One of the main plotlines in Steinbeck's book was a plan to rob a bank on Good Friday located next door to the store to raise the money that would pay Murillo to buy it and give Hawley ownership of it again. This was missing and the plot focuses more on Danny, Ethan's alcoholic childhood friend, and a fortune telling girlfriend of Ethan's wife. Their importance increases almost to soap opera level. The conflict where his son plagiarizes a book to win an essay contest was handled quite well, though. Of course, the sad ending of Ethan nearly drowning was never included either. So, a moving family drama, but a little too bland compared to some greater plotlines that could have been explored.
Review of The Winter of Our Discontent
