The Pearl (Centennial Edition) by John Steinbeck
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Book Reviews of The Pearl (Centennial Edition)
Book Review: the pearl
Summary: 5 Stars
The Pearl is about a poor pearl diver who is trying to sell one of the biggest pearls ever seen in his hometown in Mexico. I thought that this book was very good. It describes how greed can corrupt anyone and the evils that men are capable of. I would recommend this book to anyone because it is a great story that is full of suspense and action. It is an easy and fast read but is still a thought provoking book.
The Pearl takes place in La Paz, Mexico and begins by describing the life of Kino, his wife Juana and son, Coyotito. At the beginning of the book, Kino watches as a scorpion crawls down the rope that holds the hanging box where Coyotito lies. Kino attempts to catch the scorpion, but Coyotito bumps the rope and the scorpion falls on him. Although Kino kills the scorpion, it still stings Coyotito. Juana and Kino go to see the local doctor, who refuses to treat Coyotito because Kino cannot pay. Kino and Juana leave the doctors and take Coyotito down to the sea, where Juana uses seaweed to help Coyotito's shoulder. Kino dives for oysters the next day and finds a very large oyster that contains a huge pearl. The pearl is "as large as a seagull's egg" and "as perfect as the moon". The news that Kino has found great pearl travels fast through La Paz. Kino's brother asks him what he will do with his money. Kino wishes to get married to Juana in a church and dress Coyotito in a sailor suit. He wants to send Coyotito to school and buy a rifle for himself. The doctor comes to check on Coyotito now that Kino has money and says that Coyotito needs to be treated for the scorpion bite. That night, someone attempts to steal the pearl but Kino protects it and fights the robbers off. Juana tells Kino that the pearl is evil, but Kino insists that the pearl is their one chance to succeed and that they will sell it tomorrow. Kino goes to sell his pearl the next day, but the pearl dealer only offers a thousand pesos when Kino believes that he deserves fifty thousand. Kino claims that he is being cheated so the pearl dealer calls the other dealers in to inspect the pearl. One dealer after another gave similar prices, but Kino refuses all of them and decides to go to the capital to sell it there. After the pearl is almost stolen again, Juana tells Kino that the pearl is evil one last time but he does not listen and says that they will leave for the capital tomorrow.
The Pearl explores man's nature, how greed can motivate people to be evil, and how far one man will go to better the life of his family. Even though the pearl was beautiful, everything that it brought was not good for the family. In the story, Steinbeck shows how wealth does not necessarily bring you happiness and solve your problems. Reading this book helps us stop and appreciate the life we have instead of always wanting more. It shows through symbolism that the old saying "money does not buy happiness" is true. This review is posted on Amazon.com.
Book Review: Wonderful!
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't want to identify myself as a "teen," but just for those my age who had it for required reading, I read it even before eighth grade when it was mandatory and I loved it. So, please give it another chance. Now, on to the review.
This short parable is about a poor pearl diver, Kino, and his wife and child, Juana and Coyotito (Ko-yo-TEE-to), respectively, who live in a small village in Mexico. They live a simple, normal life with a methodical daily routine, and although their lives are not glamorous, they are content, until, one day, their child is stung by a scorpion. They believe that they require the doctor's assistance, but the doctor will not see them since they have no money (although the irony is that they don't even need the doctor; Juana treated Coyotito's wound just by sucking the poison out). It appears that their content life will be shattered until Kino finds "The Pearl of the World." However, the Pearl is a ticket to a better life, and suddenly everyone covets for it. Several of Kino's neighbors even attack him in the middle of the night in an attempt to get the pearl. Kino no longer trusts anyone, not even his wife, Juana, and he becomes consumed with greed. He eventually becomes so overtaken by evil that he even kills a man! All the while, Juana warned him of the Pearl's corrupt nature, but he never listened to her. The awful downward spiral continues and Kino eventually loses someone very dear to him. It's a timeless tale about greed and how a person's avarice can lead to his downfall.
