I remember in high school having the choice of reading The Grapes of Wrath or To Kill a Mockingbird for class. I chose the latter. I was glad, too. I actually read Mockingbird and genuinely liked it. I also remember after we read the books, the students who read The Grapes of Wrath were all a-twitter about that final scene. Now that I’ve read it… I understand.
The Grapes of Wrath
Author: John Steinbeck
Pages: 455
Format: Paperback
Published: April 14, 1939
Publisher: Penguin Books
View on Goodreads
Date Completed: November 14, 2024
My rating: 
Thoughts
Let me say this right at the top: I do not believe this should be required reading in school. No, it shouldn’t be banned. I don’t believe in banning books. What I’m saying is that I appreciated this book a lot more as an adult than I ever could have as a high schooler. As much as I believe The Great Gatsby should be read while you’re younger and full of dreams, The Grapes of Wrath should be read when you’re older and wiser… and weary?
Less than a year before reading this, I got my first introduction to John Steinbeck in Of Mice and Men. That was a short one, but it was good and lit a fire under me to read this one. All I really remember going in was that it takes place during the Great Depression, specifically during a period known as the Dust Bowl.
The book follows the Joad family as they migrate from Oklahoma to find work in California. Young Tom, fresh out of prison (for murder; justifiable murder), is looking for a new start. When he hears about opportunities in California, he’s ready to get out of the state and hit the road. And thus begins this road-trip epic.
But Planes, Trains and Automobiles this is not. This is a long, sad story full of death and disappointment. It was fascinating to see the lengths that people would go to for their families. It’s not like people were lazy. Quite the opposite – people wanted work! And even if they were told ahead of time that certain work was a sham, well, work is work. The pay may not be fair, but it will buy some food for dinner.
Out of all the tribulations, the Joads are the epitome of kind-hearted souls. They barely had room for the immediate family, but they bring others along. They don’t have enough food for the family, but they feed the hungry.
Sadly, we also have to deal with the reality that there are people in the world who see fit to arrest someone just because, beat a preacher to death, or treat workers like prisoners or worse, slaves. It is amazing to me that this country was able to raise itself out of this period of history. Although, I would argue that there are many in this country today that are much like the Joads – Have-Nots, mistreated by the Haves, willing to work, but not given much of a chance…
I won’t talk about the ending here except to note that I had forgotten what my high school friends said about it until I was upon it. And that just so happens to be on the last page of this great novel.
I shouldn’t forget to note this won the Pulitzer Prize. I’ve read a few Pulitzer winners and, although they tend to be sad, I’m never disappointed.
Oh and side note: I hated those kids, Ruthie and Winfield. Those snot-nosed, good-for-nothing little shitheads. Ruthie can’t keep her goddamned mouth shut when it’s most important and Winfield should just die and decrease the surplus population! [deep breath… deep breath…] Sorry about that. Where was I? Ah, yes.
Given that this is an American classic, I feel like I should give it 5 stars. However, I have to settle with a 4. A big reason behind this was how it ends after Ruthie opens her big mouth. Although Rose of Sharon is truly a saint, I didn’t care about her like I did for Tom. I almost would have liked some kind of epilogue talking about his life after the events that ended his journey with this family.
