“Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck. Written in 1939. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize for Literature.
This tragedy follows Tom Joad and the Joad family as they are forced off their land by the bank. The family sets off for California in hopes of finding work and starting a new life. It is one tragedy after another from beginning to end. Family lost the farm, dog gets ran over, Grandpa dies, Grandma dies, husband runs off, preacher is killed, Tom possibly commits another murder and has to separate from the family, a baby is stillborn and much much more. It is almost too depressing to write about. The book does end on a high note, a smile.
Analysis
Wow! Extremely well written. I would love to read it again but it is so depressing. I understand why it is so talked about and how it won those prestigious prizes. There is so much to like about this book. I enjoyed how every other chapter is a separate story or description of the times. The copy I read was a Penguin Classics 50th anniversary addition. It included a 40 page introduction and notes by Author\Scholar\Editor Robert Demott. Very informative and it made me feel not worthy of submitting the Jr. High level book report. I was surprised to find that chapter 15 is the inspiration for one of my favorite songs “Here comes that rainbow again” by Kris Kristofferson. A powerful book, a must read.