On a side note, I thought that the characters were very interesting. Normally in short stories characters are very flat, but I thought both Kino and Juana were very developed. Kino seemed to represent "Man," and Juana, "Woman." Kino is a strong, hardworking and noble provider who is at times too stubborn. Juana is a kind and motherly caretaker who's only downfall was that she tried too hard to please her husband. Of course, this could just be because of the location or time period it was written, but this book made me think a little bit about gender roles as well.
I first read this in seventh grade, and reread it a year later since it was required for school. In seventh grade, I was just starting to read classic literature and although I liked this book, it didn't stand out very much to me. But now, reading it again, I can truly appreciate Steinbeck's lovely prose and knack for imagery. I would definitely recommend this to anyone, regardless of age or gender. It's simple story of family, love, and greed can touch anyone.
Book Review: Song of the Family
Summary: 5 Stars
John Steinbeck writes with heart and muscle. Whether penning a lumbering masterpiece such as "East of Eden," or a short parable such as this, he imbues character and setting with thought and feeling.
Kino, a young husband and father in the Gulf town of La Paz, goes out one morning to dive for pearls. He is happy. He hears the song of his family in the trees, yet also hears the song of evil murmuring in the tail of a scorpion. His senses are tuned to the world around him, to his village in particular, and so it is that his discovery of a magnificent pearl comes as a sudden surprise and responsibility. Soon he and his family are threatened by the greed of doctors and priests, businessmen and busybodies. Kino's wife wants the pearl tossed back into the sea, but Kino cannot block his ears to the pearl's song of fortune, and he presses ahead with his own plans.
Based on a Mexican folk tale, this story sings its own somber tune through the words of Steinbeck. It's a morality tale, an ode to hardworking men and women, and a reminder of the things that are most important. Like Pearl Buck's "The Good Earth" and Armstrong Sperry's "Call it Courage," this short but powerful tale highlights regular people facing the challenges of greed and cowardice. Ultimately, it's a song of the family--a song Steinbeck sings often through his books.
Book Review: Steinbeck Captures the Heart of an Immortal Lesson
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is criminally unknown. In just under 100 pages, Steinbeck weaves the immortal truth that worldy wealth cannot guarantee happiness or joy into a classic tale of a South American native couple who discover the joys and woes of finding an incredible pearl. They first think that the pearl will change their lives (which is correct) by bringing them happiness and opening endless possabilities for themselves and their infant child. They soon discover, however, that the pearl awakens darkness both within themselves and especially those around them. The setting (a poor fishing community) adds greatly to the telling of the tale, as it somehow adds a tangible sense of the timelessness of the truth it is conveying. John Steinbeck is truly a master story-teller, one who earns my respect not only for the magnificent method of writing (which is very similar to Hemingway), but also because he dares to tread where very few authors do: into unhappy endings. The truth is, things don't always turn out for the best, and not every story has a happy ending. It is always refreshing to find someone who has does not fear to go against the popular obsession with happy endings, and who is actually able to use an unhappy ending to further enhance the impact of their message.
Overall grade:
A
Book Review: A classic Steinbeck book.
Summary: 5 Stars
The Pearl is a classic Steinbeck literature. The writing is beautiful and is very descriptive. And the best of all about the book is the simplicity of the story told, rather a sad one. That's typical of John Steinbeck's books. I like the characters and how well constructed they are. The poor Mexican town gives me a feeling that it looks like a great place to live, at least from the American point of view. During the reading of The Pearl, I looked up the internet about pearl hunting, and it is quite fascinating. Although mostly outdated, the practice still exists today, even in the rivers of Ohio and Tennessee. The Pearl is a simple novel, short and sweet with only 90 pages. And the Steinbeck feel of the book goes a long way too. I want to make a mention of two situations in the book. When the doctor came to treat the baby, I really think that he caused the baby to get sick on purpose just to profit for the hell of it. The ending doesn't make sense, at least on practical level, because the pearl means money which brings security and comfortable living. Anyway, I know John Steinbeck wanted to make his book to have layers of figurative meaning, and he wholly succeeds in this department.