I love The Grapes of Wrath so much. It is such a brilliant look at humanity and I love it. If you haven't read it yet you should read Travel's with Charlie because it was brilliant, heartwarming, and eye-opening.
Because of this comment, and because it's almost summer, I'm thinking of making a video soon where I let y'all decide a few of the books I read this summer. Once I figure out how I'm gonna do that, you should definitely recommend that one, because I'd love to read more Steinbeck!
I just finished this book and it blew me away. The part where you talked about being glad you read it later in life resonated hard with me, I’m 24 now and reading it simply because of history would’ve lost so much on me. This book is so much more than just a timepiece. It’s about the human condition, how humans will band together to become the best of people under extreme adversity and become the worst when they fear something they don’t understand and aren’t willing to understand. It’s about human greed and the spirit of humanity that fights against it, and in spite of it for the good of all. Im absolutely in love with this book it was the best I ever read so far, I can’t wait to read more Steinbeck.
Yes, I believe that a book can teach someone about periods in history, but the amount lost depends entirely on the way in which you approach the topic; if you read a book simply to gather hard fact about historical events, I think much of the point is lost on you. However, if you read it to better understand the collective, sociological mindset of people at the time in reaction to the events taking place, a lot can be gained. When your goal is the latter, sometimes the best first-hand accounts can be found in art and literature, since they are the direct creations of the everyday person, after all. ( I of course am only referring to types of books that DO have something more to offer, not ones that are made purely to inform.) Also, this is one of my favorite reviews you've done-- when I go to read Grapes of Wrath (which will be very soon after seeing this video) I think I'll be starting from a better point of reference :-)
I love this comment. Especially your part in the parenthesis near the end--it brings up the point that a novel should first and foremost be a novel, aka it should be entertaining, it should arc, it should do all the things a novel does, and then it can serve as a neat look at the thoughts of the time. I think you're spot on there :) (thank youuuu)
Ah, this is a great day for TH-cam notifications-- a vlogbrothers upload, and a reply from Ryan! Thanks! Means a lot-- I'm quite often impressed by the points you make in your videos. Glad what I was trying to say made sense after all :-P
Every time I walk past a building named "Rose of Sharon" with my boyfriend he finds a way to make a boob comment. I probably should reread this, it's been half my life since I read it, but I will never forget how it made me feel. Wonderful review!
I just finished it tonight and wanted to see someone's thoughts on it and here I am. This book is just an excellent read. Poetically written and every scene so vividly established with those 'interlude' chapters before the Joad story continues. I allegedly read this in high school but I suspect that I relied on cliff's notes to get through the class because I hardly remembered any of it. Kinda glad because, wow, I'm still coming down from how well it blew my mind. Thanks for not spoiling it; I can see why it's required reading - a pity it is so lost on so many students looking to 'short-cut' through it.
I love this book. I didn't have to read it for high school. It was one of the books my mother recommended to me. I think sometimes you can't separate a book from the era it was written. The Great Gatsby would make no sense if it was written in the 30's. The Grapes of Wrath could have only been written during the Depression. I also think, not to spoil the book, but it has a powerful and moving end to it.
I just wanted to say that I am a highschooler and for one of my English assignments we have to read a novel written by an author who has won the Nobel Prize for Literature and I chose the grapes of wrath. I wasn't watching this video for the sake of getting away without reading the book, I simply and excited about reading it and can't wait to have the book in my hands! Thanks for the awesome review man!!
absolutely you can take this book out of the context of the depression. it is about common decency. the most generous people on this novel were the people who had next to nothing but would still share with others who had less. that charity transcends all time.
I've read the book five times and find something new each time. The theme of the down trodden will never grow old. In fact, it's probably more relevant today than ever. My grandparents lived in Pacific Grove at this time and my grandfather met John at the mailbox one day. I wish I could see a photo of both sides of the street they lived back then. My theory is that they must have lived across from my grandparent'place since they both met at the mailboxes at approximately the same time. My grandpa was a pretty friendly guy and said, "Hi, I'm Kenny Johnson." Steinbeck introduced himself to my grandpa in the same simple manner. I don't think they ever meet again, but I know I would've dropped dead!
I read this book when I was 15 years old and in high school, but not because it was required reading. (To be honest, when I was in high school I never read what I was supposed to read) I've re-read it several times through my life, and I still think it is one of the best books of the century. Even though it tells of the worst of times for the Joads, in our modern times there are many instances of abject poverty in our country today. The homeless problem, the problem of immigrants trying to enter our country. And the spirit of Tom Joad lives still, in the music of Bruce Springsteen and Rage Against the Machine.
I had to read Of Mice and Men for a high school class and did not particularly enjoy it, but then I studied it in a university lit class ad fell in love with the book. Maybe it was because I was older and could appreciate it more, but also I think it has to do with what you said about taking away the historical context and that we focused on character study and the themes of independence. I also loved East of Eden but I've been hesitant to pick up Grapes of Wrath, though your review has made me excited to read it!
