Jon Taylor’s Reviews > The Grapes of Wrath > Status Update
Jon Taylor
is on page 321 of 536
Hooverville. Distrust of cops - they represent the protection of the landed classes not justice. How much of this resentment is still there in USA? How much is still true?
— Aug 20, 2026 03:03PM
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Jon Taylor
is on page 359 of 536
The govt camp is a sort of communist utopia. Some talk of wage fixing by the trade associations. Townspeople demonising the itinerant workers is reminiscent of immigrants in Europe. Steinbeck warns of a revolution. This is still controversial for Americans even today.
— 10 hours, 30 min ago
Jon Taylor
is on page 281 of 536
More than a paean to communist views, Chapter 19 was a call to arms. Steinbeck presents the situation that leads to revolution. Again, I can’t help but see parallels today with the oligarchs and tech bros and the boats. Interested to know how America avoided this then - the New Deal? Steinbeck absolutely blames ‘ownership’ and greed. And yet, here we are…
— Aug 19, 2026 07:58AM
Jon Taylor
is on page 254 of 536
Found some of the music Steinbeck mentions - old time guitar tunes they picked in the encampments. Brought a whole new feel to them. This is a strongly communist book. And I can’t help but equate this with the immigrant experience today. Dreading the family arriving in Cali. It’s not going to be pretty.
— Aug 18, 2026 03:22PM
Jon Taylor
is on page 176 of 536
Note on Ch 14. Astonishingly outspoken. Steinbeck coming out from behind character and saying it outright. Openly communist - no wonder it was controversial. The idea that those in power fear when ‘I’ becomes ‘we’ amongst workers. And the idea the ‘owning’ negates one ever becoming ‘we’ and being ossified as ‘I’…
— Aug 16, 2026 06:21AM
Jon Taylor
is on page 132 of 536
This is sentimental, really but it does work as an historical depiction of the experience which is moving, nonetheless. This chapter I began to see the Steinbeck style of presenting what happened in documentary style. The slaughter of the pigs and salting of the meat was particularly memorable.
— Aug 14, 2026 10:53PM
Jon Taylor
is on page 98 of 536
Al. Quite a sentimental expression of family. I can see the black and white movie made in the 50s with maybe Jimmy Stewart as Tom Joad. Got that kind of feel…
— Aug 13, 2026 03:08PM
Jon Taylor
is on page 88 of 536
I can feel Steinbeck more in this than in OMAM. His writing is more poetic, more experimental and yet more openly sentimental. The occasional chapters that are the voices of industry are wild - like stage dramas or poetry. Also, I bet Ma’s words about the possibility of revolution were controversial in their time!
— Aug 12, 2026 03:09PM