I just can't finish this. It wasn't my cup of tea, but it does give a pretty real and painful representation of that time period, though.

I thought this was a compelling story about a family navigating the dust bowl that was really brought together by the chapters in between the story. In these, Steinbeck depicted the effects of the dust bowl on a broader scale, and these chapters featured language that was much more cynical. I thought that the story of the Joads itself evolved with these chapters in an excellent way, as the story of the Joads was much more hopeful even as Steinbeck tore away this hope with demonstrations of how peoples' farms and homes were being torn apart, there were far more people than there was work, and excess food was being burnt and destroyed for the sake of increasing profit margins. I felt as though I experienced the same disillusionment as the Joads as they came to realize that their hope of a better life in California was not to be realized. Ultimately, I found the ending of the novel to be a beautiful representation of the giving spirit of the Joad family, even when Rose of Sharon had nothing left to give but her own body.

On the whole, I felt it to be a masterful evaluation of the effects of the dust bowl on a small scale and across the country. I agree with the common opinion that the themes of the poor being more supportive than the rich are a bit overdone, but I don't think that that takes away from the impact of the novel. If anything, I would argue that it's impossible to accurately depict this time in history without making this theme one of the most salient in the story. I don't think it's Steinbeck's best story, but I don't think it needs to be. It is one of his best works regardless. ( )

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is set against the backround of dust bowl Oklahoma and Californian migrant life, it tells the story of the Joad family, who like thousands of others are forced to travel west in search of work. their journey is one of false hope, thwarted desires and broken dreams.

The Grapes of Wrath is an excellent introduction to the times of the Great Depression and an account that gives a realistic impression of the Dust Bowl and migration. Steinbeck thoroughly describes the hardships experienced in the travel to California. The reader travels looking through the eyes of both parties; the poor migrants and the wealthy Californians.

Steinbeck relies on the use of symbolism to strengthen and enhance the plot and I loved how in Chapter 3 he introduces the turtle which later is picked up by Tom on the roadside shortly after he was paroled from McAlester prison. The turtle while crossing the highway is narrowly missed by a woman driving a car as she swerves to avoid the turtle, then a man in a truck swerves to try and hit the turtle. The truck just touches the edge of the turtle's shell, and flipped the turtle like a tiddly-wink, spun it like a coin, and rolled it off the highway. In this instance the turtle symbolizes the determination of the farmers in California. These families, even though they are homeless, jobless, and out of money, do not give up their struggle.

While I did find the Grapes of wrath a great read. it was a very slow read for me. At times throughout the novel I found my mind wandering whilst reading long descriptive passages and the plot really did not hold my attention as I found it lacking. I loved the characters but I did feel I never really got to know them.

I really disliked the ending of this novel as I found myself disappointed in its conclusion and after spending many hours reading I had really hoped for a better ending. ( )

I am perhaps digging my own grave by giving a negative review to the well-respected Steinbeck, but Grapes of Wrath is a sore disappointment. Steinbeck's epic is a thinly disguised forum for political, social, and religious dialogue. Unlike great literature, which can address any number of complexities or issues in the context of a larger narrative, Steinbeck presents a only a set of ideas and bends flat characters and a thin plot around these views. His characters are intended only for metaphorical interpretation and offer little substance.

Steinbeck's "interchapters," which portray misery through broad, sweeping claims (without engaging any of the main characters or advancing the plot), are the book's most interesting portions, despite the emotional manipulation that they set forth. To add insult to injury, the novel itself is barely literary. It feels as though Steinbeck is following a checklist of what to include in a novel. (Foreshadowing? Check. Symbolism? Check. Conflict? You betcha.) This would be bad enough by itself, but it isn't even done subtly. Steinbeck might as well have put up neon signs pointing out the literary devices used. He seems to cram as much into the novel as he can, only for the sake of including, rather than for any intrinsic merit. Finally, the messages themselves are somewhat strange. The tone of much of the novel can be described as guilt-mongering - Steinbeck's characters are in a particularly bleak situation, victimized by the Depression, the Dust Bowl, and capitalist land owners - and the readers are made to feel guilty for something that others have done. At the risk of repeating myself, this guilt comes from the narrator's direct condemnations, not through the reader's own understanding of the text or connection with the characters.

Moreover, the book has many religious themes - from the prose style, which imitates the text of the Old Testament, to the very title, which alludes to Revelation - yet the religious "messages" are quite sacrilegious. The main protagonist's epiphany comes from rejecting traditional doctrines (even the idea that all humans have a soul) in exchange for looser, pseudo-Christian ideals. The characters in the text who support traditional ideals are either evil hypocrites or in the case of the heroes (specifically, Granma) laughable, foolish, and senile because of their naive ignorance. This book does not present ideas in an intellectual fashion; it is not worthy to be counted among the greats. I am not criticizing the inclusion of a set of ideas, or even of the Marxist, communist, or religious undertones. I am criticizing Steinbeck's absolute failure write a story with a moral. He opts, instead, for a moral disguised as a story. ( )

I am glad I waited till my 30s to read Steinbeck. I think this is the right age to begin to appreciate how good he is. This was so depressing, but excellent. If there's a book to make you hate capitalism, this is it. The greed of corporations and the cops in their pockets who watch families starve to death rather than pay a fair wage is sickening and familiar. The final scene shows the goodness and generosity the poor still have, not just giving the coats off their backs but their bodies too. ( )