The Grapes of Wrath (Centennial Edition)

Amazon.com

When The Grapes of Wrath was published in 1939, America, still recovering from the Great Depression, came face to face with itself in a startling, lyrical way. John Steinbeck gathered the country's recent shames and devastations--the Hoovervilles, the desperate, dirty children, the dissolution of kin, the oppressive labor conditions--in the Joad family. Then he set them down on a westward-running road, local dialect and all, for the world to acknowledge. For this marvel of observation and perception, he won the Pulitzer in 1940.

The prize must have come, at least in part, because alongside the poverty and dispossession, Steinbeck chronicled the Joads' refusal, even inability, to let go of their faltering but unmistakable hold on human dignity. Witnessing their degeneration from Oklahoma farmers to a diminished band of migrant workers is nothing short of crushing. The Joads lose family members to death and cowardice as they go, and are challenged by everything from weather to the authorities to the California locals themselves. As Tom Joad puts it: "They're a-workin' away at our spirits. They're a tryin' to make us cringe an' crawl like a whipped bitch. They tryin' to break us. Why, Jesus Christ, Ma, they comes a time when the on'y way a fella can keep his decency is by takin' a sock at a cop. They're workin' on our decency."

The point, though, is that decency remains intact, if somewhat battle-scarred, and this, as much as the depression and the plight of the "Okies," is a part of American history. When the California of their dreams proves to be less than edenic, Ma tells Tom: "You got to have patience. Why, Tom--us people will go on livin' when all them people is gone. Why, Tom, we're the people that live. They ain't gonna wipe us out. Why, we're the people--we go on." It's almost as if she's talking about the very novel she inhabits, for Steinbeck's characters, more than most literary creations, do go on. They continue, now as much as ever, to illuminate and humanize an era for generations of readers who, thankfully, have no experiential point of reference for understanding the depression. The book's final, haunting image of Rose of Sharon--Rosasharn, as they call her--the eldest Joad daughter, forcing the milk intended for her stillborn baby onto a starving stranger, is a lesson on the grandest scale. "'You got to,'" she says, simply. And so do we all. --Melanie Rehak

Book Description

One of the greatest and most socially significant novels of the twentieth century, Steinbeck's controversial masterpiece indelibly captured America during the Great Depression through the story of one Oklahoma farm family, the Joads. Intensely human yet majestic in its scale and moral vision, tragic but ultimately stirring in its insistence on human dignity, The Grapes of Wrath (1939) is not only a landmark American novel, but it is as well an extraordinary moment in the history of our national conscience.

Dorothy Allison on John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath: "

"John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath is a novel completely of it's time-but that time is as much the concrete nineties as the dust bowl thirties. With language that echoes the poetry of the gospels and characters who cling to simple human decency under the most horrific assaults, it is both a work of social criticism and a celebration of the American character. The Joad family speaks to us of all the homeless and displaced families on our streets today, and to the fears and prejudices that tempt so many of us to close our eyes or look away. In telling the story of the Joads, John Steinbeck has retold the story of this nation. We are not a small mean people, Steinbeck's work proclaims, and to prove it he showed us the courage and grace in the poorest of us."

Customer Reviews:

Waste of Time .......2007-10-13

I've read other Steinbeck novels, so I was looking forward to reading his "greatest" novel. Sometimes referred to as THE "Great American Classic." Honestly, I thought the book was boring, and from page one it consistently tried to make you feel sad and sorry for the Joad Family and the okies for being kicked off their land, because of the big bad evil bank! What's sad is the fact that Americans living in a free country, would denounce the bank, not the Joad family. They took out a loan, and its evil to think they should get to stay on land and not have to repay it. It's not the banks responsibility to cater to anyone, and there is nothing wrong with them seeking a profit motive. This story feeds on depravity and immorality. One of the main characters, Tom Joad, is a murderer! and deserves no respect, let alone sympathy. This novel is a perfect example of the alruistic religious depravity that we are constantly fed from day to day, and as far as I'm concerned its garbage! The human spirit is triumphant and proud, not depraved and guilty! Self-sacrifice is NOT a virtue!

Powerful, memorable, beautifully written........2007-10-07

I loved this book, period. I was "forced" to read it in high school, and we all know how much teenagers appreciate great American literature. (wink wink.)
I am so glad I decided to pick it up and read it again, because it was as if I'd never laid eyes on the book before. This book is beautifully written, powerful, and heartbreaking. I did not fully realize the plight of the migrant workers in the 1920's and this book made me grow to respect and empathize with the Joad family and others like them.
This book stayed with me for a while after I read it; I kept thinking about it and analyzing it. I couldn't wait for my husband to finish reading it so we could talk about it. If anyone is intimidated by the phrase "classic novel" or has bad memories of being forced to read classics in high school, I strongly urge you to read this book--I read everything from People magazine to Patricia Cornwell to chick lit--and I LOVED this book.

Simply an Amazing Book.......2007-09-11

If you haven't read The Grapes of Wrath, do yourself a huge favor and read it!!! Since it's that good, I can't think of any more words to describe it...

The Grapes of Wrath.......2007-09-06

I read this book in high school and did not pick it up again until I was 50. What a difference a few years makes! This book is about hope while facing incredible challenges. If there is hope, there is life. When the voices of the suffering come together, they simmer, begin to boil and rise up (hence, the wrath of the migrant workers). It is about finding strength in different sources (a mother surfacing as the leader of her family). It is about families circling the wagons and holding onto to each other because often that was all they had. This story has been told many times in the course of history of laborers and is the backbone of the unions. Chapter 29 says it all. Very moving. A must read over and over again.