I'll say this: I was convinced Grapes of Wrath would be no fun and nothing compared to East of Eden, but it pleasantly surprised me! I hope you have the same reaction :) i loved your comment about the historical context, that's exactly what I mean! yes!!!
Write the bad things that happen to you in sand and write the good things that happen to you in marble. These are my 3 favorite books: - Penturian by Tim Gibson - Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam - Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
There's a reason this book is not taught in history class but in literature class: It's not for the history, its for the concepts/ideas. At least in my school, we get a brief summarization of the historical context of the book (Dust Bowl, Great Depression, etc.) but as my class read it, we focused more on the themes and what message Steinbeck is trying to convey with the Joads and the people they meet on their journey. But I do agree with you that most high schoolers most likely skim over the book and would just like to pass the assignments as most teenagers do which sucks because the ideas made in the book are valuable and still hold true today (typing this in quarantine). But that problem is more of a fundamental systematic school problem than a reading problem. Good review btw!
Grapes of Wrath is just as much about humanity, good vs. evil (perceived), capitalism, morals, family, independence and rebellion. I am sure there are at least 5 more I could name but those are the main ones that come to mind after reading it over 10 years ago. Highschoolers, read the damn book, I am going to reread it in a few weeks, as when I read over it, ahhem, I did skim some parts, especially those inter chapters. Oh ya and there is a turtle. And the ghost of Tom Joad lives on somewhere, whenever you see a cop beating a guy, he will be there.
This book really made me think about the oncoming environmental refugees. How will we treat the ppl who are forced off their land because it turns against them again? Happening now in California with the fires and in the South with the flooding. I think it will be exactly the same. The whole world will see huge migrations soon and history will repeat itself.
I agree. I just read atlas shrugged with a completely open mind and it is life changing. This book is the same if you just enjoy the story and let the ideology wash over you 👍🏼
I loved Grapes of Wrath., that yearning, hope and desperation to find something better. This was a fantastic video. I found your channel not long ago and I went back to watch some of your earlier videos when you still lived in the Midwest. I moved from the Midwest to Utah years ago, and watching you goodbye video and your obvious love and connection to home was touching. You are so genuine; one of my favorite channels.
It's definitely full of yearning--one way to read that novel is just the struggle to keep wanting a better life. Aww thanks for the Midwest love -- I know it's trite to say that i have a "complicated" relationship with home, but it's true. It took leaving to realize that I would miss quite a bit once I was gone. especially the midwest, a place that doesn't get much love :) (and thank you so much)
If I was forced to read this book during high school where I knew I would be graded on my overall comprehension of the book, I would've despised it-much like most of the other classic lit we were forced to read in English class. Having just finished reading the book as 25 year old-on my own time, without the pressure of a pending book report or opinionated essays to write afterwards-I can say I've genuinely enjoyed the journey. It almost begs a familiar question to people out of high school that don't read for enjoyment: did school kill the joy of reading for you?I loved the characters of the Joad family, but I found my favourite chapters were the ones that encompassed the entire population and how they were fairing under similar circumstances; there were little gems of wisdom sprinkled into those chapters that made me drop the book a moment just to say WOW out loud, especially that earlier chapter which beautifully described the difference between how hired tractor-operators and the native land owners saw the crops and land. Just so freaking lovely!Awesome video, man! I'm subbing.
I haven't approached Steinback's writing yet and I need to fix that sooner than later. Concerning your question, do we loose something when we reas a novel for its representation of a historical period, I'd say not necessarily. It's important to bear in mind both the intrinsic value of the story at a more intimate level, but knowing the context in which it appear can open meanings and interpretation that could make us appreciate a novel even more. Sometimes, the historical or literary context can offer the key that unfolds the whole novel before a reader. It's a bit like in poetry, the first impress should be your personal interpretation, but it's even more inspiring sometimes when you see the what lies below the surface that brought this poetical work to existence.
I couldn't agree more: I think we'd be fools to read a work without considering it's context, obviously, and yet I worry about saying that the context is the first thing we should talk about. I want the Grapes of Wrath to be first and foremost a novel doing what a novel does, and second a novel with something to say about a certain time in history. Thanks for the great comment :)
Mate great review - I could listen to you review books all day! Grapes of wrath was my favourite book of all time until last year, really interesting hearing your personal reaction to it. I live in the uk so I couldn't relate to it in that way in any sense!
I'm glad to be able to express my thoughts. I've read the book 2 times, it's really a very controversial book about class destinction and social reform to make us think that socialism is the best form of government. Labor unions, The New Deal by Roosevelt. Personally I loved it and I think your right to recommend it to older readers. What do you think 🤔?
On par with the way To Kill A Mockingbird pushes readers to consider more than race and the Jim Crow south, the Grapes of Wrath does the same. Both works, I think, are staples of high school literature because they so easily resist simplicity and inspire students to become careful readers of literature. Both works inspire conversation about some of life's more essential questions. I learned to read when I read The Grapes of Wrath in high school. It helped that I had a wonderful teacher too.
