I loved this book. First Steinbeck one I read, so I've immediately ordered "The Grapes of Wrath" (and I'm just learning that, like for this book, the title comes from a poem). The prose is raw and genuine, and I'll admit that even if I speak fluent English it resulted at times quite difficult to understand, a sign itself of authentic writing. The story is at the same time simple and tragic, banal yet deep in layers: there's the dire conditions of workers during the Great Depression, friendship and sense of loyalty, racism, misogyny, the American Dream, the crush of ambitions, power (physical and not) and lack thereof. I think it's worth a read not just for historical reasons.