Talking with my daughter’s boyfriend about his current reading: Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath” and how it relates to what is happening today gives me hope for the future. Some of these Millennials have got it right.
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I sure hope so! I worry about all of the wonderful works that have or are in the process of being banned; I hope they aren’t lost opportunities for learning.
Don't underestimate the Millennials what is occurring is waking them up; it just take time for some of them to wake up to the world that they need to take up the reins of governing their country.
It's so encouraging to hear about young people reading. I read The Grapes of Wrath as an adult. It made me angry. It was one of my dad's favorite books, and I confronted him and said, "how can you love this book and still be a republican?" (He did switch parties once Tr*mp showed up, thankfully.)
My daughter is currently reading NIGHT by Elie Wiesel in her sophomore Honors English class. Next year, she'll be reading 1984 & Brave New World (and other great books) in AP English Language, now taught by a former student, who took the course from me nearly 20 years ago! There's hope!
It’s one of my favorite books, not just because of the beautiful writing, but it was a picture of the poor & struggling, after losing their farm (claimed by the bank), migrating to orange orchards. If you just make it undocumented workers who are being seized & deported, it is today.
Our NEA Big Read is on the “Grapes of Wrath.” Though funding is uncertain at this point, we’ll go through with the program regardless. While rooted in the local community of Salinas Valley, the program will be online to reach a global audience.
I substitute teach high school in a rural area and disagree. Most teenagers can be assholes but not utterly and completely. The conversations I have had with these kids gives me hope for a better future if we can survive and get past the present chaos we are in.
It's an amazing book. You are right, it's really like today, but unlike a lit of Steinbeck's works, the ending is at least hopeful. It's not like "Of Mice and Men" or "The Pearl".
That book was banned in Bakersfield California. My Mother was a teacher and made sure we read it and discussed nightly at the dinner table. She was like that.
There's a real love affair between the activist boomers and millennials--like Bernie and AOC who adore each other. I said to a young woman behind the counter of a visionary cafe, "You guys thrill me."
"You thrill ME," she replied, after hearing my stories of reinventing civilization, then & now.
The movie is good, but never seems to capture the the feeling if helplessness the book does.
The imagery at the end of the book made such an impact on me.
I read it in HS, college, and a few years ago in book club.
Honestly, I think it’s responsible for turning a lot of teens against reading. GoW is brilliant as a work of literature—and so depressing.
I think that adults with a certain amount of world experience are better able to understand it.
Seek out Sonora Babb's "Whose Names Are Unknown". She was the writer who was from Indian land in Oklahoma, did all the research for her own book and whose notes were stolen and given to Steinbeck, meaning that her book didn't get published until 2004.
I would argue most of the millennial generation not in the united states has it right, it seems ( from my own experience anyways ) that its gen Z that's problematic not gen Y.
Well, my comment has gotten a few likes, so I’d wager a guess I speak for at least 39 of us.
And yes, I was very fortunate. My father is a writer and instilled in me a love for reading. I was reading at a college graduate level in 8th grade, but I think many people have read Grapes of Wrath at 16.
Milennials seem pretty on-the-level. It’s GenZ who will tell you that AdoIf HltIer is the most lied-about person in history and that the United States fought on the wrong side of World War ll.
I spend a lot of time with 18-25 year olds. We are in AL, but my liberal, quirky, non-conforming-to anyone's-preconceived-notions offspring have found and nurtured like-minded companions.
The internet has brought "WOKE"ness even to the rural South.
My kids are 18-22 and all three of them are very aware, politically. I’m so proud of them. Their youth does not take away from their critical thinking skills.
I am becoming more and more grateful for my high school/college English education every day. I just recommended Grapes of Wrath to a friend that never read it. May have to purchase another copy soon if I can't find the old one. Same as with 1984, it's an apt time for a reread.
And Steinbeck is amazing. The East of Eden is one of my fav books. I was heartbroken about the salts. Have not felt such a deep sorrow about something in a book for a long time
Hard not to get it right: me and my husband both have PhDs, both work at very prestigious jobs (not manager positions, the actual folks who do the things). And we can't afford to buy even an apartment. (Yes, we save $, but our monthly income is insufficient to reliably pay for mortgage)
Anyone born after 1980 is a “kid” to me. My daughter and her boyfriend were born in 1995 and 1994 respectively. Like I said in a reply above they’re on the generational cusp.
My kids are Gen Z libs. Both have more faith in our systems holding than I do right now. One is in Vienna for the semester, Europeans deeply hate Musk-Trump
I have faith in the Americans. There were crisis before. There were Nazi sympathisers in the gov before. There were horrible things before. And when they were stripped it was the Americans themselves who stopped them. I don't believe in the system, I believe in the people. That's my last hope
As for generalizing generations, Boomers are cast as conservative asshats. I was born in 1952, Laura in 1963. (Yep, I’m a cradle robber, and a very lucky man.) We’re both Boomers. Most of our friends are. We’re all very active progressives, always have been. So much for generalizing.
I have a friend, she is in her 60s, we've been friends forever. She taught me how to drive. She is the most progressive person I know, and on the top of that - very active: nature conservation, political involvement (big fan of Bernie), very generous. Amazing person.