You know I'm a fan anytime we can work the words "resist simplicity" in. I think you're right -- I can imagine a high school classroom in which Grapes of Wrath would open up the world of close reading and complexity for readers. I think that's a reason I'm going to be very careful when talking about this book in the future: I want to avoid, at all costs, saying this is "a Great Depression book" or "a Dust Bowl novel" because I want it to resist the simplicity of that label in our conversations.
Another stellar review! Good for you for making the point that high schoolers should actually read the work. Also, for me, the most salient and valuable point you made was your question about why we approach certain works of literature only/mainly from a historical perspective. I think we need a solid grounding in history. As a history minor for my undergrad degree, I still don't think I got enough history. I'm so glad I have time to research it more on my own and for the classes I teach. That being said, I also think that a text must also be valuable in other ways in order to continue to be considered a classic. I think one of the most important activities we can do (as literary analysts) is to ask challenging questions about revered texts. Why indeed is Grapes of Wrath valuable? If memory serves (from reading it years ago), I would say it's the intersection of his incredible settings and the characters who inhabit/pass through them. Steinbeck holds up setting/landscape/atmosphere as a mirror to the human consciousnesses that are part of those settings. Just my few quick thoughts. Thanks, Ryan!
I love this comment. I think you're right about not having enough history--I feel this way all the time--but we've got to keep those complex-readings alive and well. And about Steinbeck and why Grapes of Wrath might be valuable: I think you're spot on about the settings/landscapes, and in this book specifically I think it's worth reading for the ideas about the family unit, and how that's effected by poverty and migrancy, especially in comparison to what they left behind. Anywho, thanks a ton for the comment, I loved reading it :) (thank you)
Nah, I don't think we lose anything by focusing on novels as tools for greater historical understanding. Quite the opposite. I read a bunch of assigned novels while in college studying history. They helped me round out my understanding of events I was studying. 👍 It's a great question.
The twenty families became one. The book is about people coming together in the face of struggle and hardship. It’s about strength in numbers and the reality of what life is like for people in poverty. I like the thug notes video the best so far.
I think history is very important in literature and otherwise, however it should not be the only reason for choosing a book for reading, especially for high school students
You didn't read it until you were 23 huh? Well I'm 24 and finished it this past Sunday night. I read it because I felt like it. I looked up and wrote down the Pulitzer winners and I chose The Grapes Of Wrath after I finished The Road. No school related issues or such. What a book. Gritty, harsh reality, tough, blunt. I completely agree with it getting the Pulitzer. Also I kinda knew about what happens on the last page. I forget if it was on an ep of Boy Meets World or what. If I got that confused then Idk how I did. So that also influenced me to read it. And for you or anyone else who has read it...did Tom die at some point during the flooding? I thought he refused to run off with that $7.00. Or is that something open to interpretation? The last 2 chapters I believe it was did not involve him physically. And one final question for you: Have you read All The Light We Cannot See? If not then you really should
Hey man, I'm a high schooler who needs sources for a book report on this book that I have read a long time ago and am now re-reading. I need sources for the report, and you'll be one of them. Nice job pandering to the highschoolers.
Its not worth it ,Im also a leaching highschooler looking for a resume with detauls and I sincerly think that its not worth presenting the book to us since we arent gonna fully enjoy it .I mean wtf is wrong with schools giving books about the great depresion ,why not just gives us a simple happy book ,or a book that makes us think about our present lifes.
This book will make you think about your present life.... You are a debt-slave with no property. Your parents live paycheck to paycheck, in a shoebox condo. You can absolutely relate to the poverty in this book.
I didn't even know this book was a 'thing' to read for high schoolers. Definitely wasn't in mine..all we read was 'Great Expectations', 'To Kill a Mockingbird', 'Lord of the Flies', and 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'
It definitely depends from person to person and state to state and even school to school. For instance, of the books you've listed I only read TKAM in highschool... I had to pick up all the rest later in life!
Y'alls is backwards. Looking at a book from a historical standpoint isn't bad. It's just another mode of experience/enjoyment/investigation. The problem isn't that you're using it for historical context is not the problem; the problem is that you're ONLY using it for historical info (rather than emotional appeal, philosophical fodder, moral play, etc. etc.). This of course only applies to books that DO have more to offer. Inevitably there are plenty that offer nothing but a look at an older time (the oft-used example nowadays is Romeo and Juliet).
I agree completely, and those reasons (emotional, philosophical, ethical, etc) are the main reasons I read. But wait, I believe pretty heavily that Romeo and Juliet has more to offer us than a look at an older time!
ForTheLoveOfRyan I agree that R&J has more worth than as pure history, but I hear the argument that "It's a weak love story, but it's a great look at family factionalism" more and more. Me personally, a stronger example is The Jungle, but each their own or whatever.
that intro was scarily accurate. i genuinely thought that you somehow have a camera and can see me or something. i have an exam coming up in less than 2 hours and i still haven't read the book. hahaha
ForTheLoveOfRyan I've read East of Eden, but it's not my favourite. Of Mice and Men is good, but my favourite so far is The Winter of Our Discontent. That one is so good!
