Getting Back To Books: John Steinbeck’s Classic ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ Centerpiece of Campaign to Get People Reading Again

By Brenda Moore, The Monterey County Herald, Calif.

Feb. 19–The National Steinbeck Center hopes to turn Monterey County into one giant book club over the next month, urging readers to pick up a copy of “The Grapes of Wrath” and get acquainted — or reacquainted — with the literary masterpiece.

The occasion is The Big Read, a campaign started by the National Endowment for the Arts to encourage people to get back to books. The effort began in 2006 after a survey produced some startling findings including this one: Fewer than half of the adults in the United States now read literature — described loosely as novels, short stories, poetry or drama.

Communities across the country have joined the NEA’s effort. They’ve selected from among eight classic novels recommended by the NEA and are urging their residents to unplug their television sets, turn off their iPods, shut down their computers and tune into a good book.

“The Grapes of Wrath” is on the list, so it was a natural pick for John Steinbeck’s home county. Eleven other communities across the country are reading it, too, including two in Oklahoma, home of the Dust Bowl refugees who populate the novel.

The local Big Read effort will kick off on Saturday, when the Steinbeck Center opens its doors with free admission to residents of Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties and hosts a big book party.

Thom Steinbeck, the author’s son, Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue, Assemblywoman Anna Caballero and Americorps volunteers will read from the novel. Hartnell College’s Western Stage performers will bring to life Tom Joad, the novel’s central character. The Sage Stompers troupe will do some square dancing. Photographs by Horace Bristol, who traveled with Steinbeck to California labor camps, will be exhibited. Free book-club-in-a-bag gifts will be handed out, while supplies last.

Events continue to unfold around the county through March, including multiple screenings of “The Grapes of Wrath” movie, starring Henry Fonda; community readings; book club meetings; tours of the Steinbeck House; dance performances; and lectures. The author’s 105th birthday will be celebrated on Sunday, with another day of free admission to the center.

“We’ve created probably the largest partner-project the Steinbeck Center has every done, with more than 40 events across Monterey County,” said Lori Wood, the center’s curator of education and public programs.

The events are being funded with community donations and a $20,000 grant the Steinbeck Center received from the NEA.

The NEA and the Steinbeck Center figure it’s a good investment to get America reading again, after the survey’s discouraging findings. The sampling of 17,000 adults, done in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau, also found:

–The percentage of adults reading any book declined by 7 percent over the past decade.

–Literary reading is declining among all age groups, but the steepest decline is in the youngest age groups.

“It’s just shocking how quickly it’s been dropping,” Wood said. “I find that really scary.”

Dana Gioia, chairman of the NEA, said in a statement that the act of reading is “an indispensable part of what makes us fully human.”

In kicking off the national effort, Gioia said “the prospect of an America where only a few people share a love of reading is just too lonely to bear.”

“The purpose of The Big Read, like the purpose of literature itself, is pleasure,” he said. “Not necessarily an easy pleasure, but a deliciously rich and complex one. A great book combines enlightenment with enchantment. It awakens our imagination and enlarges our humanity. It can even offer harrowing insights that somehow console and comfort us.”

Four novels were chosen for the first Big Read. This year, the list doubled, with a panel that included writers, librarians, a musician and others looking for books that would appeal to diverse audiences.

“The Grapes of Wrath,” Gioia said in a note about the book, was “written in a style of peculiarly democratic majesty,” evoking the quintessential American themes of hard work, self-determination and reasoned dissent.

“It speaks from assumptions common to most Americans,” he said, “whether their ancestors came over on the Mayflower, in steerage, or in a truck.”

In addition to “The Grapes of Wrath,” the books being taken up by Big Read communities are: “To Kill a Mockingbird,”"Fahrenheit 451,”"A Farewell to Arms,”"The Joy Luck Club,”"Their Eyes Were Watching God,”"The Great Gatsby” and “My Antonia.” Soon to be added to the list are “The Maltese Falcon,”"The Heart is a Lonely Hunter,”"The Age of Innocence” and “Bless Me, Ultima.”

More than 100 communities are participating this year. Each Big Read effort lasts about a month and includes a kick-off event; major events devoted to the book, such as panel discussions; events using the book as a point of departure, such as film screenings and theatrical readings; and book discussions.

In Monterey County, the efforts are diverse geographically, ethnically, culturally and chronologically. Groups ranging from the Sally Griffin Active Living Center in Pacific Grove to an 11th-grade English class at Everett Alvarez High School in Salinas are going to read and discuss the novel. Community readings are scheduled from Monterey to King City, Big Sur to Prunedale. The film is being shown in English and Spanish.

SpectorDance in Marina is staging two performances of its pieces “Common Ground” and “Figures in the Dust.” Art exhibits are scheduled at the National Steinbeck Center.

“We asked ourselves, ‘How can we get this out across the county?’” Wood said. The goal was to make it impossible to go anywhere in Monterey County and not be aware that people are reading “The Grapes of Wrath.”

