The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Recently Jeff and I went camping for the first time, together. I had been camping with other people and he camped a lot growing up. But in our 13 years of knowing each other, we had never shared a tent until this July. I worried this might put undue stress on our relationship. But it turned out to be better than expected thanks to my razor-sharp, pre-planning skills, and his ability to do just about everything a boy scout can do, including making steamed egg frittatas in the middle of the forest. One of the highlights of the trip was meeting new people around the campfire, and seeing what they were reading. We met a teenager from the East Bay who was reading the "Grapes of Wrath" for school. At first, I wanted to rip it out of her hands and give her a copy of "Bridget Jones Diary" by Helen Fielding. But then I paused for a moment, and remember that I really did like the "Grapes of Wrath" because it had real people in it. Previously I had read "Watership Down" and grew bored of the bunnies amorphized into people. I liked Steinbeck's tale of the Joad family, and their struggles during the Great Depression. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel published in 1939, showcases the Dust Bowl Migration of many families like the Joads traveling from Oklahoma to California. The story focuses in on the Joad family as they struggle to survive in a world of Haves and Have-Nots. It is interesting to note that the film version of the book ended upon a happy, more uplifting note. But the original text stands on its own as a memorable, tragic and poignant snapshot of the working class, and their struggles during the Great Depression. I'm glad they are still teaching this book in schools,and looking at the text from all of its different, dusty angles. To buy this book on Amazon click here.