To cut to the chase quickly, great literature has one great point- to move the soul, mind and heart in ways that are eternal and beyond time- time periods change, human nature does not. A "classic" might be set- and written- in an historical period where "these people" dresses different, are different foods, made an income and A Living differently and has different reference points that were important to THEM- for instance, Homer's Iliad or Odyssey. Written over half a millennia before the birth of Christ, in an heroic age of different values, a religion that pretty much died by this time, different foods, etc. However, things such as: Admiration for a parent, a love that values the right things, even beyond, say, an offer of immortality bestowed if we leave our beloved spouse; courage, loyalty, friendship, self- sacrifice.....you know- the good stuff. Such remains beyond cultures, because human beings, then and now, still put up with : jealousy, fear, devotion, hate, anger, love- in this regard, Those Distant People are still US. The other essential is that the study of different Historical time periods changes with the societies that are teaching them at the moment. But to Really Know the American Jazz Age and Roaring Twenties-The Great Gatsby will take you there, written in it's midst; Pre-revolutionary, Tsarist Russia? Tolstoy and Anna Karenina will take you THERE; Beowulf and the European Dark Ages- despite the muck nowadays heaped on this Old Old English poem of life in Pagan times, but probably written in a Christian Society-that's life then, especially to LOOSE the belief that Nature is benign and gentle and full of goodness- the Ancients correctly saw nature and the natural world as..properly... Terrifying.
forgot to mention that im not really from a farm, but i live in a pretty southern, farm type community in south nj so im hoping i get the same kick out of it as you did. and, plz more american literature. i know just about all of it is already american, but i just want more. any hemmingway favorites?
I'm a big big big fan of the Sun Also Rises. The channel "All The Shelves" (an amazing channel) had a video pretty recently that talked about it and I couldn't agree more -- that book is a frakking masterpiece of masculinity.
This book sucked I hate it. At times John Steinbeck repeats himself more than he should. His descriptiveness of places and events can be shortened. The characters are very bland and I do understand that their situation is terrible they brought it on themselves when Grandpa killed the natives for the land. The characters get called Okies and it's supposed to be a racist part of the book or show that white people are discriminated against but they're still allowed to stay there for the night which wouldn't happen if they were colored. I'm glad for bad things that happen to the family because for a better half of the novel they don't question the Grandpa or the terrible shit he's done. They just said he had to survive while other characters survive not having to do anything terrible. There are chapters that can be cut off entirely and it wouldn't affect the story. Some good philosophy in some areas such as compassion,family,grit,and viewing religion differently. I also read somewhere Steinbeck plagiarized and got a lot of the historical facts wrong. The story could have been told in 10 minutes orally but takes Steinbeck hours. Trash book and read.
Books I would recommend instead of this. Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon, The Centurions by Jean Larteguy, A Boy's Life and Swang Song by Robert R. McCammon, Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger, Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Becher Stove, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest by Ken Kessey, The autobiography of Gucci Mane, and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.
Liberal ideals are well exemplified in this book and yes you're right we do lose something if we don't look at that aspect of it We also lose something if we don't look at a conservative aspect like, I don't know, a book like The Fountainhead, & just reading both of these two books can give you a really good idea on how politics really work and help you unbrainwash yourself.
![THE GRAPES OF WRATH by John Steinbeck 🇺🇸 BOOK REVIEW [CC]](/img/n.gif)
dude that is the exact reason im here, highschool my dude
:)
The book is even perhaps even more relevant today.
My thoughts exactly. We have learned nothing.
I love The Grapes of Wrath so much. It is such a brilliant look at humanity and I love it.
If you haven't read it yet you should read Travel's with Charlie because it was brilliant, heartwarming, and eye-opening.
Because of this comment, and because it's almost summer, I'm thinking of making a video soon where I let y'all decide a few of the books I read this summer. Once I figure out how I'm gonna do that, you should definitely recommend that one, because I'd love to read more Steinbeck!
I read the first quarter or so of that book. I heard somewhere Steinbeck made up alot of it though, so I put it down.
I just finished this book and it blew me away. The part where you talked about being glad you read it later in life resonated hard with me, I’m 24 now and reading it simply because of history would’ve lost so much on me. This book is so much more than just a timepiece. It’s about the human condition, how humans will band together to become the best of people under extreme adversity and become the worst when they fear something they don’t understand and aren’t willing to understand. It’s about human greed and the spirit of humanity that fights against it, and in spite of it for the good of all. Im absolutely in love with this book it was the best I ever read so far, I can’t wait to read more Steinbeck.
Grapes of Wrath is very important book in present time!
yes! I agree!
i love how you started the intro so perfectly because honestly yes i wanted a small review about the book
Yes, I believe that a book can teach someone about periods in history, but the amount lost depends entirely on the way in which you approach the topic; if you read a book simply to gather hard fact about historical events, I think much of the point is lost on you. However, if you read it to better understand the collective, sociological mindset of people at the time in reaction to the events taking place, a lot can be gained. When your goal is the latter, sometimes the best first-hand accounts can be found in art and literature, since they are the direct creations of the everyday person, after all. ( I of course am only referring to types of books that DO have something more to offer, not ones that are made purely to inform.)