Politically charged and blatantly biased, but still powerful and affecting .......2007-09-01

Detractors of this novel will tell you that The Grapes of Wrath is melodramatic, contrived, and relentlessly preachy - and I can't argue with them. The Grapes of Wrath is overwrought and about as subtle as a hand grenade, but it is also a powerfully affecting novel. I challenge even the most cynical reader not to be moved (at least a little) by the tragic story of the Joad family.

The novel is often described as a `sweeping epic' (which means it is longer than the average book). It is undeniably a classic and well worth reading, but is not without its flaws. The novel is compelling and I found myself having trouble putting it down as I neared the final chapters, however it does get bogged down in spots and some of the dialogue is repetitive. Steinbeck is unquestionably one of the most important writers of the 20th century, but (and let's be honest here) his prose is largely unremarkable (certainly when compared to Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby").

And then there are the politics...

Personally, I don't have a problem with an author having a strong point of view and expressing it in a novel. Yes, Steinbeck portrays a complex issue as if it were clear-cut. He portrays the migrants as good and noble (the men-folk may behave badly at times; drinkin', brawlin', and womanizin' but they are inherently good). Meanwhile, the banks and the land owners are evil personified. There is no middle ground in The Grapes of Wrath.

Despite what some reviewers would have you believe, The Grapes of Wrath is not a communist manifesto. It does however, question how a country so plentiful can allow so many to starve and suffer and Steinbeck doesn't hesitate to point his finger at those he feels are to blame. Reality is considerably more complex. The plight of the dustbowl farmers was inevitable as the economy changed and small family farms became unsustainable.

Steinbeck's narrative alternates between the Joad family's story (the even numbered chapters), and a series of expository chapters (the odd numbered chapters) that provide a broader perspective of the migrant experience. These expository chapters are the most politically charged and blatantly biased of the novel, but they also feature some of the best writing.

My review sounds mixed because I have mixed feelings about the novel. It is bold, but contrived, compelling, yet melodramatic, powerful, but preachy. All in all though its strengths outweigh its shortcomings. The Grapes of Wrath is well worth reading, just don't set your expectations too high. This isn't one of the best novels ever written, in fact, it isn't even Steinbeck's best.

The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set): The Field Guide; The Seeing Stone; Lucinda's Secret; The Ironwood Tree; The Wrath of Mulgrath

Average customer rating:

reading fantasy is fun
A Family Favorite
Protesting the Price
Spiderwick Chronicles-- Not just for kids
I'm 22 and I loved this set

The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set): The Field Guide; The Seeing Stone; Lucinda's Secret; The Ironwood Tree; The Wrath of Mulgrath
Holly Black , and Tony DiTerlizzi
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0689040342

Book Description

It all started with a mysterious letter left at a tiny bookstore for authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. Its closing lines: "We just want people to know about this. The stuff that has happened to us could happen to anyone." Little could they imagine the remarkable adventure that awaited them as they followed Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace and a strange old book into a world filled with elves, goblins, dwarves, trolls, and a fantastical menagerie of other creatures. The oddest part is in entering that world, they didn't leave this one!

Five captivating books!
One thrilling adventure!
The Spiderwick Chronicles

Customer Reviews:

reading fantasy is fun.......2007-09-10

Reading a book that will be a movie in Feburary is fun for all ages. This book is full of imagination, magic and fantasy.

A Family Favorite.......2007-09-06

My kids can't get enough of these books! I have a 7 year old & a 5 year old, and we have read the books aloud to them. The 7 year old keeps trying to sneak the books away and read them himself, but we make him wait. They are an easy read--each book is about 100 pages, so it doesn't take long to read. The storyline is exciting for the kids. I'm glad we bought the boxed set, as you wouldn't want to buy just one! The five books make me think it's like one book broken into 5 parts.

Protesting the Price.......2007-09-05

These books are nice little fantasy stories, but I read the first one and couldn't bring myself to buy the others simply because you get so little book for your buck. At least the Series of Unfortunate Events, similarly packaged, were completely developed--and I thought they ran a bit short at the time! These Spiderwick books are more like 1/3 of a book each, or maybe even 1/4--and yet they're as much as 10 bucks a pop.

Anyway, the characters are pleasant and the central premise of a field guide to goblins and other fantastic creatures is a rich one. But I would want to see far more incredible story telling, and at a reasonable length, to invest in this series wholeheartedly.

Spiderwick Chronicles-- Not just for kids.......2007-08-25

I enjoyed many things about this book-- the artwork is enchanting and the storyline is inventive and as an adult reading this book - I was taken back to being a kid and loving every moment of being lost in the story and my own imagination. Great Read!

I'm 22 and I loved this set.......2007-08-24

My husband and I are into Fantasy and sci-fi books. We knew of Holly Black, and we love her other books. My husband loved the set and so did I. The pictures help give you a mental image of the people in the book, so as you read your mind has something to go off of. We plan on keeping this boxed set for when we have kids, I'm sure that they will love then just as much as we did.

Average customer rating:

"I'll be there..."
The American Epic
Terrific "Fambly"
A longer, better, agrarian, no-less-agenda-driven Jungle...

The Grapes of Wrath (Penguin Classics)
John Steinbeck , and Robert DeMott
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0143039431

Book Description

Today, nearly forty years after his death, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck remains one of America's greatest writers and cultural figures. Over the next year, his many works published as black-spine Penguin Classics for the first time and will feature eye-catching, newly commissioned art.

