Episode 04: Replace John Steinbeck with Toni Morrison, Louise Erdrich, Alice Walker, Willa Cather & Sanora Babb

I mean, a white man writing about how hard life is for white men in America is certainly a fresh perspective - except that this guy stole the best parts of The Grapes of Wrath from the writing of a woman who, unlike Steinbeck, actually experienced the life she was writing about. And he treats women as nameless symbols and fame-hungry ‘whores’ in Of Mice and Men but sure, let’s canonize him and make kids read his crap over and over . . .or not! Let’s read these gorgeous (better) books about life in America in the same timeframe written by incredible (better) women instead:

Toni Morrison * The Bluest Eye * Beloved * Song of Solomon

Louise Erdrich * Love Medicine * The Round House * The Beet Queen * The Bingo Palace * The Night Watchman

Willa Cather * O Pioneers! * The Song of the Lark * My Antonia

Alice Walker * The Color Purple * Meridian * The Temple of My Familiar

Additional Sources

Joy Lanzendorfer Smithonian.com May 23, 2016 The Forgotten Dustbowl Novel That Rivaled “The Grapes of Wrath”

Wikipedia (Made another donation this week thanks, Wiki!)

Goodreads

Encyclopedia Britanica