This novel shook me. The Grapes of Wrath isn’t just a story about the Dust Bowl—it’s a deeply human look at poverty, migration, and resilience in the face of crushing odds. Steinbeck writes with such empathy and clarity that you feel like you’re walking alongside the Joad family, carrying their hope and heartbreak with every mile.

What stays with me most is how timely it still feels—questions about dignity, justice, and survival that we’re still asking today. It’s big, raw, and unflinching—and completely worth your time.