Of this initial group of six titles, The Grapes of Wrath is in a new edition with a completely revised introduction and, for the first time, detailed notes by leading Steinbeck scholar Robert DeMott.

Penguin Classics is proud to present these seminal works to a new generation of readers—and to the many who revisit them again and again.

Customer Reviews:

"I'll be there...".......2007-07-27

"Ya gotta eat..." Dad used uto say if we thanked him for taking to the local hamburger stand; he could have, just as easily, been stating the obvious theme of Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. One can easily imagine Tom Joad or, more to the point, his sister Rosasharon saying it in her "sharing" scene in the closing pages of the book. I read this book, the first time, in sophomore study hall just before lunch in small town Wisconsin; largely as a result of the wretched deprivations depicted in the book, I remember rushing home, sure I would starve to death if I didn't immediately ingest the bowl of soup and sandwich my mother had waiting for me. As the Joad family move out of Dustbowl Oklahoma toward the promised land of California, the Joads must survive on fried dough and unripe fruit (from which they are warned they may "get the skitters"); Along the way they meet tragedy and, in most cases, their dreams of a better life are smashed like last year's fallen fruit...And, yet, they still hope for the best. Maybe the next Hooverville will be different, maybe the next fruit ranch; if they could only make it there. Government offered little or no help. Long before the rest of the nation hit the skids, farmers were getting the short end of the stick; they never saw any of the prosperity of the 1920's, and the Dustbowl didn't help either. But Tom Joad sees hope in numbers, "Wherever a guy is hungry, I'll be there...", he says, urging the readers to come along, to fight injustice wherever they can: a challenge as urgent today as when Tom made it in this wonderful book.

The American Epic.......2007-05-21

"The Grapes of Wrath" is one of those intimidating "great books" that everyone knows about and no one reads. The irony is that it is a book about ordinary people, and the language and plot are hardly difficult at all. The Joads, driven off their Oklahoma farm by the encroachment of industrialization, seek a better life in California - with thousands of others in the same position. The migrants are forced to compete for survival, but only by leveraging their power as a group can they ever truly triumph. The theme of individual vs. group is further emphasized by the form of the novel. Steinbeck uses alternating chapters about the Joads and "interchapters" about the migrants as a whole. Thus the book, besides being the great American epic about the Joads, is also a social and political novel that caused an enormous uproar upon its publication. This is a book that is part of the collective American conscious and should be read by everyone who wants to feel thoroughly educated.

Terrific "Fambly".......2007-04-27

If you have not read this book, what are you waiting for? Is it because it was written before you were born? (1939) Does its name scare you, as it did me, into imagining it would be about all sorts of odd things, as I did? Well don't let your preconceived notions fool you. It's a terrific novel. It is a great piece of literature that won Mr. Steinbeck a well-deserved Pulitzer Prize, and eventually, with his other contributions to literature, earned him a Nobel Prize.

What can I say about the Joads that has not already been said in the past sixty-odd years? How could I have missed knowing them earlier? I read this story, with its "country speech" and "country ways" and wanted to take them all in. I wanted to comfort them all. I didn't know what I would find at the Joads when we first meet Tom going home. Who is this Tom Joad Jr. and why was he in jail? He must have had a HORRIBLE life to end up there, he must have. Then you meet the 'fambly.' You live with the 'fambly.' You see proud Pa try so hard to be the head of the home during the Dust Bowl migration. This family, who for generations upon generations, upon generations lived off their land. The land wasn't a piece of property, it was family. It fed them, it housed them. They raised a crop to sell, so they can pay off the loans they took when times were tough before. When the rains stopped coming, and the payments to the bank stopped being made, the 'banks' came and told all these people to leave. Imagine someone coming to tell you that the land you have lived on all your life, the land of your fathers and grandfathers belonged to the banks and you had to leave right now. Imagine the dread. All your life spent in the same place, with the same neighbors, the same strong values; "Yes Sir! Yes Ma'am!" No talking back, everyone knew their place. And then the dust came, and took away everything you knew.

The Joads sell everything they own, load up a beat-up truck with the necessities (food, water, mattresses, clothes, pots, pans) and head towards the promised land of California. Along with 500,000 other displaced people. All looking for land to work; it's all they know. You get land, you work it, it's yours. They had no idea what life outside of Oklahoma was really going to be like.

There's Ma, trying so hard to keep the family strong. She's the backbone. She eventually takes charge, which, back on their farm, was unheard of. Times were changing.

Ma & Pa, 6 kids, Grandma & Grandpa, Uncle John, the Preacher Casey, and Connie, the husband of one of Ma's daughters. Thirteen people in one truck.

I wanted to bring them home, let them eat, give them a hot bath, tell them it'll be ok. I wanted to simultaneously smack the heck out of Rose of Sharon (Rosasharn) and comfort her in the end; tell her she really did do good in God's eyes at that very last paragraph. I saw Ruthie grow in those 7 or 8 months into someone I did not like. She was mean, she was vindictive, she was 7. I saw humanity at its worse. Things like this really did happen in the early 1930's, after the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. These "Okies" were treated with contempt. They were kicked off their lands, treated like animals, paid meager wages or in some cases, they were paid with a loaf of bread for 16 hours of work, and it's disgusting. How would you fare? What would you be willing to do to feed your starving family?

