Modern-day Grapes of Wrath

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I'm doing some work for a literature class and i'm wondering if people could point me in a good direction. I'm starting off in a new direction, and I've always liked Steinbeck's book, so I'm thinking why not look at a more recent book and how it may echo elements of Grapes. Basically I'm wondering if it's worth going down this road at all.

Has anyone read anything they would call a modern day "grapes of wrath?" obv it doesnt have to be exactly like it, but something written in the last 10-15 years dealing with things in a similar way would be good.

I'm throwing a mental blank. Any ideas?

― AaronK (AaronK), Friday, 21 October 2005 22:18 (twenty years ago)

Well, what is it you liked about GoW?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 21 October 2005 22:56 (twenty years ago)

various things about it - the powerful ending, the depictions of landscape and connection to land, and the folksiness of it - the way everyone is always squating (and because when you've got no chair, you squat), the voices of characters...the turtle...

were you thinking of something?

― AaronK (AaronK), Friday, 21 October 2005 23:13 (twenty years ago)

Carolyn Chute's novels of redneck Maine: The Beans of Egypt Maine; Letourneau's Used Auto Parts; Merry Men; Snow Man. She depicts the same sort of dignity of marginal (rural underclass) people as Steinbeck did, their powerlessness and anger, their need for self-reliance because nobody cares about them. Not as epic/heroic as G0W, but great eye for detail and ear for speech.

Letourneau's Used Auto Parts is my favorite of them. Merry Men is the most epic.

― steve ketchup, Saturday, 22 October 2005 13:47 (twenty years ago)

I loved The Beans of Egypt Maine!

― pepektheassassin (pepektheassassin), Saturday, 22 October 2005 15:30 (twenty years ago)

ah, interesting. I'll check it out,. thanks :)

― AaronK (AaronK), Saturday, 22 October 2005 17:17 (twenty years ago)

Tortilla Flat--T.C. Boyle

― Mary (Mary), Saturday, 22 October 2005 17:29 (twenty years ago)

The Milagro Bean Field War

― Mary (Mary), Saturday, 22 October 2005 17:33 (twenty years ago)

I meant, Tortilla Curtain.

― Mary (Mary), Saturday, 22 October 2005 17:34 (twenty years ago)

I dunno, Bastard Out Of Carolina?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Saturday, 22 October 2005 18:46 (twenty years ago)

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