Editorial
A Reading Experience

Tuesday, June 11, 2002

ON THE SURFACE, IT SEEMS superficial, but when one actually thinks about the California Stories effort, the potential is limitless. Having people throughout the state, from all walks of life, gather to discuss one book is a unifying action that doesn't involve confrontation, it doesn't involve NIMBYism or turf wars or attempting to search for an elusive answer to a burning societal question.

It is simply an opportunity to gather for the sheer joy and intellectual stimulation of discussing great literature. It's sophmore year in high school, without the acne and peer pressure. It's a chance to connect with people to discuss shared experiences in literature and ultimately in life.

And what better book to initiate this program than "The Grapes of Wrath"? The passionate, timeless story of the Joad family's struggles and triumphs always affects readers in profound ways.

When John Steinbeck wrote of their journey from Oklahoma to the Golden State in the 1940s, he vividly portrayed this state's natural beauty and inherent ugliness.

Despite having won a Pulitzer, the book was banned for years here, because powerful farmers objected to the realistic, but less than kind, portrayal of them in the story.

Yet the tale of immigrants seeking a better life is the story of California. The obstacles newcomers encounter are as much a part of life for today's immigrants as they were for the Joad family and even the gold seekers. This heartbreaking assimilation is an intrinsic part of our culture that we must not only acknowledge, but that we must also remember.

The California Council of the Humanities is urging Californians to read this book this summer, in preparation for discussions and events in October. Already, 11 local libraries have agreed to host discussions, and it's expected, as the program's popularity increases, that more will join the event.

Getting Californians on the same page has never been an easy task, yet California Stories is an opportunity that even the most curmudgeonly among us would have a tough time criticizing.

We urge all people to put "The Grapes of Wrath" at the top of their summer reading lists and to enjoy, and maybe even learn a little bit, from reading or re-reading this profound book.