Also, this is one of my favorite reviews you've done-- when I go to read Grapes of Wrath (which will be very soon after seeing this video) I think I'll be starting from a better point of reference :-)
I love this comment. Especially your part in the parenthesis near the end--it brings up the point that a novel should first and foremost be a novel, aka it should be entertaining, it should arc, it should do all the things a novel does, and then it can serve as a neat look at the thoughts of the time. I think you're spot on there :) (thank youuuu)
Ah, this is a great day for TH-cam notifications-- a vlogbrothers upload, and a reply from Ryan!
Thanks! Means a lot-- I'm quite often impressed by the points you make in your videos. Glad what I was trying to say made sense after all :-P
an excellent vlogbrothers video too, I thought :) of course!
Every time I walk past a building named "Rose of Sharon" with my boyfriend he finds a way to make a boob comment. I probably should reread this, it's been half my life since I read it, but I will never forget how it made me feel. Wonderful review!
ahahaha that's hilarious. Leave it to the boyfriends of the world to keep the boob humor alive. (thank you!)
I just finished it tonight and wanted to see someone's thoughts on it and here I am. This book is just an excellent read. Poetically written and every scene so vividly established with those 'interlude' chapters before the Joad story continues. I allegedly read this in high school but I suspect that I relied on cliff's notes to get through the class because I hardly remembered any of it. Kinda glad because, wow, I'm still coming down from how well it blew my mind. Thanks for not spoiling it; I can see why it's required reading - a pity it is so lost on so many students looking to 'short-cut' through it.
I love this book. I didn't have to read it for high school. It was one of the books my mother recommended to me. I think sometimes you can't separate a book from the era it was written. The Great Gatsby would make no sense if it was written in the 30's. The Grapes of Wrath could have only been written during the Depression. I also think, not to spoil the book, but it has a powerful and moving end to it.
definitely a great book, and definitely a product of its time. And the ending is moving indeed
You are an amazing wordsmith and I appreciate your infectious love of literature. I have just ordered The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden.
(I love to hear that you're going after the books.) Let me know what you think of either or both! :)
+ForTheLoveOfRyan Both will be delivered tomorrow. Which do you recommend I read first?
ooh. I'm biased, but I liked my order.
I just wanted to say that I am a highschooler and for one of my English assignments we have to read a novel written by an author who has won the Nobel Prize for Literature and I chose the grapes of wrath. I wasn't watching this video for the sake of getting away without reading the book, I simply and excited about reading it and can't wait to have the book in my hands! Thanks for the awesome review man!!
One of my all time favorite novels that I read twice through. I love the ending! Great novel, indeed!
I'm still looking forward to my second time through :)
absolutely you can take this book out of the context of the depression. it is about common decency. the most generous people on this novel were the people who had next to nothing but would still share with others who had less. that charity transcends all time.
Is the silver circle on the botton left of the cover a sticker or is it already printed in?
I found myself skipping most of the interchapters, with the exception of the turtle one and the few towards the end. Anyone else do that or nah?
I've read the book five times and find something new each time. The theme of the down trodden will never grow old. In fact, it's probably more relevant today than ever. My grandparents lived in Pacific Grove at this time and my grandfather met John at the mailbox one day. I wish I could see a photo of both sides of the street they lived back then. My theory is that they must have lived across from my grandparent'place since they both met at the mailboxes at approximately the same time. My grandpa was a pretty friendly guy and said, "Hi, I'm Kenny Johnson." Steinbeck introduced himself to my grandpa in the same simple manner. I don't think they ever meet again, but I know I would've dropped dead!
I read this book when I was 15 years old and in high school, but not because it was required reading. (To be honest, when I was in high school I never read what I was supposed to read) I've re-read it several times through my life, and I still think it is one of the best books of the century. Even though it tells of the worst of times for the Joads, in our modern times there are many instances of abject poverty in our country today. The homeless problem, the problem of immigrants trying to enter our country. And the spirit of Tom Joad lives still, in the music of Bruce Springsteen and Rage Against the Machine.
I had to read Of Mice and Men for a high school class and did not particularly enjoy it, but then I studied it in a university lit class ad fell in love with the book. Maybe it was because I was older and could appreciate it more, but also I think it has to do with what you said about taking away the historical context and that we focused on character study and the themes of independence. I also loved East of Eden but I've been hesitant to pick up Grapes of Wrath, though your review has made me excited to read it!
I'll say this: I was convinced Grapes of Wrath would be no fun and nothing compared to East of Eden, but it pleasantly surprised me! I hope you have the same reaction :) i loved your comment about the historical context, that's exactly what I mean! yes!!!
I am glad I did not read this book until I was almost 67. I cannot imagine it having any impact on my high school brain. What an incredible book.
Just finished reading it at work and the ending made me cry. Had to turn my back to my co-workers.
Write the bad things that happen to you in sand and write the good things that happen to you in marble.
