The Grapes Of Wrath was the first Steinbeck I read, many decades ago. It made a lasting impression on me. Recently, spurred on partly by your essays, I’ve started to look at more of his work. Certainly a fascinating author.
Richard - It was the first book of his I read as well, in high school. I enjoyed it back then but I got a lot more out of it now with more life experience under my belt. I am enjoying this process of reading through his works.
Fantastic review, thank you. I especially liked what Eleanor Roosevelt said about it, thank you for including that. I can’t wait to see where your Steinbeck journey takes you next!
Thanks Jenn. By his own admission, writing The Grapes of Wrath changed him. He felt he put all of himself into it. His writing changed afterwards so it will be interesting to see the different directions he takes.
Gosh, I always learn something in your posts. I wrote a little about writer’s self-doubt today, so this is a nice connection. Love Eleanor Roosevelt’s review as well. Great review, as always. Thank you!
Maria - thanks for those kind words. I love learning and am glad to share that with others. I am reading a biography of Steinbeck at the moment and he wrote in his journals and in letters to close friends that he always considered himself unattractive and this bled over into his work as well as he consistently felt he wasn't good enough. I am sure self-doubt is something that we all encounter to varying degrees.
The 1930s was a fascinating time for art and writing in particular. From the rise of fascism and the Spanish Civil War to the Great Depression there was such cataclysmic change and suffering that Steinbeck and others were confronting.
Dee Dee - It was a really interesting time as there was so much going on in the world - a time of great change. Lots of artistic growth came out of that period from Steinbeck and many of his contemporaries, many of whom had set up shop in Europe.
I've read several by Steinbeck. I love The Grapes of Wrath, but I think East of Eden is my favorite. I liked The Winter of Our Discontent, too. I'm intrigued by Working Days. I read Journal on a Novel, from when he was writing East of Eden, and it informed some of my writing practice. I'd also like to give The Long Valley a try.
Hi Jennie - East of Eden is my favorite as well, although I appreciated The Grapes of Wrath much more this time than when I read it in high school. It has been interesting reading through all his works in chronological order. Some of his stuff I love, some of it is kind of bland.
Growing up, I always wondered why Grandma, who lived in the Salinas Valley, had all of Steinbeck’s books on the shelf. Her taste ran towards the San Francisco Chronicle and Reader’s Digest. I was 8,or 9 years old and quite the reader. So whenever the yearly visits to grandma happened I would read everything in her house while there.
The mystery was solved in a lengthy tale I won’t bore you with. Turns out my mother knew Steinbeck while living in Cannery Row, married to Ed Ricketts.
Wow! I had all kinds of thoughts and fantasies finding that out. BUT, it was not to be talked about at Grandmas.
Something had happened, and I didn’t find out until many years later.
I read it in junior high school, I think, and not since, though I've seen the film a few times and driven the length of Route 66 and traversed the landscape all around it multiple times. It made an indelible impression that's never left. Not many writers write *the novel* on a subject. The Great Depression Dust Bowl and its great migration? *The Grapes of Wrath*.
I don't think I have ever seen the film. I probably need to rectify that at some point. I remember that I liked the book when I first read it years ago but the only lasting impression that was left was the turtle chapter. Reading through it this time was much more impactful. I think with 30 years more of life experience I was able to understand and appreciate the magnitude of the journey. While East of Eden is my favorite book of his, there is little doubt that The Grapes of Wrath is Steinbeck at his best.
The Grapes Of Wrath was the first Steinbeck I read, many decades ago. It made a lasting impression on me. Recently, spurred on partly by your essays, I’ve started to look at more of his work. Certainly a fascinating author.
Richard - It was the first book of his I read as well, in high school. I enjoyed it back then but I got a lot more out of it now with more life experience under my belt. I am enjoying this process of reading through his works.
“I’m not a writer. I’ve been fooling myself and other people.” Spoken like a true writer.
Between his diary and biography, I am amazed at how often he questioned his abilities.
I didn't know Steinbeck revealed his doubts. The quote I took as sardonic. Self doubt is typically nether here nor there.
The book earned even more exposure when it was adapted as a feature film by John Ford in 1940, with Henry Fonda memorably portraying Tom Joad.
I have never seen the film David, but I have heard good things about it. I might need to see if I can find it on one of these streaming services.
Fantastic review, thank you. I especially liked what Eleanor Roosevelt said about it, thank you for including that. I can’t wait to see where your Steinbeck journey takes you next!
Thanks Jenn. By his own admission, writing The Grapes of Wrath changed him. He felt he put all of himself into it. His writing changed afterwards so it will be interesting to see the different directions he takes.
Wow, I did not know that, how interesting. I will be looking forward to your next analysis with that in mind.
Gosh, I always learn something in your posts. I wrote a little about writer’s self-doubt today, so this is a nice connection. Love Eleanor Roosevelt’s review as well. Great review, as always. Thank you!
Maria - thanks for those kind words. I love learning and am glad to share that with others. I am reading a biography of Steinbeck at the moment and he wrote in his journals and in letters to close friends that he always considered himself unattractive and this bled over into his work as well as he consistently felt he wasn't good enough. I am sure self-doubt is something that we all encounter to varying degrees.
The 1930s was a fascinating time for art and writing in particular. From the rise of fascism and the Spanish Civil War to the Great Depression there was such cataclysmic change and suffering that Steinbeck and others were confronting.
Dee Dee - It was a really interesting time as there was so much going on in the world - a time of great change. Lots of artistic growth came out of that period from Steinbeck and many of his contemporaries, many of whom had set up shop in Europe.
I read it decades ago but I still remember that last paragraph. Not many endings have stayed with me quite like that one did
It is a powerful visual image that stays with you for sure.
I've read several by Steinbeck. I love The Grapes of Wrath, but I think East of Eden is my favorite. I liked The Winter of Our Discontent, too. I'm intrigued by Working Days. I read Journal on a Novel, from when he was writing East of Eden, and it informed some of my writing practice. I'd also like to give The Long Valley a try.
Hi Jennie - East of Eden is my favorite as well, although I appreciated The Grapes of Wrath much more this time than when I read it in high school. It has been interesting reading through all his works in chronological order. Some of his stuff I love, some of it is kind of bland.
Growing up, I always wondered why Grandma, who lived in the Salinas Valley, had all of Steinbeck’s books on the shelf. Her taste ran towards the San Francisco Chronicle and Reader’s Digest. I was 8,or 9 years old and quite the reader. So whenever the yearly visits to grandma happened I would read everything in her house while there.
The mystery was solved in a lengthy tale I won’t bore you with. Turns out my mother knew Steinbeck while living in Cannery Row, married to Ed Ricketts.
Wow! I had all kinds of thoughts and fantasies finding that out. BUT, it was not to be talked about at Grandmas.
Something had happened, and I didn’t find out until many years later.
PJ, that is quite an intriguing family history! Thanks for sharing that with us.
I read it in junior high school, I think, and not since, though I've seen the film a few times and driven the length of Route 66 and traversed the landscape all around it multiple times. It made an indelible impression that's never left. Not many writers write *the novel* on a subject. The Great Depression Dust Bowl and its great migration? *The Grapes of Wrath*.
I don't think I have ever seen the film. I probably need to rectify that at some point. I remember that I liked the book when I first read it years ago but the only lasting impression that was left was the turtle chapter. Reading through it this time was much more impactful. I think with 30 years more of life experience I was able to understand and appreciate the magnitude of the journey. While East of Eden is my favorite book of his, there is little doubt that The Grapes of Wrath is Steinbeck at his best.