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Thread: The Grapes of Wrath

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    Default The Grapes of Wrath

    I have to get this book done by tomorrow. I spent most of yesterday reading it...it's an epic fucker. It's so sad though! I'm so scared that things are going to end horribly. Books like these make me feel like a shitty person for worrying about the trivalities of my pampered little life. There are babies starving! Gah.

    I'm supposed to read of Mice and Men too, and East of Eden. If anyone here knows Steinbeck, can you just tell me if they are all so awful? Please spoil me. I am too emotional for these books. They are so depressing.

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    Veteran Member BmiWMT14's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    Of Mice and Men had a sad ending as well if I remember correctly.
    You Cant Quit until you try, You cant live until you die, You Cant learn to tell the truth until you learn to lie.You Cant Breath Until you choke,You gotta Laugh When your the Joke, Theres Nothing like a funeral to make you feel alive! Will you swear on your life, that no one will cry at my Funeral!
    Quote Originally Posted by cameron_keys View Post
    Yes please save me from this life of debauchery! You can all kneel down and worship at the Church of the Holy Clitoris to convince me!!

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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    dammit.

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    God/dess Dottie Rebel's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    Of Mice and Men will disrturb you for years with teh sadness.

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    Banned rozz's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    ^^^^ Pretty much. Steinbeck wasn't a fan of what happened to America during his time and the books reflect that.

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    Featured Member xbloodydewdropx's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    Grapes is a VERY sad book, especially at the end. Sorry I couldn't be the bearer of better news. Steinbeck is showing the absolute desperation of the Depression, and the people who left the dust-bowl in search of an idealized existence in California. IMHO, the book is great specifically because it depicts a reality that many people had to face. If it's really going to depress you at the end...have a feel-good movie ready.
    "Seeing the landscape at this superficial level only captures its boring uniformity, not allowing you to immerse yourself in the spirit of the place; for that you must stop at least several days."

    ~Che Guevara, "The Motorcycle Diaries"

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    God/dess UtahMike's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    Everything I ever read by Steinbeck had a sad ending except forThe Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights, and that's probably because he died without actually finishing that book. But I have not read everything he wrote, so there is still the possibility of the happy ending.

    Last year, I read The Pearl, and it was SO good until I got to the ending, and then I remembered Steinbeck and his downbeat endings.

  8. #8
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    Look at it this way, "Grapes of Wrath" will illustrate how lucky you are to be Canadian. In the U.S., our social structure allowed for such obscene and cruel events to occur during the Great Depression...The Depression led to reform of social welfare (on a non-bummer day, Google "Hoovervilles" or watch "Cinderella Man.")

    Steinbeck was also affected by the evil and greed used by a few wealthy people to mine the riches of his native Northern California. If you visit Monterey, CA ("Cannery Row") you'll see that the industry overfished itself out of business.

    Now you got me wanting to read Hemingway (since he's similar to Steinbeck). Dang.

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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    It's sad, but also a truly great book and for me to discourse on the way Wrath makes me feel would make this a Member Boards thread. Rise up!

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    God/dess Deogol's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    It's a good survival guide for the coming crash of the American economic system.

    Excuse me while I go buy a pail full of rice.

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    God/dess MrChristopher's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    I like Steinbeck. "Grapes" is a great book, and oh yes, it's depressing. That's always seemed to be the point to me. I did prefer"Of Mice And Men". After you read it, rent the Gary Sinise/John Malkovich movie, which I thought was very well done.
    waffles are just pancakes with little squares on them.

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    God/dess Mr Hyde's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    if you want to feel better, watch the movie, it's more sanitized (and even more propagandistic). But the book...yep, get ready for a downer, sorry.

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    Featured Member flickad's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    East Of Eden is sad in parts but also wonderful.

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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    Thanks for the warning. I kinda knew. Hemingway is sad too, but sad different. Sad on the specific human level is one thing, but sad for how much humanity sucks is another. I keep wanting to tell these characters "don't go to California!! Go to Saskatchewan! Tommy Douglas is there".

    Anyway, it's very well written.

  15. #15
    Jay Zeno
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    Of Mice and Men is sad, yes, but a very easy read. If you read with any speed, put aside a good evening, and you'll have it.

