More than seven decades have passed since John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” was published, yet the book’s most prevalent themes are still applicable today.
“The Grapes of Wrath is about climate disaster, drought, migration, poverty, and depression,” said Pat Fickett, director of the Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library. “We are facing it in a different way right now, but the issues are the same. So we thought the themes would resonate.”
To highlight the book’s longevity, libraries in 16 southern New Hampshire towns have organized a slew of events to encourage others to read, discuss, and celebrate the book.
On Tuesday, Wilton hosted “Hit The Road, Joads: A Community Celebration of the Joad Family Journey” at Main Street Park.
During the event, Michael Dell-Orto brought words alive during a reading of an excerpt, musicians J-Bird and Sparrowhawk played music from the 1930s, and public members were encouraged to create their own bookmark.
“Mostly it’s a party,” Fickett said.
All of the events are sponsored by The NEA Big Read – an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest – and are free to the public.