June 27, 2005
The Grapes of Wrath
This week, I learned that the Grapes of Wrath doesn't have as much as an ending, as a stopping point. There's definitely a beginning to the book—the classic "man goes on a journey" novel with the requisite impetus for the trek.
And there's definitely a middle. This book has a middle like Horatio Sans has a middle. And it has lots of good stuff, like death, desertion, xenophobia and starvation. I'm not entirely sure, but I think someone even busted up a chiffarobe in there somewhere—which is always the sign of a good book.
But there is no ending to this book. You just end up soggy and kind of awkwardly trying not to look toward the back of the barn.
Comments
Interesting point, Tara. I've read the book several times and am always left wondering if Tom and Ma ever see each other again.
Well, foo. I forgot that while Blog for America defaults to "draft," Liloia.com defaults to "publish."
In any case. I'm right there with ya, Zach. The story is very Tom-focused in the beginning, then he drifts (literally) out of sight for most of the end.