i had resisted reading this book because i thought it would very depressing. my brother is a high school English teacher, who lists Steinbeck among his favorite writers and has been giving me a hard time about never reading this book. so, last week, with the kids on spring break, i took the plunge and got the book from the library and took the kids to the park for the day. while they ran around and made friends, i sat in the sun and read half of the book (i figured if i was in the sun, i wouldn't get THAT depressed!)
the next evening i read the rest. couldn't put it down! wow! first of all, sure it's as depressing as you have heard. but maybe because we have all heard how depressing it is and you expect it to be depressing, it isn't so bad that you want to throw yourself off a cliff or hide in bed for weeks. in a way, i actually found it very uplifting. these people face so many horrific situations and still come out okay. they know what is important: their family (or fambly, as they say) and they do whatever it takes to keep that together.
this book is a total emotional roller-coaster ride. just when things seems great, you plummet into despair again. the characters are likable and believable and there is someone for every reader to relate to (i even developed more than a little crush on Tom Joad, Jr.).
i can see why this book is a classic!
I read this
waaaaay back in high school, for an english class.
I recently bought it, and plan to read it again.
Even though it is fiction, it is based on what happened to many people at that place in history.
Like you said, it is not totally depressing, even though the Joads went through lots of sad things, by the end, it is really uplifting and hopeful.
I need to read it again as an adult. I read it with a 15 year old perspective. Lets see how i do as an adult.
Terri
Got Books?