Just finished reading this a few minutes ago. This is one of my all time favorite novels. I've probably read it 5 times before. And, of course, it blew me away as always. I just love John Steinbeck. He doesn't really ever use many literary 'tricks'. It's just the way he words things that slays me. I have this collection of 4 Steinbeck works in one volume. I got it out to read 'Of Mice and Men' because of Sawyer. Then there was 'Tortilla Flat' and I was like, well, I'll read this because I've only read it once before and I remember it being kind of a cute little story. Then there was 'Cannery Row'. And, same thing, I thought well, I've only read this twice before, but I liked it quite a bit. I really love the Doc character and I wanted to remember why. Hey, I'll read it again. Then there was grapes and I just had to. It has been several years since I read it last. It was in college and I did a big thesis on it. This is truly Steinbeck's masterpiece. The writing is so beautiful, it will make you pause. It's a compelling story about the triumph of the human spirit. It takes place in the '40s during the dust-bowl migration. When thousands of families were forced to flee the Oklahoma/Kansas region in search for work in California. I'm kind of glad I've finished it now, though because for the last couple of weeks, my inner narrative has been in the voice of a Joad (the central family). For example, when I'm really hungry, in my mind I'm saying 'I ain't et yet' and such. Hopefully that will fade over time. All: I implore you; If you have not read this book (Em), do treat yourself. It is amazing. Now 'git'.
5 comments:
hee hee. I'd love to hear you talk like the voices in your head. That happens to me, too, when I'm reading. I've got the black southern slave talk goin on now since I'm reading "Jubilee" again. I've never read "Grapes of Wrath". It's been on my list to get to. Thanks for the reminder. I'll read it soon.
I am totally reading it next Cat. I am even going to put off rereading East of Eden to do it. I have never read Tortilla Flats..... But speaking of Cannery Row, I think of that movie at work a lot (back when I used to work). When we have a big party, the servers would bring a cart with glass racks and a big bucket and dump out all the glasses in the bucket and put them upside down in the rack. Usual talk of how gross the liquid is and daring each other to drink it usually would ensue. All I could ever think of is "the jug".
Haha. Now git. That was funny. This is definitely on my long list.
Thanks, Cat! Definitely one I will move to read soon. Weird I hadn't been assigned to read it somewhere along the road. Our book group is reading Silas Marner by George Eliot right now. Then I have a new novel by my emerging favorite sci-fi/fantasy writer, Brandon Sanderson (goodbye O.S. Card) that I grabbed at BN yesterday screaming at me to hurry, then I will do GofW for sure! Oh, and Breaking Dawn too....
Steinbeck rocks! I have read all four of the books in the collection you have Cat. Good stuff. We always thought of him on trips to Salinas (Weenas, as Dave called it when little) and Monterey and Gilroy. Places he wrote about. I am happy you childs of peace read some of the better stuff. Some of your music kinda sucks, but your minds are wright.
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