October 09, 2012

The Grapes of Wrath Part I: "Every moving thing lifts the dust into the air."

The Grapes of Wrath readalong has begun. Chapters 1 through 11 have been read. And my thoughts are all over the place. I don't think I'm feeling smart enough today ever to write eloquent paragraphs so I present to you my rambling thoughts and reactions thus far. Remember, I'm going into this blind so I have no idea where the story is going to go...

-Dust. So, so much dust. The first chapter set the stage so well for a land so dry and dusty. We take so much for granted nowadays. I couldn't imagine not having water - we use water for everything.

-Amidst the dust, we meet Tom Joad. Are we supposed to like this man named Joad? He seems weasel-like and come on, he committed homicide!  I don't like him.

-The turtle. I love you turtle. I'm not sure I get your symbolism, but I hope we see you again.



-Then we meet The Preacher. Except he's not really a "preacher" by trade anymore. Which in some ways makes him more insightful and less judgy now that he's sort of an atheist. And he seems trustworthy.

-When Joad is describing prison to The Preacher (Jim Casy), you realize nothing has changed in like 70 years! It's still a better place for most men who have been on the inside to be. Warm bed, 3 square meals a day, clean clothes and a shower. It's more than most families during this time had. 

-I'm confused: Tom got 7 years in prison for what was technically self-defense? Or is there more to this story then we will ever know....hmm.

-I love Steinbeck's language. The words he uses - they're just so great. "And the women went on with the work, but all the time they watched the men squatting in the dust - perplexed and figuring."  Perplexed and figuring. I love these words. 

-"How can we live without our lives? How will we know it's us without our past? No. Leave it. Burn it." Oh Steinbeck, you're so deep. 

-I don't like the rambling chapters - the one about the car salesmen most specially. All I wrote after that one: WTF.

-I don't know how I feel about Tom Joad yet, but I sure like his family once we meet them. But my heart feels tight for them - I know their life isn't going to be this easy. They aren't just gonna pack up their truck and make a life in California picking oranges. And what about Tom? Everyone looks up to him and I thought for sure he was going to break his ma's heart when he tells his family about his parole and what that means exactly (ie. you can't leave Tom!), but then he just goes?! And how the hell does that truck not bottom out once it's all packed up? Can't we just end the story here with the whole family driving off into the sunset and assume they made it to California and are now happily living in some orchard?

-Well at least there hasn't been any crying yet. Heavy hearts, yes. But no tears. Yet.

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23 comments:

  1. I have NEVER been able to work out how that truck ever goes. Just... Never understood it!

    I LOVE THE RAMBLING CHAPTERS! Cause it's like 'look how widespread this thing is and isn't it terrible and come on people, do something about it!' And also DAAAAYMN the writing. THE WRITING!

    Ahem. I like Tom a lot, but then I have read the whole book so I have general warm feelings towards him. But his family are preeeetty awesome!

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    1. Yes, the rambling chapters - I see your point. I think the problem was as I would start reading them, I'd be like, "wait, who the fuck is talking here...oh I'm so confused", and then I'd try to pay attention and just hope for the chapter to end.

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    2. The Rambling Chapters: Thank God They're Short.

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  2. Basically whenever I tell someone I'm reading this, they're like "...oh. Oh. That's sad." So that seems to be the main takeaway. Awesome.

    ALFRED THE TURTLE YOU SHALL LIVE IN OUR HEARTS FOREVERMORE

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    1. I'm good with just sad. Alfred's not coming back, is he?

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    2. I'm hoping he returns at the end somehow. Like he sneaked onto the truck-sedan before they left and at the end he's eating an orange and it's like "SEE EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE FINE."

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  3. I love this book! I ADORE John Steinbeck! I don't know why exactly I love this book so much but I suppose it has something to do with pulling for the underdog. Something you might find interesting is that this book was banned across the country when it was first published and continues to be banned in schools and libraries in Kern County, California which is where the Joads relocate.

    I'll be curious as to your final review!

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    1. Actually I did find out recently that it's one of the many banned books - which seems insane, but then when you look at the list of banned books, they all seem insane!