It's a terrific book. I wish I knew how Noah fared. I wish I knew what happened to that spineless Connie. Is Tom ok? Did he take up the cause that Casey so tragically and instantaneously had taken from him? I imagine so. I imagine Tom forcing these cities who spurned them, who burned them out, who arrested them, to have to accept them; 500,000 strong. If not directly, then inspiring others to go on and on. The packing plants who throw away food, while these people sit outside the gates dying. The orange growers who sprayed kerosene on the overstock of oranges rather than give them away for free. The food thrown in rivers, with armed guards making sure no one took the food. Pigs slaughtered because they could not sell them, and hungry people staring, not understanding that there's a profit to be made.

"And they stand still and watch the potatoes float by, listening to the screaming pigs being killed in a ditch and covered with quicklime, watch the mountains of oranges slop down to a putrefying ooze; and in the eyes of the people there is a failure; and in the eyes of the hungry there is a growing wrath. In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage."

A longer, better, agrarian, no-less-agenda-driven Jungle..........2007-04-05

Steinbeck was a red, and this book is infused with politics; but, unlike Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, The Grapes of Wrath is a fine work of literature. Not perfect, not without flaws, not as good as Zola's similarly-themed Germinal, but still a classic achievement by a truly great American author. Everyone should read it, from socialists to Shriners, and, as with any work of fiction, take it cum grano salis.

Steinbeck didn't like capitalism, because, especially during the Depression, there were many things about it not to like. His prediction that the private ownership of the means of production was soon to be over (as of 1939) hasn't been borne out...but the guy is not remembered for being a commie pantywaist, or a spectacularly-wrong prognosticator.

He was a writer, an exceptional one, and most people claim this is his best book. (I would argue that Of Mice and Men holds that distinction, but Grapes is almost five times as long...and how can a six-hundred-page book be worse'n a novella?)

Whatever you think, about politics, economics, or literature, this book is not a waste of time.

The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 5)

Average customer rating:

Excellent book
The Wrath of Mulgareth(Spiderwick Chronicles #5
SpideWick Book Review
not about spiders
My son loves this book

The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 5)
Holly Black
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0689859406
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Amazon.com

Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi pull off an impressive five for five with Wrath of Mulgarath, the satisfyingly dramatic conclusion to their series, The Spiderwick Chronicles. After the gory conclusion of the The Ironwood Tree, we don't get even a moment's reprieve before the action picks up again, in a starting chapter entitled, fittingly, "IN WHICH the World Is Turned Upside Down." Thirteen-year-old Mallory and nine-year-old twins Jared and Simon return to the Spiderwick Estate only to find their home in shambles, with trash and broken furniture scattered across the lawn and Simon's griffin chasing a "goblin" across the roof. The faerie world that the Grace kids have so slowly probed in this series has finally come home to roost. Black and DiTerlizzi pack a lot into the finale of this beautifully produced series, with dragons and goblins and elves--and even a magical cameo by Arthur Spiderwick (the long-lost author of the disappearing-reappearing Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You). We get a dramatic rescue, a clever end to a fearsome foe (with some thanks to Hogsqueal from book two), and a long denouement that leads to a final cryptic note from the author and illustrator: "Are there more ogres / and dragons to slay? / Is there more mayhem, / perhaps, on the way? / Ask Tony and Holly. / They'll swear that it's true. / But you still won't believe / what's coming for you!" (Ages 6 to 10) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

Three ordinary kids, Jared, Simon, and Wallory Grace, have entered another world -- without leaving this one! Two remarkable talents, New York Times best-sellers Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, have risked everything to bring this remarkable account to light. Five books -- one thrilling adventure -- the Spiderwick Chronicles!

Their world is closer than you think.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book.......2007-09-29

My son loves the series of this book and was so glad to hear it came out with a new one. I bought it for his birthday and he actually loved getting this book as a gift.

The Wrath of Mulgareth(Spiderwick Chronicles #5.......2007-08-10

I think the ending to this book was very good. I love the entire series and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie when it comes out next year.

SpideWick Book Review.......2007-04-17

Spiderwick Book
By: Tony DiTerlizzi

This book is called Spiderwick. It is about a single mom raising twin boys and a daughter. They have just moved into their new house on the edge of the forest. They start to encounter weird and strange things in the house, such as fairies, goblins, and horrible creatures.
They find a secret attic that has strange items, and they find a fairy. He helps them on there journeys and explains what they are encountering.
Eventually the twins get kidnapped so there sister goes out and tries to find them. But will she succeed? It is a great book for kids in about fourth to fifth grade. If you like surprise, adventure and suspense than read Spiderwick and find out if the brothers get saved or experience their worst nightmare.
I like this book because every time you think that everything is ok something bad happens and it keeps you thinking. I also like it because of the reaction of the characters when something strange happens. I know I like this book and you will too.

[...]

not about spiders.......2007-03-13

3 Kids save the Day
This is a book review on the book of Spiderwick The Wrath of Mulgarath, by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi. The story mostly takes place in the town of Spiderwick Estates.
Mom Dad We Are Home!
"Mom dad we are home" is what the main characters said in my book when they got home from school. But there was no answer. Then they ran upstairs, and saw that the place was trashed. And all they found was a little rhyming guy on the table, his name was Hogsqueal. And Hogsqeal told them their parents had been taken by the goblin army of Mulgarath. Then they go to the junk yard where Mulgarath's lair is. And fight for their mom and dad to be free. On the way they fight tons of goblins.
Favorite Book
I loved this book! It was really action packed. I think it is a great book for boys, maybe girls too. I loved this book because you can learn lots of lessons. For example, always go for what you want. And the kids don't care if something seems impossible, they will just do the best they can. They are not scared if it looks like they don't stand a chance against goblins, the will either figure out how to beat them or get out of it. Another thing I like was that when the authors put the pictures on the side, I felt like I was in the book with them.
Lost Someone
I can really relate to the characters in my book because they only lost their parents and found them but I lost my great uncle Lloyd for ever. So if you feel like you have ever lost someone go to the nearest bookshelf and read it.
Read It
If you like to travel to different imaginary places, would be a great book for you

My son loves this book.......2007-02-17

This book is part of a set that I purchased for my son. He read it in one sitting so I know he enjoyed it. The illustrations are fun.

