Have I read this before: Nope. As mentioned before, I was an idiot and made The Grapes of Wrath my first introduction to Steinbeck way back in junior high and was so turned off by it that I’ve only been able to give him a second chance in the past several months.

Review: I’d only ever seen Family Guy’s interpretation of this story, so I did have a bit of background going into it and knew what to expect (to an extent). Steinbeck, I’m starting to learn, is really good at expressing despair and desperation in all the ways they can be experienced. I know there’s a lot of positive aspirations and hope in this story, but it’s all overshadowed by all the little things that build up to the main event which, in turn, heightens that feeling of despair that, in my opinion, underlies everything in the novella.

Favorite Part: The buildup to that climactic scene. It’s subtle, even if you know it’s coming.

Rating: 6/10