The Grapes of Wrath is a novel published in 1939 and written by John Steinbeck, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962. Set during the Great Depression, the novel focuses on a poor family of sharecroppers, the Joads, driven from their Oklahoma home by drought, economic hardship, and changes in the agriculture industry. In a nearly hopeless situation, partly because they were trapped in the Dust Bowl, they set out for California along with thousands of other "Okies" in search of land, jobs and dignity.
The book was chosen by Bonnie and will be reviewed on May 27th. I will post the location after I talk to Bonnie. We can't all fit in her cute apartment so we will meet at a yet undisclosed location.
This book is quite a read. If you need help, like me, there are several places to look. There is a great article at Wikipedia with links to more info. The above synopsis of the book is from Wikipedia. Sparknotes also has a great section on this book, with everything from a plot synopsis to analysis of major characters, to possible essay topics (just in case you get ambitious). Please post a comment when you have a book to pass around. Please also post a comment if you are looking for a copy of this book. I look forward to seeing you all in May. Happy reading!
