writing to be incredibly boring and depressing, so much so I don’t get any enjoyment out of it. I have read them all. Not for me.
I’ve read it and watched the movie in high school over 30yrs ago. I remeber it was good but sad and kind of slow. But then again, I was a teenager. maybe I will enjoy it better now
The Grapes of Wrath is absolutely fantastic! A little depressing, definitely, but beautiful ?
Fair enough
Classic, a masterpiece!
Read this in 1954 at age 13. My house was full of books. Was home sick with flu. I have never forgotten the story. The movie followed the book. It is the story of human misery, but full of courage and strength. Takes place during the dust bowl era when many poor farmers fled Oklahoma and headed to California to find work. It is about class warfare, extreme poverty, human cruelty. But it is also about the human spirit that survives in the throes of such extreme hardship. It is a must read for everyone.
Do you write reviews? If not—you should!??
Read this after the economy went kaput. A great book with a timely message. The ending is a knockout.
Don’t read it as history. Treat it like the well written novel it is
But it’s History though!
Don’t read it as history?!? But it IS history! Living history! Steinbeck used field notes from government agencies, as well as notes from an author who was collecting personal stories about migrant farm workers, not to mention his own research into migrant camps, like the one at Weedpatch, which really existed. As “historical fiction” goes, it’s as close to historical as you can get.
“Don’t read it as history.” I can’t even.
It is memorable. I have never forgotten it, but I don’t want to read it again.
Fabulous.
Sad, long, but very entertaining, and a lot of lessons to be learned
Absolutely brilliant!!
very readable, I expected it to be tougher to read, but such a sad story. Very good book!
The beginning starts a bit dry (literally and figuratively) but keep going. It soon gets very good! Something you will never truly forget.
Very thought provoking and evocative.
I am in the minority but I find his writing to be incredibly boring and depressing, so much so I don’t get any enjoyment out of it. I have read them all. Not for me.
Wait you’ve read all of them? His 16 novels or his 27 books in total? And you didn’t enjoy it at all. Why would you do that?
I have a degree in English. Read them all in school 🙂 read lots and lots of stuff that I would never read in the first place.
How sad for you Cinda.
I’m pretty ok with it actually. I read other stuff. Lots of books in this world.
Loved it! Sad but it really shows how people lived these hard times.
I’ve read it and watched the movie in high school over 30yrs ago. I remeber it was good but sad and kind of slow. But then again, I was a teenager. maybe I will enjoy it better now
Great book! One of the few I enjoyed being forced to read in high school, taking time away from my preferred reading. Sad, but a good read.
I hated it, but couldn’t put it down. If that makes sense. LOL. Only read it once, in literature class in high school.
Classic, based on a tragic time in U.S history. Fonda is majestic in the film and Steinbeck weaves words that only Faulkner can equal.
Love Steinbeck.
His Travels With Charley is another great Steinbeck book, very different from Grapes of Wrath of course, but a true story.
I want to travel his route. I know there are articles about it but to do it myself….
Loved it!
Favorite book in high school. Really long but I remember loving it.
A must read.