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everyatom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I felt the big swell of the message. Where the Joads' story and pains
I'll be thinking of this book for years. Can almost guarantee. Just sits deeply in me and feels magnificent in scope, message, and pain.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
An unnamed dog is hit in the road and dies in the first part of the bookreaderette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The ending really threw me. I get perhaps an allegory of giving life to something dying but not dead yet, and a continuation of the book theme of these traveling families sharing what they had even when they truly had nothing by most measures, but the specifics are activating my sense of wrongness, for sure. Perhaps mostly because I wonder if a non-male author would have chosen the same action to convey the intended message.
Much too long. Every other chapter is more about broader societal conditions or other families besides the Joads, and I skimmed most of that without feeling like I missed much. People who like lots of detail will probably enjoy reading more closely. I definitely gathered some interesting context from the "extra" chapters, but I didn't need as much as there was.
This story has aged less poorly than other classics I've read, though it's also not that old. Period-typical racism and sexism, including use of the n-word and mention of domestic abuse.
Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, Sexism, Violence, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Terminal illness, Murder, and Alcohol
gabriella_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Let me start with the problems.
I have some critiques. First - I felt like it didn’t capture the breadth of displaced Americans for the time. Second - It was very white-centric and seemed to buy into Manifest Destiny shit. I take major issue with both of these. These are my narrative issues
Clearly not as pressing but the pacing at point was inconsistent and dragged on. But I know at points that was the point.
Now the pros.
I really loved the way Ma and Tom were characterized throughout. The family relations at points felt complex. There were really moving moments throughout, and great commentary that’s still relevant now.
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
another_dahlia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident and Colonisation
larseneiii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Ableism, Confinement, Genocide, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
thecriticalreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The Grapes of Wrath contains several instances of sexism and racism (including the occasional use of the n-word). The racism is restricted to a handful of off-hand remarks made by the characters, while the sexism shows up more frequently. However, these instances serve mainly to accurately reflect the attitudes of the people it follows, and I personally did not get the feeling that the author was championing such views. The story itself contains several strong, capable, well-written female characters and the book’s overall message champions human dignity. However, every reader will have their own interpretation of these aspects of the book, and it is important to keep in mind if you are sensitive to these topics in literature.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Classism, and Deportation
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Car accident
alex2teeuw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Steinbeck did his best - as he had hoped - "to rip a reader's nerves to rags". I find it difficult to imagine anything besides. For someone like myself who had not read much leftist literature, the Grapes of Wrath helped me develop class consciousness and a consideration for those who are marginalised. Really - how could anyone who's read the Grapes of Wrath conclude that we live in a just society, a functioning society, a successful society that works for everyone? It changed me.
Also, chapters 5 and 25 are hands-down the best pages of literature ever written. They're beautifully written - analogous to Marx's capital. I feel immense sadness and simultaneous happiness when I read them. I feel the anger.
Also, also, it should not be ignored that there is quite widespread agreement that Steinbeck used (or even plagiarised) some ideas for the Grapes of Wrath from Sanora Babb's 'Whose Names Are Unknown'. It would be worth reading both novels.
Graphic: Miscarriage and Murder
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
calamityin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Violence, Police brutality, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Slavery and Murder
Minor: Kidnapping
bakunzi1990's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
grantsharpies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Miscarriage, Racism, Violence, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism