The book
I chose to read was called The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. It is quite an interesting book taking place
during the 1930s. At this time in history, the Depression was going strong and
plays a big part in the story.
During
this time in the Depression, many farmers living in the southern plains were
being hit with a massive drought. States like Oklahoma, where our story starts
off, are having huge problems with crop failure. The farm lands in this area
were being over used, which was causing loose topsoil to form. When the drought
hit, the soil wasn’t getting saturated with water causing dust storms to flourish
and is where the term “Dust Bowl” originated from. People couldn’t grow their
crops, which was their one source of income and also their way of feeding their
families.
With
the issues that occurred, people had to figure out a way to get food on the
table for their families. During the Depression, there wasn’t much work for
anyone in our country, so people became desperate for anything they could get.
Food was hard to come by because no one had money and the shortage from the
crop loss.
The
one big movement that arose during this time was by farmers and just about
anyone that needed a job moved west to California. California was a newer land
that had better soil, that wasn’t over used like in the Dust Bowl. People came
by the thousands, looking for work, a lot of them though would not even reach
California. Those that did were competing for work, which ended up leaving the
majority still unemployed and struggling to survive.
This
book follows the Joad family through their journey westward. After their family
farm is destroyed by the drought and perceiving dust storms, they start their
way west. This book takes you on the journey with them, through all of the good
and bad, as they proceed to California for a new life.
I liked how you focused on how overfarming destroyed the crops. This had a major effect in the past and probably will again especially in areas where there is drought.
ReplyDeleteI have never read this book, however I have studied the Dust Bowl many times throughout school. Although we have had severe droughts in the time since the Dust Bowl, they have not been as severe. I wonder if we will begin to see an increase in droughts similar to this one, or if food shortage will be due to other causes, such as disease.
ReplyDeleteThis does seem like a great classic novel to initiate a study of climate change. Much of the second part of the novel is set in California and the struggle to find work. I guess that not only would the dust bowl be an issue, but also migration, finding work in new places...
ReplyDeleteI've read this book from a literary standpoint in high school, however, from what I can recall from the plot, when using a climate change lens, there's a lot to learn from it. I think it's really relevant to today's word and not only the farming industry but the oil, steel, material, etc. industries as well and how we are overusing our resources.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really informative book. It is kind of ironic that everyone moved to California and that is where the drought is now the worst. Hopefully things won't get that bad again.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading this book when I was younger, I never thought to read this in tandem with climate change teachings. It's a great example of what our climate could go back to if Earth continues to warm.
ReplyDeleteI never read this book in school, but I did read Of Mice and Men. My knowledge on the dust bowl is limited, but I certainly would not have wanted to live during those times of food shortages and unemployment on that scale.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really important read, we are going to experience loosing top soil as the climate change so this serves as a educational method. I really liked how a lot of these books really had something to teach about climate change, I think it is important that this topic is showing up in other types of books.
ReplyDeleteI read this book a couple years ago, before I really knew much about the effects of climate change. Personally, i think there is a very powerful message in this novel not related to climate change. However, when the reader takes a climate change approach, or thought process while reading this novel that some very interesting points can be made.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an exciting book. I have always wondered what the title meant. I see how we could relate the struggle to find food and employment to climate change impacts.
ReplyDelete