These are my 3 favorite books:
- Penturian by Tim Gibson
- Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
- Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
There's a reason this book is not taught in history class but in literature class: It's not for the history, its for the concepts/ideas. At least in my school, we get a brief summarization of the historical context of the book (Dust Bowl, Great Depression, etc.) but as my class read it, we focused more on the themes and what message Steinbeck is trying to convey with the Joads and the people they meet on their journey. But I do agree with you that most high schoolers most likely skim over the book and would just like to pass the assignments as most teenagers do which sucks because the ideas made in the book are valuable and still hold true today (typing this in quarantine). But that problem is more of a fundamental systematic school problem than a reading problem. Good review btw!
Grapes of Wrath is just as much about humanity, good vs. evil (perceived), capitalism, morals, family, independence and rebellion. I am sure there are at least 5 more I could name but those are the main ones that come to mind after reading it over 10 years ago. Highschoolers, read the damn book, I am going to reread it in a few weeks, as when I read over it, ahhem, I did skim some parts, especially those inter chapters. Oh ya and there is a turtle. And the ghost of Tom Joad lives on somewhere, whenever you see a cop beating a guy, he will be there.
This book really made me think about the oncoming environmental refugees. How will we treat the ppl who are forced off their land because it turns against them again? Happening now in California with the fires and in the South with the flooding. I think it will be exactly the same. The whole world will see huge migrations soon and history will repeat itself.
I am such trash for Steinbeck. Videos for all his works please?? ;)
I think it's important to let the book be the book, instead of trying to control what type of juice is squeezed out.
I agree. I just read atlas shrugged with a completely open mind and it is life changing. This book is the same if you just enjoy the story and let the ideology wash over you 👍🏼
School starts in 3 days, and I have 500 pages to go. God please help me.
Did you get it done?
@@federalmemeist961 I read 300 more pages then just watched the movie. I finished the book 2 days late but it didn't cause any problems.
Great review. I rarely reread books but this one has been on my mind a lot lately.
I can imagine this book holding up to about as many rereadings as we can muster :)
I loved Grapes of Wrath., that yearning, hope and desperation to find something better. This was a fantastic video. I found your channel not long ago and I went back to watch some of your earlier videos when you still lived in the Midwest. I moved from the Midwest to Utah years ago, and watching you goodbye video and your obvious love and connection to home was touching. You are so genuine; one of my favorite channels.
It's definitely full of yearning--one way to read that novel is just the struggle to keep wanting a better life. Aww thanks for the Midwest love -- I know it's trite to say that i have a "complicated" relationship with home, but it's true. It took leaving to realize that I would miss quite a bit once I was gone. especially the midwest, a place that doesn't get much love :) (and thank you so much)
If I was forced to read this book during high school where I knew I would be graded on my overall comprehension of the book, I would've despised it-much like most of the other classic lit we were forced to read in English class. Having just finished reading the book as 25 year old-on my own time, without the pressure of a pending book report or opinionated essays to write afterwards-I can say I've genuinely enjoyed the journey. It almost begs a familiar question to people out of high school that don't read for enjoyment: did school kill the joy of reading for you?I loved the characters of the Joad family, but I found my favourite chapters were the ones that encompassed the entire population and how they were fairing under similar circumstances; there were little gems of wisdom sprinkled into those chapters that made me drop the book a moment just to say WOW out loud, especially that earlier chapter which beautifully described the difference between how hired tractor-operators and the native land owners saw the crops and land. Just so freaking lovely!Awesome video, man! I'm subbing.
I love your reviews of the classics. I am trying to do something similar and will be reviewing East of Eden soon.
I haven't approached Steinback's writing yet and I need to fix that sooner than later. Concerning your question, do we loose something when we reas a novel for its representation of a historical period, I'd say not necessarily. It's important to bear in mind both the intrinsic value of the story at a more intimate level, but knowing the context in which it appear can open meanings and interpretation that could make us appreciate a novel even more. Sometimes, the historical or literary context can offer the key that unfolds the whole novel before a reader. It's a bit like in poetry, the first impress should be your personal interpretation, but it's even more inspiring sometimes when you see the what lies below the surface that brought this poetical work to existence.
I couldn't agree more: I think we'd be fools to read a work without considering it's context, obviously, and yet I worry about saying that the context is the first thing we should talk about. I want the Grapes of Wrath to be first and foremost a novel doing what a novel does, and second a novel with something to say about a certain time in history. Thanks for the great comment :)
Mate great review - I could listen to you review books all day! Grapes of wrath was my favourite book of all time until last year, really interesting hearing your personal reaction to it. I live in the uk so I couldn't relate to it in that way in any sense!
What book displaced GoW as your favorite? Just curious :) thanks for stopping by the channel!
+ForTheLoveOfRyan any human heart by William Boyd. Fiction but journals of a man spanning his entire life - fucking destroyed me!
I'll have to check it out!!
Those questions at the end got me thinking. Going to reread it.
glad to hear it :) let me know what you think if you do!
I'm glad to be able to express my thoughts. I've read the book 2 times, it's really a very controversial book about class destinction and social reform to make us think that socialism is the best form of government. Labor unions, The New Deal by Roosevelt. Personally I loved it and I think your right to recommend it to older readers. What do you think 🤔?
