Book Thoughts: "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck

First off, let me say, this could be the greatest book I've ever read, and I can totally see how it has influenced so many people.

The book follows the Joad family in an almost biblical exodus from Oklahoma to California during the Great Depression. The Dust bowl has destroyed the Joads crops, and defaulting on their loans, they head for California and the promise of high pay and steady work. What they find is quite a different story. The book has a lot to say on both power of corporations and organized labor. While the labor movement doesn't actually win the day in the book, Steinbeck's view is obviously that it will.

Similar to "East of Eden," there's a ton going on this novel with characters, symbols and plot. My favorite character is the Preacher, Jim Casy. To delve into his character, just look at his initials. Of course, Stienbeck's style is very accessible as well, which ultimately brought this book and this story to the common man. Every American should read this book.

The book really resonated with me because of the strong advocacy of organized labor and commentary on corporate greed and exploitation. I feel very strongly about these subjects. For every CEO in this country that makes millions of dollars, there are hundreds of thousands of people working under him doing the grunt work: building the cars, flipping the burgers, producing the software, selling the towels, running the registers, cleaning the bathrooms, etc. These workers are the people that make this country run, not the CEOs. These workers are also the people getting screwed over again in this economy, the worst situation since Steinbeck penned this novel. The CEOs get millions in bonuses for running the company into the ground, while the worker hits the unemployment line. The banks get bailouts, the workers have to watch congress fight over whether to continue their measly unemployment benefits. It's all very mixed up.

Do yourself a favor. Read this book. Enjoy it as a good story, but pay attention. Pay attention to what Steinbeck is saying. You may not like it. When it first came out, liberals and conservatives alike denounced him as a communist and called this book propaganda. I can see why, it has a lot to say.

"...and in the eyes of the hungry there is a growing wrath. In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage."
--Chapter 25.