Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

The Grapes of Wrath is an American realist novel written by John Steinbeck and published in 1939. The book won the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and it was cited prominently when Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1962.

Set during the Great Depression, the novel focuses on the Joads, a poor family of tenant farmers driven from their Oklahoma home by drought, economic hardship, agricultural industry changes, and bank foreclosures forcing tenant farmers out of work. Due to their nearly hopeless situation, and in part because they are trapped in the Dust Bowl, the Joads set out for California along with thousands of other "Okies" seeking jobs, land, dignity, and a future.

Steinbeck plainly stated his purpose in writing the novel The Grapes of Wrath: “I want to put a tag of shame on the greedy bastards who are responsible for this [the Depression and the plight of the worker].”

Is anyone attempting this work? If you have already read this great work what are your thoughts about how this became the main reason he won the Nobel Prize in 1962?

I read this book many years ago and it has stayed in my mind all these years. It's a very moving book -with memorable characters.

This is one I would love to read. Just not sure how I can fit it in with the other 3 books this month!

I was too young the first time I read it, under 10, and when they buried the old person and put coins on the eyes I had nightmares for years.

I want to read this with the group & hope to learn more about it. It’s the only Steinbeck book I’ve read, having read it just a year ago.

I read this in high school. The story has always stuck with me, but it’s not ever one I could reread. The ending was quite a shock for me at 16 years old.

I know what you mean, Samantha. I read it when I was in my last year of high school.

Was it required reading for school or just read it during that time.

I read it for pleasure reading, but we did read East of Eden in class. Ontario had five grades of high school back then, so must of us were 18 or 19 when we read it.

Lesle, this book was a required reading book for me during my junior year of high school (11th grade). By choice I probably would not have read it at that time.

I read it 3 times for sure, but it was that first time that worried me.

I want to read this one too. Steinbeck is my favorite author.

I really enjoy him too. Since I did not have much in the way of required reading in school. Rosemarie is the one that really got me into his work!

I rediscovered him after a long gap of years, Lesle. Now he's a favourite.

Well I for one always give you praises for making me aware of these great Authors to read! Thank you Thank you!!

I'm glad to gain a Steinbeck convert!

Steinbeck is hands down my favorite author. I connect to him for some reason.

Thanks Kelly that gives me a thought!

Has anyone started reading this yet? (I haven’t.)

Trisha wrote: "Has anyone started reading this yet? (I haven’t.)"

I haven't started it - I'm having trouble reading because I'm glued to the television and spend way too much time doom scrolling Twitter (which is as close to current events as I want to get in this group).

I am starting The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier tonight. Hopefully I will be able to focus on it. The Grapes of Wrath should be up next!

Christine PNW wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Has anyone started reading this yet? (I haven’t.)"

I haven't started it - I'm having trouble reading because I'm glued to the television and spend way too much time doom scrolling T..."

Interesting, Christine - I’m so pleased I’m not the only one easily distracted from reading at the moment! A year ago I would have enjoyed staying at home to read but the novelty has definitely worn off.

I’m just starting a book for another group so will read The Grapes of Wrath & The Scapegoat after that - but haven’t decided which of them to read first.

Fun fact: The Grapes of Wrath was voted #12 on the PBS Great American Read a few years ago. It’s a great story.

Samantha wrote: "Fun fact: The Grapes of Wrath was voted #12 on the PBS Great American Read a few years ago. It’s a great story."

Is it his most popular book, Samantha?

Sorry Samantha!

Top 5 Best John Steinbeck Books and most popular in reverse order:

5. Tortilla Flat (1935)
4. Cannery Row (1945)
3. The Grapes of Wrath (1939)
2. Of Mice and Men (1937)
1. East of Eden (1952)

I was curious, so checked the Goodreads listing on Steinbeck. When based solely on the number of Goodreads ratings, the relative popularity rank of Steinbeck's books is.

1) Of Mice and Men -1.987,313
2) The Grapes of Wrath - 754,768
3) East of Eden - 436,901
4) The Pearl - 191,259
5) Cannery Row - 113,615

I have read most of Steinbeck's famous novels except grapes of wrath. I see the rating here for different Steinbeck books so I thought I can rate it according to what I liked the most. This is my personal opinion but i feel these books are the must reads for Steinbeck fan apart from of course the grapes of wrath.

1. East of Eden
2. The moon is down
3. Of mice and men
4. Tortilla flat
5. Cannery row
6. Red pony
7. The pearl

I love east of Eden most. It's brilliant .. I'm hoping to read grapes of wrath this year for sure.

Lots of different opinions, thank you all. I’ll read Grapes of Wrath this month, have got an audiobook this time which I hope will simplify the problems with dialect that I had before.
It looks as though I will have to read the other books each month with the group to discover which I like best!

Trisha you have broken my heart with your 2 star rating.

Kelly, just remember not every book is right for every person. You might think some of my favorite books are dreadful or boring. It’s great that we have such a broad selection of books — both classics and contemporary — to choose from!

Samantha wrote: "Kelly, just remember not every book is right for every person. You might think some of my favorite books are dreadful or boring. It’s great that we have such a broad selection of books — both class..."

Oh, I know. I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I was mostly joking. This is an all-time favorite and there is always a little piece of me that is sad when someone dislikes it.

Oh, Kelly, you didn’t make me feel bad at all. Most of us hate seeing someone else not love our favorite stories. I think that’s only natural. :) A great thing about classics like this one is that you can recognize and respect it for its literary merits without loving it. I like the book, but this is not among my favorites. Maybe after having a more solid education in history I would love it now more than I did in high school, though.

I'm still trying to get to this one...I've bitten off way more than I can chew this month.

Christine, I do that most of the year with books these days.

Samantha wrote: "Oh, Kelly, you didn’t make me feel bad at all. Most of us hate seeing someone else not love our favorite stories. I think that’s only natural. :) A great thing about classics like this one is that ..."

Thank you for your comments, Samantha. I’m very saddened by this discussion especially as I had been positive about trying again with this book & also said I wanted to read other Steinbeck books with the group this year (in message #27).

Trisha, reading is a personal experience and each book resonates in a different way with a reader. Bravo for finishing such a long book!
I have liked books that everyone else didn't, and vice versa!

Thank you, Rosemarie.

Trisha you were struggling with the dialect and tried by using an Audio version. Kuddos for you to even make it through. Maybe try a short story and if not again, no worries, you gave it a best effort. Too many books out there to try and try one that does not give you that feeling!

There are books like The Old Man and the Sea that I get the underlying message that I loved but others totally miss. Than I realize to each his own. We love stories for different reasons and dislike them for even more. Books and Authors in general need to click with you.

That’s lovely, Lesle. I like your comments about The Old Man and the Sea. It was a book I didn’t expect to enjoy but thought was beautiful when I read it. I read it again recently & liked it even more!

An update. I continued reading. With the audiobook helping at first, I finally got involved in the story. I liked the way he brought history to life with so many tiny details & touches of humour despite all the hardship.

Trisha I am glad you found your rhythm with it and starting to enjoy the read. So much effort on your part. Congratulations!

Thanks, Lesle.

I'm so glad you enjoyed the book, Trisha.

Thanks, Rosemarie.