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  4. Aww, I love that turtle gif! So cute!

    I really must tackle this one day. I remember having to read it in high school, but never getting past the first chapter.

    Enjoy the read!

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    1. You should have joined the readalong! I'm enjoying this one much more than other classics I've tried in the past.

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  5. Turtle gif!

    So much dust, you guys. I think Tom Joad is good people. Though I am concerned about the breaking parole thing. This will come back to bite him.

    No one has any love for the car chapter. It was just so MUCH. And so unnecessary. And so, so much.

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    1. YES! It's gotta come back to bite him. Otherwise why would Steinbeck spend so much time dwelling on the fact that Tom can't leave for California??

      No love for the car chapter. No love.

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  6. I like the rambly chapters. Except the car salesman one which I GET IT, car salesmen are out to screw people blah blah blah. But the tractor one. THE TRACTOR ONE. It's so sad and so good. And everyone having to sell their stuff and it's all their memories and it's heartbreaking.

    I am also suspicious of Tom. He's introduced as sort of a shady character and I was waiting for him to kill that truck driver that picked him up earlier.

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    1. Next section I will pay better attention to the rambly chapters! This time, attention was not paid cause I was like "who the fuck is talking here..I'm so confused"...blah blah blah.

      And yes, I totally thought he was going to kill the truck driver!

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  7. I love the turtle! I was so worried about it... First it gets hit by a truck, then it gets smothered in a coat... Then it gets pounced on by a cat... But it still perseveres into the dusty yonder. SYMBOLISM!

    I also hope we hear more about Tom's murder backstory. It's kind of unnerving that he thinks about how he would go back and do it again the same way. I mean, if it was self-defense, I guess... But wouldn't you prefer to go back in time and maybe not get drunk and in a fight? Maybe I'm asking too much.

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    1. Ahhh you so smart.

      And yes - I didn't think of it that way - if it was self-defense you wouldn't want to have to do it all over again, you'd want the situation to never have occurred in the first place, right? Right. Nope, not asking too much.

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  8. Seriously, how is that truck carrying all of their earthly possessions AND them? This thing must have been the size of a bus.

    I'm also loving Steinbeck's writing and I've liked SO many sentences, except that car saleman chapter which was obnoxious.

    I kind of like Casey and trust him, but at the same time he's kind of annoying me with all of his hippie speeches about all loving each other and blah blah blah. Like it's a cool sentiment dude, but chill.

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    1. I'll be amazed if the truck makes it all the way to Cali!
      I just find the teeny inbewteen chapters hard to concentrate on because it's so rambly and the punctuation is like reading someone's rambly thoughts in their head. And then my own thoughts start rambling and before I know it the chapter is over and I have no idea what I just read!

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  9. I had a whole comment typed out and lost it... omg. So I'm going point-form too.

    -I love the "atmosphere" chapters and the car lot one is my favourite!! To me it sounded to desperate and urgent, the short sentences and all the little details. I guess I'm a weirdo, judging by the comments here!

    -That "perplexed and figuring" scene is one of my favourites. Not even because of the word choices, but you're right, those are most excellent words.

    -I connected with the female characters in this book. I tend to do that, though. I was also pregnant at the time and reading about Rose of Sharon was humbling.

    -I had the same thought when they set off - let's just end it here! I was going in blind as well, but you just know shit is about to get real.

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    1. "Shit is about to get real" - Haha, it definitely is! Being able to connect with a character, I find, definitely changes the reading experience. I couldn't imagine being pregnant and travelling on some old makeshift jalopy during The Great Depression. I have to keep reminding myself of how young she is too. I really hope she doesn't go into labour anytime soon and if she does, I pray it's not a tragic outcome :(

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  10. I'm glad you're even slightly enjoying this classic. the turtle is so cute haha! You're a trooper for not giving up on this past chapter 1 *thumbs up*

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    1. Honestly, a readalong makes it so much better! Not only does it *force* you to stop and collect your thoughts, but then you get to discuss said thoughts with a bunch of other people reading it at the same time. There is so much in the book that would be lost on me otherwise :)

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