Bill Nash: 'Grapes of Wrath' tops family summer reading list

June 27, 2002

It's summer and school is out, although my kids aren't so sure. This is because I just presented each of them, and my wife, with a copy of John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "The Grapes of Wrath." It's their summer reading project. Mine, too. It's not that I'm such a huge fan of Steinbeck, it's more that I'm really enthused about a program being promoted by the California Council for the Humanities called the California Stories Project. It's a statewide, three-year initiative to strengthen California communities by bringing people together and stressing their common bonds.The first step in the effort is to encourage all Californians to read, and discuss, "The Grapes of Wrath" over the summer.

The concept came from a program initiated four years ago by the Seattle Public Library. Its approach was called "If All of Seattle Read the Same Book," and its goal was to build appreciation of literature through the discussion of a single book. The Seattle program is now on its fourth book and, according to Marc Ramirez, writing in the Seattle Times, the "One Book" idea has been widely adopted across the United States. Cities like Buffalo, Chicago, Gainesville, Boise and Milwaukee, and states, including Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri and now California, have all started programs using the One Book concept.

To be honest, my family isn't as excited about this as I am. The last book we read together was probably "Green Eggs and Ham." The edition of "The Grapes of Wrath" I bought each of us runs more than 600 pages. The kids would rather be grounded over the summer than be sentenced to reading 600 pages of "literature."

But I really believe the concept behind the One Book program is worth embracing.

Pick almost any county in California, particularly an agricultural one, and you'll find histories similar to Steinbeck's Salinas of the 1930s. Ventura County is no exception.

These common experiences give us a basis for discussion. Whether we grow produce, pick it or simply consume it, we can all relate in some way to Steinbeck's Joad family. And that, I think, is the point the California Council for the Humanities is trying to make.

Its Web site says, in part, "California is enlivened and enriched by our wealth of diversity. Our differences have also engendered conflict and violence throughout our history. 'The Grapes of Wrath' will provide opportunities for Californians to come together to read John Steinbeck's classic and talk about today's pressing issues and serve as a tool for increasing civil dialogue and strengthening communities by inspiring increased understanding and trust."

That seems like a tall order for any book, but doesn't the goal seem worthy of 600 pages of your time? It does to me, but I see an additional benefit as well.

With two teen-agers in the house, our conversations are pretty predictable -- homework, chores, use of the car -- you know the drill. "The Grapes of Wrath" will give my wife and me the chance to talk to our kids at a different level, like adults. Quality time at its best.

Will the One Book program and "The Grapes of Wrath" make California a better place to live? I don't know, but I'm willing to give it a try.
-- Bill Nash