On par with the way To Kill A Mockingbird pushes readers to consider more than race and the Jim Crow south, the Grapes of Wrath does the same. Both works, I think, are staples of high school literature because they so easily resist simplicity and inspire students to become careful readers of literature. Both works inspire conversation about some of life's more essential questions. I learned to read when I read The Grapes of Wrath in high school. It helped that I had a wonderful teacher too.
You know I'm a fan anytime we can work the words "resist simplicity" in. I think you're right -- I can imagine a high school classroom in which Grapes of Wrath would open up the world of close reading and complexity for readers. I think that's a reason I'm going to be very careful when talking about this book in the future: I want to avoid, at all costs, saying this is "a Great Depression book" or "a Dust Bowl novel" because I want it to resist the simplicity of that label in our conversations.
Another stellar review! Good for you for making the point that high schoolers should actually read the work. Also, for me, the most salient and valuable point you made was your question about why we approach certain works of literature only/mainly from a historical perspective. I think we need a solid grounding in history. As a history minor for my undergrad degree, I still don't think I got enough history. I'm so glad I have time to research it more on my own and for the classes I teach. That being said, I also think that a text must also be valuable in other ways in order to continue to be considered a classic. I think one of the most important activities we can do (as literary analysts) is to ask challenging questions about revered texts. Why indeed is Grapes of Wrath valuable? If memory serves (from reading it years ago), I would say it's the intersection of his incredible settings and the characters who inhabit/pass through them. Steinbeck holds up setting/landscape/atmosphere as a mirror to the human consciousnesses that are part of those settings. Just my few quick thoughts. Thanks, Ryan!
I love this comment. I think you're right about not having enough history--I feel this way all the time--but we've got to keep those complex-readings alive and well. And about Steinbeck and why Grapes of Wrath might be valuable: I think you're spot on about the settings/landscapes, and in this book specifically I think it's worth reading for the ideas about the family unit, and how that's effected by poverty and migrancy, especially in comparison to what they left behind. Anywho, thanks a ton for the comment, I loved reading it :) (thank you)
You're very welcome! :)
That cover looks so much like the guy from Mythbusters
Its about defining community more so than the history, IMO 😁
Nah, I don't think we lose anything by focusing on novels as tools for greater historical understanding. Quite the opposite. I read a bunch of assigned novels while in college studying history. They helped me round out my understanding of events I was studying. 👍 It's a great question.
The twenty families became one. The book is about people coming together in the face of struggle and hardship. It’s about strength in numbers and the reality of what life is like for people in poverty. I like the thug notes video the best so far.
dude explained my life at the beginning
THATS WHY IM HERE
WELCOME
Welp, I was here for a differing reason. My uncle recommended it and it was in your videos. Lovely review!
I think history is very important in literature and otherwise, however it should not be the only reason for choosing a book for reading, especially for high school students
or not the "first" reason, at least :)
You didn't read it until you were 23 huh? Well I'm 24 and finished it this past Sunday night. I read it because I felt like it. I looked up and wrote down the Pulitzer winners and I chose The Grapes Of Wrath after I finished The Road. No school related issues or such. What a book. Gritty, harsh reality, tough, blunt. I completely agree with it getting the Pulitzer. Also I kinda knew about what happens on the last page. I forget if it was on an ep of Boy Meets World or what. If I got that confused then Idk how I did. So that also influenced me to read it. And for you or anyone else who has read it...did Tom die at some point during the flooding? I thought he refused to run off with that $7.00. Or is that something open to interpretation? The last 2 chapters I believe it was did not involve him physically. And one final question for you: Have you read All The Light We Cannot See? If not then you really should
I should try reading it again. I tried when I was younger but didn't get past the description of the pastor's sexual activities
Hey man, I'm a high schooler who needs sources for a book report on this book that I have read a long time ago and am now re-reading. I need sources for the report, and you'll be one of them. Nice job pandering to the highschoolers.
Its not worth it ,Im also a leaching highschooler looking for a resume with detauls and I sincerly think that its not worth presenting the book to us since we arent gonna fully enjoy it .I mean wtf is wrong with schools giving books about the great depresion ,why not just gives us a simple happy book ,or a book that makes us think about our present lifes.
Btw ,whomever reads this just know that english isnt my first language and that im sorry for my gramatical errors
This book will make you think about your present life.... You are a debt-slave with no property. Your parents live paycheck to paycheck, in a shoebox condo. You can absolutely relate to the poverty in this book.
I didn't even know this book was a 'thing' to read for high schoolers. Definitely wasn't in mine..all we read was 'Great Expectations', 'To Kill a Mockingbird', 'Lord of the Flies', and 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'
It definitely depends from person to person and state to state and even school to school. For instance, of the books you've listed I only read TKAM in highschool... I had to pick up all the rest later in life!