“I want everyone in this county to read this book,” she said. “I’m really serious. Wouldn’t it be amazing if people did that together? I think it would change the way life feels. People get so involved in movies and entertainment of other forms, they forget how much reading can enrich lives.”

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Event highlights Events related to John Steinbeck’s birthday and “The Big Read” continue through March 31. For a complete schedule, go online to www.steinbeck.org. Here are some highlights: –”Grapes of Wrath” course Jo Van Dam, professor of English at Monterey Peninsula College, leads classes on the novel at Sally Griffin Active Living Center in Pacific Grove and Carmel Foundation in Carmel for people of all ages. Each class meets once a week for six weeks. The Carmel class starts Thursday, Feb. 22, and meets from 9-11 a.m. and the Pacific Grove class meets from 1-3 p.m. on Fridays, starting Feb. 23. Free. Registration: 646-4058. –Steinbeck’s 105th birthday celebration Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the National Steinbeck Center. Free. Multimedia projects by county 11th graders. Cupcakes and singing from 2-3 p.m. Information: www.steinbeck.org or 775-4721. –Steinbeck Birthday Celebration on Cannery Row Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at La Ida Cafe, 800 Cannery Row, Monterey. $10. Information: 644-9316. –Birthday dinner at Steinbeck House Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. at Steinbeck House, 132 Central Ave., Salinas. Dinner and Western Stage performance of Olive Steinbeck, the author’s mother. Reservations required. Information: www.steinbeckhouse.com or 424-2735. –Same Page Book Group reads “The Grapes of Wrath.” Group is open to the public and meets from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays through March at the National Steinbeck Center. Information: 775-4724. –Opening of exhibit “My California: Portals and People” Opening night of juried exhibit from 5-7 p.m. March 2, featuring a talk by juror Scott Shields, chief curator, Crocker Art Museum. National Steinbeck Center. Exhibit continues through May 27. $5 general admission opening night; free to members. –Gleaning in Monterey County fields March 3 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., weather and crop permitting, volunteers will gather produce to donate to food banks and pantries. Meet at Ag Against Hunger, 495 Brunken Ave., Salinas, to caravan to fields. Information: 755-1480. –Tours of the Steinbeck House March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25, from 1-3 p.m. at 132 Central Ave., Salinas. $4 adults, $3 children and students with ID. Information: www.steinbeckhouse.com or 424-2735. –SpectorDance performs “Common Ground” and “Figures in the Dust” March 11 and March 18 at 2 p.m. at SpectorDance Studios, 3343 Paul Davis Drive, Marina. Dance/media works celebrate poetry and politics of California agriculture and explore struggles and desires of 1930s Salinas Valley farmworkers. $20 advance, $25 at the door. $12 for under 12 and seniors. Information: www.spectordance.org or 384-1050. –”The Grapes of Wrath” movie in Spanish March 14 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Roosevelt Townhomes Community Center, 5222 Roosevelt St., Salinas. Free. Pan dulce and hot chocolate served. Information: 757-6251, ext. 120. –”The Grapes of Wrath” screening in English March 15 at 7 p.m. Hartnell College Performing Arts Building, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. Free. Information: 386-7100. –Keynote address, book signing and wine tasting March 17 from 2-4 p.m. at the National Steinbeck Center. Steinbeck scholars Susan Shillinglaw and Bob DeMott discuss “Why ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ matters today,” plus dramatic readings by Anthony Newfield. 4-5 p.m. book signing and wine tasting. Information: 775-4724. –Grapes of Monterey County wine tasting and archive talk March 22 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the National Steinbeck Center. Herb Behrens gives informal overview of “The Grapes of Wrath” treasures from the center’s archives. –”The Grapes of Wrath” screening March 22 at 7 p.m. at Maya Cinemas, Oldtown Salinas. Free. –Community conversation and chamber theater March 24 from 2-4 p.m. at the National Steinbeck Center. Heidi Ramirez of Hartnell moderates conversation, and Matthew Spangler of San Jose State University leads “The Eyes of the Hungry: A Chamber Theatre Performance of Selected Scenes.” –Generations on the Move March 24 from 2-4 p.m. at the Sally Griffin Active Living Center, 700 Jewell Ave., Pacific Grove. Multigenerational program with open microphone for oral histories, food tastings and performances. Information: 375-4454. –”The Grapes of Wrath” at CSU-Monterey Bay March 28 at 10:30 a.m. in the university ballroom. Panel discussion led by Barbara Mossberg, director of integrated studies. Buses provided for local high school students. Public welcome. Free. Information: 775-4724. –Closing celebration March 31 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the National Steinbeck Center. Free admission for Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties residents. Noon-2 p.m. People are invited to share their stories of their family journeys to California. 2-5 p.m. Wine tasting.

Brenda Moore may be reached at bmoore@montereyherald.com or 646-4462.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Monterey County Herald, Calif.

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