The Peaches of Despair

I finally read The Grapes of Wrath, to atone for going the Cliff Notes path in high school, and also because Steinbeck is cool. I agree with Jen that this is a better book for adults anyway, since you need to know the joys and sorrows of working to buy your own food before this novel can hit home.

Extra poignancy points for paralleling the modern employment age 70 years later, too.

My favorite bits offering advice to try and live by each day:

Our people are good people; our people are kind people. Pray God some day kind people won't all be poor. Pray God some day a kid can eat.

and

"Jus' live the day," Ma said. "Don' worry yaself."