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it’s strange, kind of, with how present the grapes of wrath is in like the high school literature canon that I don’t really hear people talk about it, mention it and point to it and its message as much as say—the great gatsby or catcher in the rye. We watched the film in the my hs American lit class and it changed my life. Every single one of my classmates fell asleep and I could not look away. The film still lives in me to this day. Everyone needs to be talking about the grapes of wrath, everyone needs to think about the grapes of wrath, everyone needs to think about Tom Joad and Jim Casy. You think we are so far removed from the time period of this book? All of this happened less than a hundred years ago. This time span is nothing, it is a drop in the bucket of human history. I don’t know what else to say, I will take every opportunity to get on a soapbox whenever anyone mentions the grapes of wrath

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"Everyone needs to be talking about the grapes of wrath, everyone needs to think about the grapes of wrath, everyone needs to think about Tom Joad and Jim Casy." I agree <3 I've always wondered why The Grapes of Wrath doesn't persist as much beyond the HS English years, and I've always suspected that it has something to do with how political it is, but more so how politically complicated and fierce it is than 'this party good, this one bad'. Like when the novel was published in 1939, The Grapes of Wrath was beloved (and absolutely hated) because it tapped into those loud debates over democracy/socialism/fascism unapologetically, and took a side, but a lot of the other 'great' books were a bit more subtle about their ideologies. I really think that the Grapes of Wrath is such a powerful story that it's in a lot of people's best interests to bury it. It drives a certain kind of conservative and moderate absolutely mad that this book even exists. I'm so glad that you love it though, glad to have another person to jump on the soapbox with lol

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beautiful piece, i just watched the grapes of wrath movie and this really resonates. thanks for sharing, and good luck on your move

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thanks for reading :)

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Oct 8Liked by Michael Rance

Ever since I read East of Eden in the summer, I have been wanting to get round to The Grapes of Wrath - this was a lovely sort of book review to communicate some of the emotions and themes found in the novel, I really enjoyed it! I also love the poem.

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If you liked East of Eden, I think there's a good chance that you'll love Grapes of Wrath. I'd be so excited to hear your thoughts if you get around to reading it!!

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Oct 8·edited Oct 8Liked by Michael Rance

Just wanted to let you know, it's 9:17am where I am and I've just settled down with my coffee. This post hit my inbox and I opened it and I'm so glad it's the first thing I read today. Thank you for this. Of course it's all horrible, but your post actually gave me some comfort.

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i'm glad it could be of some small comfort <3

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