Quarterly Postal Markup Book Exchange discussion

Use this thread for you book discussions

I'm in chapter 4 and I already feel such a strong sense of the setting.The first chapter really made me feel how unpleasant the dust bowl was and now the tedium of the language adds to this feeling of the oppressive environment. I've never read the book or seen the movie, but always thought Tom Joad was a hero. From our first introduction to him he doesn't seem much like a hero.

I just start it.

I just finished the first chapter today. I already like the book quite a bit! The setting description really illustrates how bleak things are. I remember seeing the Henry Fonda movie a few years ago, it was a good movie but very long. Interested to see how the book compares to it.

I found chapter 5 intense, with the banks coming to take the land. The powerful vs the desperate. And the irony of the line: "Grampa took up the land, and he had to kill the Indians and drive them away." Is one exerting power always at the expense of another?

I read the translated book of it, and now I think I lost half of the sens that are behind the English words.
but in general, it was a great book!
I felt that I travelled with them, became angry, sad, happy with them.
before I read this book, I didn't know much about America in 20 century, and this depression،
and now I think John Steinbeck described it very well.
the whole of the book is great,
especially, the last part of the book .that was creepy but beautiful! this book had a different ending.
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I am excited to know what is your opinion about it...then I talk to you about it.

Yes, you are a fast reader Zeinab! I'm about halfway through. Enjoying it very much.

I was talking to a coworker the other day, and she was saying the demoralization of the poor was a new thing. I argued, saying the poor have always been looked down upon. This book pretty much proves that point. It's hard to read about so many bad things happening to one family, knowing there isn't a positive ending. But I learned a lot about the dust bowl and the Depression. I find it sad that the Californians weren't welcoming of the migrant workers. Again, the world hasn't changed much.

It was hard for me too. and I really felt the pain that was in the whole of the book.
and yes, unfortunately, this happening is still repeating in the world.
Julie, did you finish this book or not?

No, I haven't finished yet. I'm planning to finish over the weekend.

I finished over the weekend. While it was very well written, and I learned a lot from it, the book was just tragic. The ending was so shocking and moving at the same time.

I feel guilty for saying this, but I haven't finished it yet. Just got to where Casy dies. I intend to finish it soon though.

Don't feel guilty, it is a LONG book! Not exactly light summer reading either :-)

I finished it. I really liked reading it, and learned a lot about the Dust Bowl and Great Depression time period. I think it's a good thing I can't remember too much of the movie, as I was able to read it with fresh eyes.

I haven't seen the movie, is it worth watching?

Yes, I think so. It's very long.