The Harvest Gypsies: On the Road to the Grapes of Wrath

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A selection of seven articles that Steinbeck wrote in 1936
Was It Really A Novel?
. . .a prerequisite to In Dubious Battle. . .

The Harvest Gypsies: On the Road to the Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck
Manufacturer: Heyday Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1890771619

Book Description

Recently listed in the Top 100 List of the Century's Best American Journalism

Gathered in this important volume are seven newspaper articles on migrant farm workers that John Steinbeck wrote for "The San Francisco News" in 1936, three years before _The Grapes of Wrath_. With the inquisitiveness of an investigative reporter and the emotional power of a novelist in his prime, Steinbeck toured the squatters' camps and Hoovervilles of California. Here he found once strong, independent farmers—the backbone of rural America—so reduced in dignity, beaten in spirit, sick, sullen, and defeated that they had been "cast down to a kind of subhumanity." He contrasts their misery with the hope offered by government resettlement camps, where self-help committees, child nurseries, quilting and sewing projects, and decent sanitation were restoring dignity and indeed saving lives.

_The Harvest Gypsies_ gives us an eyewitness account of the horrendous Dust Bowl migration, a major event in California history, and provides the factual foundation for Steinbeck's masterpiece, _The Grapes of Wrath_. Included are twenty-two photographs by Dorothea Lange and others, many of which accompanied Steinbeck's original articles.

Customer Reviews:

A selection of seven articles that Steinbeck wrote in 1936.......2003-03-09

Readers seeking a full experience of John Steinbeck's literary style won't want to miss Harvest Gypsies, a selection of seven articles that Steinbeck wrote in 1936 about the plight of migrant farmworkers during the Dust Bowl migration. Black and white photos accompany his report on conditions and experiences, weaving a masterful selection of insights which go beyond history into personal observation.

Was It Really A Novel?.......2000-11-08

Were the "Grapes of Wrath" published today, it may like other recent books, have been classified as historical fiction as opposed to a novel. I am thinking specifically of "Artemisia" that was published as both in different countries. How the work is classified is not critical, as either way it is one of the finest pieces of literature that has been written, and for many people, Steinbeck's finest work.

"The Harvest Gypsies" is a collection of 7 articles that Mr. Steinbeck wrote as a journalist. All were concerned with the issues he dealt with in the resulting book. This small volume is greatly enhanced by the photographs of Dorothea Lange, and the introduction of Charles Wollenberg.

One of the people the book was dedicated to was "Tom", actually Tom Collins, who was a manager of a federal migrant labor camp in California. The lines of fact and fiction are eventually blurred with him, as Tom Collins was the model for the character of "Jim Rawley" manager of "The Wheatpatch Camp" in "The Grapes Of Wrath". Ms. Lange's photographs could have been illustrations for Mr. Steinbeck's book, for when viewing them you can pick out the faces that could have accounted for the members of Steinbeck's epic.

This is a very brief book, but it portrays the migratory farm workers lives, as being even worse, if that can be imagined. A novel always offers the ultimate refuge of being fiction; these 7 articles and their photographs take away that solace. The brutality, random murder, and disease that was rampant, and the State of California that allowed the behaviors, are atrocious. In the context of one of the writings, one of the large growers who sanctioned the killing and starvation that was part of the agriculture industry stated that, "without a peon population the economy of California could not function". Steinbeck takes this statement of arrogance and ignorance, that is routinely spoken by any exploiter, and logically demonstrates that were this indeed the case, the state could no longer exist. For were it to continue to exist with its fascist policies, the most basic of Democratic rights would have to be absented.

Milk, that played so prominent a role in the book is spoken of extensively in the articles. Many of the most painful parts of the book were so common in reality, that the book may seem mild at times.

No matter how many times you have read the book, once this collection of articles are read, the experience of the book will not only change, I believe it will be enhanced.

. . .a prerequisite to In Dubious Battle. . ........1999-04-15

Three of Steinbeck's social novels--In Dubious Battle, The Grapes of Wrath, and Of Mice and Men--are enhanced after reading this work. This work is the prelude to three of Steinbeck's most socially poweful novels. To fully understand what Steinbeck is striving to accomplish with Battle and Wrath, and to fully round out your history/literature lesson, it is essential to understand something about the socialist movement--birth of communisim--and the general exploitation of the fruit-pickers of California. The big businesses of that day, not much different from various big businesses of today, treated employees like machines--replacing them as needed--after being hurt on unsafe equipment, etc.--without regarding their well-being, or considering the hungry mouths of their families. The Harvest Gypsies is a crutial text in the study of California before uniouns began revolting against the machine.

