Grapes of Wrath

by John Steinbeck
Book Read on 24 / 4 / 2008

I just finished “The Grapes of Wrath”, by John Steinbeck (#10). (I think someone once told me that the title was mistranslated in Japanese as “Angy Raisins”) Anyway, the book was awesome, a new favourite and I’m going to write some of my thoughts about it later.

Definitely worth reading and definitely deserving to be in the Modern Library’s list of 100 best novels. It is number 10. I’m still chugging through the list. But I have hit a snag with “Sons and Lovers” (#9). It’s too dull.

It is spooky how similar the book is to current day America.  It is actually making the book difficult to continue reading.

Here are some comparisons:

Grapes of Wrath	Current day ‘Merica
Farmers forced off their land by banks	Homeowners forced out of their homes by banks
Farmers go out to California, looking for work and can’t find it, and move into shanty towns call “Hoovervilles”	Former California homeowners, lose their houses and move into shanty towns call “Tent City” The BBC has a piece on it.
Police start using heavy handed tactics to control the “Okies”	SWAT teams are called in to control mothers who need money for housing.
People starve to death	Surely not in America!

I think I’ll stay right here.

In their lapels the insignia of lodges and service clubs, places where they can go and, by a weight of numbers of little worried men, reassure themselves that business is noble and not the curious ritualized thievery they know it is; that business men are intelligent in spite of the records of their stupidity; that they are kind and charitable in spite of the principles of sound business; that their lives are rich instead of the thin tiresome routines they know; and that a time is coming when they will not be afraid anymore.
The Grapes of Wrath (Ch 15)

Reviewer: William Koplitz
5 out of 5 0. 5