The kids are so well informed and compassionate- I have had amazing intelligent political conversations with both my granddaughter’s age 13 and 18 that blew me away.
It’s great to see younger generations engaging with classic literature and drawing connections to today’s world. Steinbeck’s themes of resilience and social justice are just as relevant now as they were then. Conversations like these definitely give hope for the future!
Right now rereading 1984, I read and laugh (nervously) because we are living it and I still can’t believe humanity keeps walking backwards every time we elect some fascist. We suffered that in Brazil, Argentinians are suffering it right now and Germany is walking to same path. Again. USA is there.
I've seen elements of 1984 for years, like the US armed terrorists called Freedom Fighters, or the bomb called the Peacemaker. Now it is so ramped up. And so many are believing it. Scary times.
It was not part of my curriculum somehow. I'm 34. But i read grapes of wrath a few months ago for the first time just by choice and really loved it. It was part of my Gen x mom's curriculum tho. And she just mailed me a copy of East of Eden so I can read that next.
It should be required reading!!! Not long ago whites were the immigrants. How quickly they are to forget! Race aside, it has always been worker vs ruling class. Will we ever figure out we are on the same team?
That and The Jungle are perfect examples of how it has always been a class divide; the target is always moving. The consistent thing is there will always be an underclass people will exploit and abuse.
Chinese immigrants, Italians, Eastern Europeans, Irish... everyone has had a turn.
Oh yeah. I read Steinbeck and Sinclair and recommend them weekly to my friends and strangers. Essential work those guys did that’s still 100% relevant.
Used to my fav when I was 16 - a long time ago. 😅
Took me to Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Human Rights ...
We need a new generation of rebels, now, it has never been so urgent!
I always wanted to teach that book. It was never on the required reading for any high schools at which I taught. I get it. It’s long and hard, but it’s also achingly beautiful and thought provoking. The little bits included in American lit anthologies just never were enough.
“How can you frighten a man whose hunger is not only in his own cramped stomach but in the wretched bellies of his children? You can't scare him -- he has known a fear beyond every other.” - Chapter 19, Grapes Of Wrath
Steinbeck’s level of research he did before writing any of his novels was insanely good. Had a book that I read documenting this after reading East of Eden. Brief trip to Monterey found me at 2 different Steinbeck museums and feeling the streets he wrote about in Cannery Row.
For “Grapes of Wrath,” John Steinbeck accompanied Arthur Rothstein, documenting and photographing the plight of Dust Bowl migrants for the Photo Unit of the Historical Section of FDR’s Resettlement Administration. View the photos at the Library of Congress. We exhibited some last year. Link:
As long as they are under 30. The 30-40 year olds are lost. I have two and they are single, angry, and poor. My 23 year old is successful, reads, dates, and is incredibly intelligent.
Pretty sure that's on you. I'm 37, married, have a career and own a house. If your 30-40 year olds are like that it's probably their upbringing, not their age...
My 20-year old had Musk figured out years ago. She also had the issues that exist with organized religion pegged before she was a teenager. She’s a smart cookie.
Yes, the old fart here likes Manga and Anime *and * John Steinbeck. I also like Evelyn Waugh and P. G. Wodehouse and the films of John Ford, Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, and, of course, Chuck Jones.
And like many said, you take something away from young people (ban books) and they want it more. Our youngest studied Baldwin, Morrison, and Hughes, and they're just getting started. #GoodTrouble
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Solely because I keep seeing quotes from it posted on social media.
Now some laud him; but not the "ruling" white families whom he called out
There is no difference.
It’s the gen xers and boomers who are screwing up.
"You thrill ME," she replied, after hearing my stories of reinventing civilization, then & now.
The margin was tiny. Any sway in these turnout numbers wins the election.
Age 45-64 (different study) is the only bracket that Trump won. That’s us.
wonderful novel.
The imagery at the end of the book made such an impact on me.
Honestly, I think it’s responsible for turning a lot of teens against reading. GoW is brilliant as a work of literature—and so depressing.
I think that adults with a certain amount of world experience are better able to understand it.
Millennials’ old injuries and joints have started predicting rain, and our kids are starting college.
We’re going gray. Our “Grapes of Wrath” days are way in the past at this point lol
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanora_Babb
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/riding-like-the-wind-iris-jamahl-dunkle/1145186663;jsessionid=65EF9ED99BBB818B8056E3AB8EDEA11D.prodny_store02-atgap13?ean=9780520395473
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https://youtu.be/fHAOWLhrxhQ
What’s your point?
And your reading prowess! At such a young age!!
And yes, I was very fortunate. My father is a writer and instilled in me a love for reading. I was reading at a college graduate level in 8th grade, but I think many people have read Grapes of Wrath at 16.
The internet has brought "WOKE"ness even to the rural South.
I was 15 when I read GoW in school.
Are you sure they’re millennials?! 😅😅😅
Worked a treat.
Also, the book wasn’t about wine or vineyards at all.
Chinese immigrants, Italians, Eastern Europeans, Irish... everyone has had a turn.
Took me to Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Human Rights ...
We need a new generation of rebels, now, it has never been so urgent!
✊😎👍
There's some good examples of community solidarity in it.
Just kidding. I read Grapes of Wrath as a teen, ages ago.
And it feels terrifyingly relevant.