The Steinbeck Centennial Collection: The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, East of Eden, The Pearl, Cannery Row, Travels With Charley, In Search of America (Boxed Set)

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The Steinbeck Centennial Collection
well...
Awesome collection
A wonderful collection
The Pearl

The Steinbeck Centennial Collection: The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, East of Eden, The Pearl, Cannery Row, Travels With Charley, In Search of America (Boxed Set)
John Steinbeck
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0147716756

Book Description

The Steinbeck Centennial Collection: The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, East of Eden, The Pearl, Cannery Row, Travels With Charley In Search of America (Boxed Set) Description: No writer is more quintessentially American than John Steinbeck. Born in 1902 in Salinas, California, Steinbeck attended Stanford University before working at a series of mostly blue-collar jobs and embarking on his literary career. Profoundly committed to social progress, he used his writing to raise issues of labor exploitation and the plight of the common man, penning some of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century and winning such prestigious awards as the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. He received the Nobel Prize in 1962, "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humour and keen social perception." Today, more than thirty years after his death, he remains one of America's greatest writers and cultural figures.

The boxed set, containing deluxe trade paperback editions with french flaps, is being released in honor of the Steinbeck centennial being celebrated throughout 2002. Penguin Putnam Inc, in partnership with the Steinbeck Foundation and the Great Books Foundation is sponsoring numerous events throught the year.

Customer Reviews:

The Steinbeck Centennial Collection.......2006-11-03

I purchased it to replace volumes
"borrowed" over the years and read all again, some for the first time in decades. They haven't changed and they never disappoint.
This would be a perfect gift for a young reader just beginning to build their adult collection.

well..........2006-07-04

excellent excellent EXCELLENT! what a set! my only problem is that penguin continues to ignore the fact that they should be printing on acid-free paper!! i don't get this? such a leading company, with amazing products, yet, how long will these books actually last before they start to deteriorate?

m. bailey

Awesome collection.......2005-10-25

I just moved to Salinas, CA when I ordered this set. I had never read John Steinbeck before, and thought this was a good time to start. Wow was I in for a treat! Phenomenal poetic language, incredible story lines, wonderful location descriptions. How exciting it is to read such stories taking place in the very settings I'm exploring now! I recommend this to others who haven't ever been here either, you may just find yourself with another destination on your "places to go list."

A wonderful collection.......2004-02-17

I just finished < > in my reading class,we even had discussed the similarities between Lennie and Forest Gump,and the differences between Steibeck's concise style and Hemingway's typical terseness.Afterward,I ordered < >,checked < >from my high school liabary.And now,you got a chance to read all of his masterpieces in the same time.I respectfully recommanded you to looked at Steinbeck's novels based upon Salina Valley,CA,his hometown,a heavenly countryside throughout the spiritial world of the master writter.I think Steinbeck's distinguishment is that he reflected two worlds in a character,both historically and mentally.Of course,he had written an epic with roustic American speciality.

The Pearl.......2003-01-04

There was a poor family in La Paz, in a small village. Kino and Juana had a son name Coyotito.
One day, Coyotito was pinched by a scorpion, but his parents did not have enough money to pay for the medication. They unexpectily found a big pearl from the sea, so they decided to sell it and use the money to save Coyotito. Unfortunately, no one was willing to pay a decent price for the pearl. Since the price offer in the village was not enough to pay for the medication, the couple then decide to go to the capital and hoped to find a better buyer who was willing to offer a better price. Although the parent knew better that there would be many obstacles and problem throughout the journey, their love for their son gave them bravery motivation to move on.
The story is very interesting, but the topic is not my favorite. The story is described in detail and it gives me many images as I read on. Therefore, I would give this ***.

Silenced: The Wrath of God Descends (Underground Zealot)

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First in a winning series of three
Great cliff hanger
Enjoyable Reading!
That same amazing style
Soon and Silenced

Silenced: The Wrath of God Descends (Underground Zealot)
Jerry B. Jenkins
Manufacturer: Tyndale House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0842384103

Book Description

Enter the continuing story of double agent Paul Stepola as he works to protect his fellow believers from the government that is trying to eliminate Christians. The underground church is in mortal peril following the apocalyptic events in Los Angeles, which have only cast further suspicion upon Christians. Meanwhile, Paul struggles with how to tell his family about his newfound faith without raising the suspicions of his ruthless father-in-law. A gripping, futuristic thriller that will keep you glued to the page.

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Customer Reviews:

First in a winning series of three.......2007-05-14

Mr. Jenkins has taken a topic that is current and turned it into a "What if" series making you think about the current state of affairs between Religion and politics. The characters are interesting, and the topic hits home.

Great cliff hanger.......2006-07-26

Silenced continued where Soon left off. It immediately pulled me back into the story. The ending was done in great cliff hanging style and I was pleased that I had already purchased the next and last book in this series. Aside from the fictional plot, the storyline gives way to self examination and evaluation.

Enjoyable Reading!.......2006-03-06

I loved this book! The suspense was great and the willingness to portray God as a prayer answering God is just worthy to be praised. He really does hear and answer prayer and this book is one of those rare reminders that sometimes we ask for BIG stuff and because He's able to, He ANSWERS us!

That same amazing style.......2006-01-28

For me, Tim LaHaye provided the research, but Jerry Jenkins really put heart into the left behind series. Any doubt that I had was erased with Soon and,especially Silenced. His same amazing literary voice is loud and clear in this book, and I had a really tough time choosing between The Regime and Shadowed, but I'm buying the Regime in the next 2 weeks anyway.

Soon and Silenced.......2005-09-27

This is a new series by Jerry Jenkins. If you like the Left Behind series you will enjoy this equally as well.

