24. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Shockingly not about angry grapes. Who knew?

Did ya miss me?

I made the same poor decision in my speed reading quest -- I picked a very long book to read. But once again, it was worth it.

I faced the same problem when I read Steinbeck's other epic tome, East of Eden. Both are amazing, but in spite of how much I enjoyed them, they took forever to finish.

But The Grapes of Wrath was worth it, even if I've fallen hopelessly behind in my quest (though, to be fair, "Game of Thrones" and "Doctor Who" are to blame as well. Also tumblr).

The novel is about farmers who are kicked off of their Midwest land during the Great Depression and head west in search of a better life. It's obvious from the beginning that things won't turn out well for the Joads, but you end up hoping for things to turn around in spite of this.

Besides having some great characters and exchanges, The Grapes of Wrath also has some important political messages about the destruction of the small farmer and the abuse of labor. And, while it would be easy to close this book and say "That's all in the past," migrant farmers still live in America, enduring horrible conditions in search of a better life. The difference is that now instead of calling white people from the Midwest "Okies" and starving them, we do it to people from other countries who we call "aliens." Ugh. I'm not even trying to make a political statement about immigration -- I'm just saying that the people who pick our fruits and vegetables should make a living wage. I mean, all people in America and around the world should. I think that Steinbeck would agree.

Part of the point of the book is how you need family to help you -- or a replacement family. You need someone you love because, as Tom Joad says, quoting his friend the preacher Casy, when you have two people one can lean on the other when the going gets rough.

But in Hoover-era California, these bonds fall apart. People are wrenched from each other and have to find new ways to survive. It's unclear that they will. Good job bumming me out, John.

I feel similarly to how I did when I read Angela's Ashes -- how did people survive this? Obviously people did. I'm in awe of the human condition.