    Not all of Steinbeck's stuff was sad. He wrote a book, "Travels with Charlie," that was fun, and there was a short story about a kid in Paris who had his wad of bubble gum in his mouth come alive. (Cross-reference: "The Affair at 7 Rue de M —")
    Really, Steinbeck could write whatever he wanted to.

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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    Steinbeck is my FAVOURITE author.

    Travels with Charlie was fabulous but most of his stuff did end horribly. That's what I liked about him.


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    Member thatothergirljen's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    I love Steinbeck, but yes, be prepared for sadness. Suffering produces great art.

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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    Hi Molly.

    East of Eden isn't as bad as Grapes in terms of depressingness...I think Eden is my second-favorite Steinbeck book after Cannery Row.
    "Doc still loved true things, but he knew it was not a general love and it could be a very dangerous mistress." - John Steinbeck, Cannery Row


    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    Cannery Row is also a favorite of mine. In all of these works, even when they are dark, the truth they get to gives us some extra dimension, a deeper sense and appreciation of life. I read The Pearl as a boy, and it still stands for me as a great, true, simplified tale of human nature, both evil and majestic.

    For those of you who like Steinbeck I would recommend Gina Berriault, also from California--particularly her collection of stories called Women In Their Beds. She is one of our most profound writers.
    JK Jim

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    Featured Member teeth_of_the_hydra's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    Quote Originally Posted by Nicolina View Post
    Hi Molly.

    East of Eden isn't as bad as Grapes in terms of depressingness...I think Eden is my second-favorite Steinbeck book after Cannery Row.

    I was just about to say... if Nicolina shows up, she'll be able to answer your question.

    Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't The Wayward Bus end pretty happily? Doesn't the stripper move out west with the ugly chick so they can get an apartment and throw dinner parties? And doesn't the lady who wanted to fur coat get one? As you can see, the details are a little fuzzy, but I remember liking that Steinbeck book best.

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    God/dess UtahMike's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    Quote Originally Posted by Jay Zeno View Post
    Of Mice and Men is sad, yes, but a very easy read. If you read with any speed, put aside a good evening, and you'll have it.

    Not all of Steinbeck's stuff was sad. He wrote a book, "Travels with Charlie," that was fun, and there was a short story about a kid in Paris who had his wad of bubble gum in his mouth come alive. (Cross-reference: "The Affair at 7 Rue de M —")
    Really, Steinbeck could write whatever he wanted to.
    Yes, Travels with Charlie is a great, inspiring, enjoyable book. But it does not apply to the above discussion because it is not fiction.

    There is no law that says fiction must have a happy ending. Any adult who has not read Steinbeck is culturally deprived.

  22. #22
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    Bite your tongue, Maxine! Hemingway was a genius, one of the greatest writers who have ever lived. Steinbeck... eh, not so much. I'm not a Steinbeck fan. In my opinion, he exploits pathos to make up for what he lacks in language and talent.

    I did read Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men. Throwaway Grisham shit when compared to The Sun Also Rises and For Whom the Bell Tolls.

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    God/dess PookaShell's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    Haha I remember reading the grapes of wrath in my junior year in high school, and I never got past the first few chapters, though I thought it was really good I just had a bunch of other shit to do - then on the test day I managed to whip out an A somehow, and the teacher told us to turn the book back in when we turn our test in and I accidently spouted out: "Can I keep mine for a few days? I want to read it!" Haha. Oops. Thats my random fact about that book. I did like it though - but yeah - SAD. The ending sort of creeped me out. But I guess, necessity calls for desperate measures.

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    Featured Member maximvsv's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    For me it was thirty years ago that I was looking into that stuff. I hated Steinbeck's style. Even then, my attention span was too short. Hemmingway and Orville were more my cup o' tea.
    ED E’ SUBITO SERA

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    trafitto da un raggio di sole:
    ed è subito sera

    --Salvatore Quasimodo--

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    Default Re: The Grapes of Wrath

    See, I'm Canadian, and our education dictates that we have to read lots of Canadian literature in high school, and university. Which is fine, because I think Alice Munro is the greatest living writer today...but it does mean that I don't really wade through much Steinbeck or Hemingway very early on. So...also, I loved the book, and it did kinda end really well. I always thought Hemingway was kind of a misogynist, but I've only read like two of his books ("The Sun Also Rises" and "A Farewell to Arms"), so who am I to judge? I'm glad there are so many well-read people on Stripperweb! It's a big help!

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