Before God's Wrath: The Bible's Answer to the Timing of the Rapture, Revised and Expanded Edition

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Excellent exposition and discussion of the Endtimes and the Rapture!
A Well-Researched and Well-Presented Study
Well-researched and well-written
A controversial topic
Thoughtful, Provocative, and Charitable

Before God's Wrath: The Bible's Answer to the Timing of the Rapture, Revised and Expanded Edition
H. L. Nigro
Manufacturer: Strong Tower Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0970433077

Book Description

Have you ever wondered why the rapture as it is described on television, in books, in movies, and even from the pulpit, does not seem to match what you read in the Bible? Or why the teaching that Christians will be whisked to heaven without facing any of the persecution and testing of the "Tribulation" period does not seem to match the character of God as revealed in the scriptures?

There is a reason. It doesn't.

The timing of the rapture clearly, repeatedly, and consistently taught in scripture is that Jesus will return to rapture the Church after the rise of the Antichrist, after the start of the "Tribulation" period, but before the Day of the Lord and God's wrath, not pretribulationally as many teach. The implications for believers, both in their lifestyles and their individual relationships with God, are critical.

This revised and expanded edition, written for believers at all levels of education and spiritual growth, takes a look at the prewrath timing and the volume of scriptures that support this important doctrine for the rapidly approaching End Times. Although written to be understandable for all Christians, this book contains in-depth arguments and rebuttals to key pretribulation arguments suitable for use by pastors, prophecy teachers, and professors.

What's new in this edition?

o Expanded and clarified arguments.

o Foreword by Gary Vaterlaus, national instructor for Sola Scriptura (formerly The Sign Ministries), asking, "Is pretribulationism a text of orthodoxy?".

o Expanded review of the development of modern eschatology, putting pretribulationism in its historical context.

o Nearly one dozen new charts, including those that provide greater clarification on the structure of Revelation.

o Revised analysis of "the last trumpet."

o New appendix: Oswald T. Allis — Do Parousia, Apocalypse, Epiphany Require Different Comings?

o New appendix by Gary Vaterlaus that answers the question, "What did the church fathers believe about the coming Antichrist and the Tribulation?", letting the church fathers answer this question in their own words through substantive excerpts from the writings of key figures such as Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and Ireneaus.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent exposition and discussion of the Endtimes and the Rapture!.......2005-11-08

I would highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more about the endtimes, prophecy, and the rapture.

There are several things that help make this an outstanding book:

1. There book includes several charts and tables that make it much easier to compare Scripture passages from different parts of the Bible.
2. The book discusses many issues that I had questions on but that other books on the endtimes just didn't cover (easy to read but indepth treatment of the issues, theology, and Biblical texts!)
3.The author is fair and accurate when discussing other views of the endtimes with which she disagrees in her book. Some books written by Christians seem "unchristian" in how they treat others or develop "strawman" arguments. This book is fair in its treament of others!
4.It is easy to tell that the author spent ALOT of time researching and writing this book.

There are several other good books that deal with the endtimes (such as Marvin Rosenthal's book "The prewrath rapture of the church"), but this is the most up to date, thorough, and comprehensive on the rapture available.

A Well-Researched and Well-Presented Study.......2005-10-15

Before God's Wrath by H.L. Nigro is one of the better books I've come across regarding the timing of the Rapture of the Church. Well-researched and documented, this study is not an emotional defense of a predisposed position; it is a thought-provoking overview supported solely and completely by Scripture. Wherever you fall in your theological stance regarding the Last Days, you would be hard pressed to debunk the author's strong position.

Well-researched and well-written.......2005-09-07

This book is one of the most helpful Bible study books on my shelf. I've read Rosenthal's and Van Kampen's also. I found each book to be unique and helpful. Although all three (and several other pre-wrath rapture books) are on the same topic, Nigro's book stands on its own for research and information. It is well thought out and helped me tremendously in my journey from pre-tribulation rapture to pre-wrath. Ultimately, it must always be God's word that grounds us, but He has certainly used Nigro to lead us to His word.

A controversial topic.......2005-09-07

I am new to the idea that the church will not be raptured out prior to the tribulation. I had my suspicions that we would, indeed, have to endure the Great Tribulation but not come under God's wrath (Read Matt 24). I began to do some online research and came across and purchased several books on the topic. Before God's Wrath is one of them. H.L Nigro contributes greatly to the topic, clearing up many areas of confusion. I can recommend this book highly to anyone who has questions about when the *Bible* says the Chruch will be raptured.

Thoughtful, Provocative, and Charitable.......2005-09-07

H.L. Nigro is one of a handful of scholars who have independently discovered that the Bible teaches a PreWrath, PreMillennial Rapture. My favorite section of this book is the Q&A at the very front. There the author addresses the questions that someone coming from a PreTrib viewpoint is likely to have when first encountering the PreWrath view.

Throughout the course of the text, H.L. examines the Word of God faithfully and thoroughly to determine the true intent of the Author. For any who want to go deeper into the differences between PreTrib and PreWrath, the author provides an appendix that examines "Maranatha! Our Lord Come!" by Renald Showers and also an appendix that takes issue with "The Rapture Question Answered" by John Walvoord. The PreTrib stance is given a fair hearing by this charitable author, who is clearly walking close to the Lord.

Whether you have studied End Times prophecy a little or a lot, you will be blessed by considering H.L. Nigro's well-reasoned arguments in favor of the PreWrath view. You will, at the least, see an example of how to debate a controversial issue without becoming obnoxious. At the most, you will discover the truth.

