Grapes of Wrath, a classic for today?

bbc ^ | 4 April 2009 | Robert DeMott

[JoeProBono]

The Grapes of Wrath, published exactly 70 years ago, can be seen as a prophetic novel - rooted in the tragedies of the Great Depression, but speaking directly to the harsh realities of 2009, writes Steinbeck scholar Robert DeMott. Steinbeck's epic novel, which traces the harrowing exodus of Tom Joad and his family from blighted Oklahoma (where they are evicted from their farm), across the rugged American south-west via Highway 66, and on to what they mistakenly hope will be a more promising future in California, is considered by many readers to be the quintessential Depression-era story, and an ironic reversal of the rags-to-riches tale favoured by many optimistic Americans.

[Clemenza]

Socialist horsesh-t, and boring to boot.

BTW: Henry Fonda was the most overrated actor of his generation. He was about as convincing as an Okie as I am as a Chinese redhead.

[JoeProBono]

Interesting comparison ;-}

Chinese Redhead Centipede

[Revolting cat!]

John Gardner recognized Grapes of Wrath for what it was: an exercise in socrealist propaganda, with simplistic portrayals and propagandistic aims. It was a communist inspired trash, the novel and the movie.

[potlatch]

The Grapes of Rath

devolve, come see this graphic for a good laugh!
I never read the book but did see the movie l o n g ago!

[JoeProBono]

[devolve]

.

Thanks potlatch

All these “common man” writers seem to always quietly grab up book royalties and movie concept sales with both hands

Then rinse, move on, repeat

Today multi-millionaire Hollywood actors and producers play the same games

[potlatch]

Hope you saw the cartoon, I laughed out loud.

[devolve]

.

Quacks like an eagle?

[potlatch]

No, grapes don’t quack, and they are carrying torches.

[SouthTexas]

The depression is the reason my grandmother insisted my wife learn to can, so we would always be able to eat.

She got quite proficient at it, but never did go for delivering her babies at home.

[JoeProBono]

[SouthTexas]

Wife never did go for that hat thing either. :)

[tubebender]

My wife learned to can from my mother and a sister. All she does now is jams and jellies and WE can Albacore Tuna every other year. We missed the Tuna last year because we waited for the price to go down and it didn't due to a shortage of fish. I'll be planting 100 strawberry plants tomorrow and putting new bird netting on the Blueberries.

Legend has it that a local logger kicked Steinbeck's ass in a bar on Second street (skid Road) over something the drunken writer said. I'll have to confirm that someday when I see the local historian...

[tubebender]

Not a over weight one in the bunch...

[potlatch]

The Grapes of Wrath “heard it through the grapevine”!! Yeah, yeah...

[Cindy]

Sour grapes unless you post a picture here potlatch.

[LuLuLuLu]

The Grapes of Wrath is one of my favorite books ever. I first read it in high school, and then about 5 years ago decided to re-read many books.

I’ve again read The Grapes of Wrath twice, and while I’ll agree that while it paints the US with a broad, black brush, it also shows how easy our current “poor” have it.

I think all liberal loonies should be forced to read it — or listen to it on CD since reading skills are not highly valued — and then explain to the folks with analog TVs that life really isn’t that bad.

[SouthTexas]

Mom used to make grape jelly from all the wild mustang grapes that grew along the river in the 60s, had to pick them from a boat.

We were cleaing out the cabinets after she passed away in ‘99 and found some in the back that had to be at least 90 proof. ;)

[SunkenCiv]

well put.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2232992/posts?page=30#30

[potlatch]

[Sour grapes unless you post a picture here potlatch.]

OK Cindy.

I 'heard it through the grapevine'
that the Grapes of Wrath retired
and became the California Raisins!!

They look much happier now!!