Reading Takes Center Stage with The Grapes of Wrath

Reading is awesome and libraries are cool. I have spent much of my life reading and in libraries on a weekly basis. However, it seemed for a time that both libraries and reading had become obsolete. I am glad to say that neither is the case. This is due to a local event called The Big Read.

The Big Read centers on The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Library officials say that The Grapes of Wrath was picked for the Big Read because many of the struggles faced by the Joad family are similar to problems people are facing today such as unemployment and home foreclosures. It is very important to understand that this event doesn't just focus on the literature. It focuses on how the literature impacts our lives.

The Big Read was made possible due to a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. some of the events tied to The Big Red include: Group discussions of the Grapes of Wrath, cooking clases,reading of the stage play, and watching the movie.

I read The Grapes of Wrath in high school and I didn't care for it. However, due to this event, I decided to read it again and I discovered that I liked it. Reading The Grapes of Wrath as an adult was great personal growth.

Libraries have become popular again because of the economy. People are checking out books insted of buying them. In addition, people are attending the free programs such as The Big Read and monthly book clubs. Hopefully, due to library programs such as The Big Read and monthly book clubs, libraries will continue to thrive well after the economy recovers. Long live libraries and reading. Source: San Diego Union 2/6/2010, Section E