The Turtle

I have recently read about 97 pages of the novel by John Steinbeck called The Grapes of Wrath.

I have tried to push myself to read more but it's hard to focus since the language and vocabulary is old fashioned and the dialogue is written how they would talk back then. In chapter three, it is just description of a turtle crossing across a highway. Even though it sounds boring and uneventful, I think Steinbeck had a larger, deeper meaning for the turtle attempting to cross the heated highway and how each time he tried to get across, something always stopped him. This could represent how people were feeling in the years of The Great Depression. They felt every time they tried to get across a difficult path or obstacle, they were thrown off course and back where they started. When they tried to get work or get enough money to survive for their family, some couldn't and were left on the hot highways, searching for hope.

I found it very interesting that Joad went to jail for murder. It brings a new, unique element to the plot. I also am very interested with the preacher because he's not a normal preacher. At first, when he was explaining why he didn't want to be a preacher and about his sin, I didn't understand quite what he meant. After reading more, I found out that the preacher had slept with girls out in the fields and he told himself to stop but he couldn't.

So far, the characters and the plot is unraveling and becoming interesting. I have also learned more about writing structure and ideas to explain surroundings. Overall, this book is getting more and more interesting.

First Post

This is my first post for my ISP on The Grapes of Wrath and The Great Gatsby. I have recently started reading The Grapes of Wrath and amazed at the language and great words John Steinbeck using. The first chapter was just describing the scenery but gave so much to the story. I could tell that it was a time of despair and loss of family and food. The certain words he uses to show that the dreaded drought that destroyed their fields and crop. I had known about the drought more so in Canada, so it's interesting that this book takes place down south in a different part of the world and experiences the drought. I have read about three chapters now and expect to have ten chapters done by next Tuesday. I decided to read this book first since it is longer and I don't know too much about it unlike The Great Gatsby. When I read this book, it also gives me more ideas of how to structure sentences and use different words to describe certain things. I'm really enjoying it so far!