The Grapes of Wrath (New Longman Literature: Steinbeck)

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The Grapes of Wrath (New Longman Literature: Steinbeck)
John Steinbeck
Manufacturer: Longman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0582461537

Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman

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BeSt BoOk YoU WiLl ReAd!
The funniest book you will ever read!
Laughs, action, and flip-o-ramas are at it again!
I threw up more times than there are pages in the 5th Harry Potter book
YOU WILL DIE FROM LAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman

Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439050006
Release Date: 2001-08-20

Amazon.com

In the fifth "epic novel" about the extraordinary Captain Underpants--"faster than a speeding waistband... more powerful than boxer shorts"--the formidable superhero is under siege by a terrifying new enemy, the merciless bionic-powered Wedgie Woman. Will Captain Underpants overcome his fear of spray starch in time to save the world from the evil schemes of Wedgie Woman? No one knows... except maybe George and Harold, the imaginative fourth-grade troublemakers (imagination is not allowed at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School), who are also the creative minds behind Captain Underpants and Wedgie Woman. You see, it all started (as it usually does) with a comic strip drawn and illustrated by the boys. When their mean teacher Miss Ribble gets her hands on the comic book, their troubles really begin.

Fans who have been eagerly awaiting Book 5 in the series, preceded by such gems as Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space and Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants, will heave a sigh of relief at the appearance of Pilkey's latest tongue-in-cheek superhero adventure novel. Goofier than ever, with plenty of boyish drawings and juvenile humor, this lightweight chapter book is the answer to reluctant (and avid) readers' dreams. If descriptions of Wedgie Woman's bionic hair and the "ubrupt" ending of the "happyness" on the planet of Underpantyworld don't turn grade-schoolers into bookworms, what will? By the way, don't let the quotation from Einstein at the front of the book mislead you; this is lowbrow humor at its very finest. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Best-selling author-illustrator Dav Pilkey presents an outrageously funny new adventure in this latest installment of the enormously popular Captain Underpants series, with over ten million books in print. In this hilarious epic novel, the amazing Captain Underpants faces the wickedest, wildest, wedgiest villain yet! George and Harold have really done it this time, they've created a MONSTER! She's faster, stronger, and smarter than anything the world has seen before-she's Wedgie Woman! With the help of her horrible robots and her horrible hairdo, Wedgie Woman is on a mission to take over the world, and she'll give a whopping wedgie to anyone who stands in her way-including Captain Underpants. Will Wedgie Woman's wicked ways spell the end for our heroes? You'll have to read the book to find out. And in the meantime, watch your back!

Customer Reviews:

BeSt BoOk YoU WiLl ReAd!.......2007-03-07

Davante Armant Ela
Date 1/29/07 FD-BR
Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman

Do you like to read funny books that make you laugh threw every single chapter? Well then you should definitely read Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Women by Dav Pilkey. In this book George Beard and Harold Hutchins tries to get their teacher Ms. Ribble to change their grades back to normal because they tricked her into almost marrying the principal. So Harold Hutchins comes up with the idea of trying to hypnotize Ms. Ribble.
But little did both Harold and George know that the hypotonic ring they had purchased a while back worked differently on women. Every time they tell women something, the hypnotized female does the opposite. While hypnotizing their teacher Harold told her, you will change our grades back, not turn into wedgie women, not try to destroy Captain Underpants, and not try to take over the world. So now seeing how George Beard and Harold Hutchins made the mistake of their lives. Both George and Harold are now are now going to soon regret it.
If you want to find out what's going to happen to George and Harold then you should go out and READ THIS BOOK!

The funniest book you will ever read!.......2007-02-16

Do you like to read funny books that make you laugh through every single chapter? Well then you should definitely read Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Women by Dav Pilkey. In this book George Beard and Harold Hutchins tries to get their teacher Ms. Ribble to change their grades back to normal because they tricked her into almost marrying the principal. So Harold Hutchins comes up with the idea of trying to hypnotize Ms. Ribble.

But little did both Harold and George know that the hypotonic ring they had purchased a while back worked differently on women. Every time they tell women something, the hypnotized female does the opposite. While hypnotizing their teacher Harold told her, you will change our grades back, not turn into wedgie women, not try to destroy Captain Underpants, and not try to take over the world. So now seeing how George Beard and Harold Hutchins made the mistake of their lives. Both George and Harold are now are now going to soon regret it.

If you want to find out what's going to happen to George and Harold then you should go out and READ THIS BOOK!

Laughs, action, and flip-o-ramas are at it again!.......2007-02-09

It's just an average day at school with George Beard and Harold Hutchins, but a teacher giving super powered wedgies isn't normal for the other kids. She's mean, evil, vile, and wants to take over the world; she's Wedgie Woman! But, who will stop her?

In the fifth epic novel of Captain Underpants by: Dav Pilkey, George and Harold try to hypnotize their mean teacher... and it works. They tell Ms. Ribbles to be nice, kind and not to turn into the evil Wedgie Woman who wants to take over the world. Later, on in the news, they hear that if a woman is hypnotized they will do the opposite of what they are told to do. Now George and Harold are very worried when they find out that the news is true and that Wedgie Woman is here to take over the world!

It's wedgie time since Wedgie Woman's hair gets soaked with super powered juices and now even her hideous hair can give wedgies. Everyone (except for Wedgie Woman) is mad because they all get a wedgie, but don't worry Captain Underpants is here! Maybe he'll save our underwear, or he might get an atomic wedgie, but to find out the climax of Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman by: Dav Pilkey you must read the action-packed book that is full of laughs and violence

I threw up more times than there are pages in the 5th Harry Potter book.......2005-12-19

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. This book is like all the others funny. Read this book!

YOU WILL DIE FROM LAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2005-11-18

Oh my gosh this book is hillarious.george and harold are so funny they do all these pranks and they change the lunch sign every day.they trick 2 of their teachers to marry each other and...well you have to figure out the rest

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