MobileRead September 2014 Discussion: The Grapes of Wrath (spoilers)

[ccowie]

Originally Posted by fantasyfan

I think she goes well beyond a simple stereotype. She is inspirational and she has agency.

I'm really not trying to be argumentative, but I just don't see this character going beyond the stereotype.

Shaler's position seems to be that Ma Joad is a stereotype, but a really good one and a well written one. I don't see the difficulty in writing a "good sterotype." It could be a bit of a cultural thing I'm missing as well.

Unfortunately I just didn't get much from any characters in this book with the exception of Jim Casy. I liked the way this character turns from his preaching ways, but then pays the price for Tom. Casy's progression from pseudo spirituality to a more humanistic outlook gives way to a real expression of sacrifice.

[LovesMacs]

By coincidence I recently reread this book, not knowing that it was September's book club pick. I had a lot of difficulty reading this the first time around, largely due to how people's accents were written. The second time around, I had no problems.

It's a much better book than I first thought. I enjoyed "Grapes" well enough that I plan on reading either "The Portable Steinbeck" or "East of Eden" once I finish some of my current reads.

My view is on the chapter structure is that some chapters focus on the Joad family as both the main characters of the story, and as a microcosm of what was going on during the Dust Bowl years. The alternate chapters give the macroscopic view, the larger context to understand personal and impersonal interactions affected the Joads and others in similar situations.

And yes, I know it's no longer September but I felt I had to write all that.

[kennyc]

Read Cannery Row for some great fun!

[sun surfer]

My short and sweet review is that I really enjoyed this book and I felt that it's an "American classic" that lives up to its reputation as such. I went in with higher expectations than normal and wasn't disappointed.

I do feel there was a bit of stereotyping in this book but I would argue that it was overcome by the quality of the writing and the story. And, to speak of Ma Joad as singled out in this thread, there were (and are) real women like her and I thought she was a very good character, and the lead really next to Tom. Anyway, philosophically, I would say that everyone, whether real or fictional, is a stereotype to some degree in some way. Just as there are not really any "new" stories, only variations on ones already told, the character (stereotype) and story (borrowed) are dependent on the quality of the writer.

Now to watch the old film.