Y'alls is backwards. Looking at a book from a historical standpoint isn't bad. It's just another mode of experience/enjoyment/investigation. The problem isn't that you're using it for historical context is not the problem; the problem is that you're ONLY using it for historical info (rather than emotional appeal, philosophical fodder, moral play, etc. etc.). This of course only applies to books that DO have more to offer. Inevitably there are plenty that offer nothing but a look at an older time (the oft-used example nowadays is Romeo and Juliet).
I agree completely, and those reasons (emotional, philosophical, ethical, etc) are the main reasons I read. But wait, I believe pretty heavily that Romeo and Juliet has more to offer us than a look at an older time!
ForTheLoveOfRyan I agree that R&J has more worth than as pure history, but I hear the argument that "It's a weak love story, but it's a great look at family factionalism" more and more. Me personally, a stronger example is The Jungle, but each their own or whatever.
that intro was scarily accurate. i genuinely thought that you somehow have a camera and can see me or something. i have an exam coming up in less than 2 hours and i still haven't read the book. hahaha
Love Steinbeck, but I still haven't read this one.
What have you read/liked/loved of Steinbeck?:)
ForTheLoveOfRyan I've read East of Eden, but it's not my favourite. Of Mice and Men is good, but my favourite so far is The Winter of Our Discontent. That one is so good!
oooh, agreed!! and its got a great title :)
The intro is literally me
When the ai revolution finishes the people who cant adapt could very well have similar lives as the joads
Thank you very much for the awesome review
To cut to the chase quickly, great literature has one great point- to move the soul, mind and heart in ways that are eternal and beyond time- time periods change, human nature does not. A "classic" might be set- and written- in an historical period where "these people" dresses different, are different foods, made an income and A Living differently and has different reference points that were important to THEM- for instance, Homer's Iliad or Odyssey. Written over half a millennia before the birth of Christ, in an heroic age of different values, a religion that pretty much died by this time, different foods, etc. However, things such as: Admiration for a parent, a love that values the right things, even beyond, say, an offer of immortality bestowed if we leave our beloved spouse; courage, loyalty, friendship, self- sacrifice.....you know- the good stuff. Such remains beyond cultures, because human beings, then and now, still put up with : jealousy, fear, devotion, hate, anger, love- in this regard, Those Distant People are still US. The other essential is that the study of different Historical time periods changes with the societies that are teaching them at the moment. But to Really Know the American Jazz Age and Roaring Twenties-The Great Gatsby will take you there, written in it's midst; Pre-revolutionary, Tsarist Russia? Tolstoy and Anna Karenina will take you THERE; Beowulf and the European Dark Ages- despite the muck nowadays heaped on this Old Old English poem of life in Pagan times, but probably written in a Christian Society-that's life then, especially to LOOSE the belief that Nature is benign and gentle and full of goodness- the Ancients correctly saw nature and the natural world as..properly... Terrifying.
saw the movie. bought east of eden, i plan on getting that going soon
definitely fill me in once you've finished it. Such a special read for me.
forgot to mention that im not really from a farm, but i live in a pretty southern, farm type community in south nj so im hoping i get the same kick out of it as you did.
and, plz more american literature. i know just about all of it is already american, but i just want more. any hemmingway favorites?
I'm a big big big fan of the Sun Also Rises. The channel "All The Shelves" (an amazing channel) had a video pretty recently that talked about it and I couldn't agree more -- that book is a frakking masterpiece of masculinity.
Am I the only person who is watching this video because I actually care about his opinion?
I'm one of the highschool kids who hate you XD
just kidding I enjoy your videos and I enjoy listening to your opinion on books ^ ^
Y a des gens là a cause de leur prof d'anglais ?
Surface level.
Thanks for Nothing.
please be a teacher.
It's pronounced the grapes of WROTH, for God's sake!
This book sucked I hate it. At times John Steinbeck repeats himself more than he should. His descriptiveness of places and events can be shortened. The characters are very bland and I do understand that their situation is terrible they brought it on themselves when Grandpa killed the natives for the land. The characters get called Okies and it's supposed to be a racist part of the book or show that white people are discriminated against but they're still allowed to stay there for the night which wouldn't happen if they were colored. I'm glad for bad things that happen to the family because for a better half of the novel they don't question the Grandpa or the terrible shit he's done. They just said he had to survive while other characters survive not having to do anything terrible. There are chapters that can be cut off entirely and it wouldn't affect the story. Some good philosophy in some areas such as compassion,family,grit,and viewing religion differently. I also read somewhere Steinbeck plagiarized and got a lot of the historical facts wrong. The story could have been told in 10 minutes orally but takes Steinbeck hours. Trash book and read.
Books I would recommend instead of this. Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon, The Centurions by Jean Larteguy, A Boy's Life and Swang Song by Robert R. McCammon, Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger, Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Becher Stove, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest by Ken Kessey, The autobiography of Gucci Mane, and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.
Liberal ideals are well exemplified in this book and yes you're right we do lose something if we don't look at that aspect of it
We also lose something if we don't look at a conservative aspect like, I don't know, a book like The Fountainhead, & just reading both of these two books can give you a really good idea on how politics really work and help you unbrainwash yourself.