>> Jan 2020 pick for Old Books, New Readers.

"And I here make a rule — a great and lasting story is about everyone or it will not last. The strange and foreign is not interesting — only the deeply personal and familiar."

Since [b:The Grapes of Wrath|18114322|The Grapes of Wrath|John Steinbeck|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1375670575l/18114322._SY75_.jpg|2931549] is one of my least favorite books I have ever read for class, I was pretty wary going into this book. And it definitely took some getting (re)acquainted with Steinbeck's writing style — if I'm being entirely honest, I skimmed a lot of descriptive passages throughout. But the characters and vivid setting just pull you in, if not from the first page then by the time you're a few chapters in; once you've been hooked, all you can really do is go along with the flow.

There was a lot more moralizing and sociopolitical commentary than I can generally tolerate, yet Steinbeck somehow made me care? And want to keep reading? I don't know what kind of magic is in this book, but I simultaneously felt like I was reading it for ages and I didn't want it to end.

content warnings:

Spoiler

unchallenged racism (including anti-Black and anti-Chinese slurs), suicide (by shooting, by poison), major character deaths, fantasies of violence & body mutilation, on-page violence, alcoholism, underage drinking

rep:

Spoiler

Chinese-American major character, some diverse minor characters

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CONVERSION: 11.47 / 15 = 4 stars

Prose: 8 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 9 / 10
Emotional Impact: 7 / 10
Development / Flow: 6 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10

Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: 4 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: N/A
Rereadability: N/A
Memorability: 3 / 5