Sign in with Facebook
Robin's Reviews > The Pearl
The Pearl
by
by
A lot of "reviewers" here say that this iconic fable is flawed. That the main character, Kino, isn't greedy, he's just a hardworking guy who wants a fair price for the pearl he found, so that he can buy everything, to give his family a better life.
I disagree. I don't think it's flawed at all. I think that this gorgeous, wise, inimitable story is one about a man who forgot he had everything to begin with.
(I owe John Steinbeck a LOT. He taught me to love literature at an early age. Because of him, I fell in love with words. I had to read them all. And I'm still going. I'd had a battered copy of this novella on my shelf for countless years, and I picked it up yesterday, and my heart has been reunited with my first love, and my eyes are filled with tears. All I can say is... thank you, Mr. Steinbeck.)
I disagree. I don't think it's flawed at all. I think that this gorgeous, wise, inimitable story is one about a man who forgot he had everything to begin with.
(I owe John Steinbeck a LOT. He taught me to love literature at an early age. Because of him, I fell in love with words. I had to read them all. And I'm still going. I'd had a battered copy of this novella on my shelf for countless years, and I picked it up yesterday, and my heart has been reunited with my first love, and my eyes are filled with tears. All I can say is... thank you, Mr. Steinbeck.)
Sign into ŷ to see if any of your friends have read
The Pearl.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
April 5, 2023
–
Started Reading
April 5, 2023
– Shelved
April 5, 2023
–
14.44%
"I'm touched, so touched, already. I haven't read John Steinbeck in decades, and have had this little battered copy in my possession for a very long time, unread. Oh, Mr. Steinbeck, I'm back."
page
13
April 6, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-36 of 36 (36 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Chris
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
Apr 06, 2023 05:35PM
Steinbeck’s ability to capture people and place was astounding. He understood humanity. Love his work.
reply
|
flag
Chris wrote: "Steinbeck’s ability to capture people and place was astounding. He understood humanity. Love his work."So true, Chris.
Wow. I can't overstate how important I think it is to return to the books, movies or music that inspired us to be writers, Robin. Staying up to date and reading new things has its place, but it's easy to get lost and forget why we're doing what we're doing. Maybe I'm just talking about myself here. Thank you for reminding us about Steinbeck's gift. It's been too long since I've read his books.
Steinbeck was my first literary obsession, Robin. And I read The Pearl first.
Such a lovely sentiment! Just beautiful!💖📚
What a beautiful review, Robin. Now I may have to read it again, perhaps I missed a lot! And I love that the works of John Steinbeck have meant so much to you over the years.
Like you, Robin, Steinbeck made me a reader, and his novels were the reason I chose to major in English. He hasn't always been highly respected among the literary elite, but the popularity of his work has outlived his critics and the more avant garde writers of his day.
Cracking review of the work of a great author Robin, Grapes of Wrath is one of my all time favourites - for some reason, I haven't read this one yet. One day :))
Love your love letter of a review. No one touches Steinbeck! He made a reader of me as well.
Joe wrote: "Wow. I can't overstate how important I think it is to return to the books, movies or music that inspired us to be writers, Robin. Staying up to date and reading new things has its place, but it's easy to get lost and forget why we're doing what we're doing. Maybe I'm just talking about myself here. Thank you for reminding us about Steinbeck's gift. It's been too long since I've read his books."It had been forever since I'd read him too, Joe! I'm glad I plucked this wonderful gem off the shelf. I'm thinking I'd like to read another of his The Red Pony, next.
Tony wrote: "Steinbeck was my first literary obsession, Robin. And I read The Pearl first."Looks like I'm not the only one with the same gateway literary drug, Tony. I think I started with The Grapes of Wrath. A bit over my head, as a young person, but somehow I knew good writing when I saw it.
Jodi wrote: "Such a lovely sentiment! Just beautiful!💖📚"Thank you, Jodi! xx
Lorna wrote: "What a beautiful review, Robin. Now I may have to read it again, perhaps I missed a lot! And I love that the works of John Steinbeck have meant so much to you over the years."Hello Lorna, thank you. He's such a wonderful writer. It's lovely to revisit it all these years later and feel just the same way about it.
It was all about Fitzgerald for me (once upon a very young Beppie time). Until I read Steinbeck. He captures place and humanity in a way that honors both with a meticulous attention to the interplay of each upon the other...and does so in such a way that they become universal and timeless. *Deep satisfying sigh*
East of Eden transformed me. I remember measuring out the pages, not allowing myself to read more than a few pages a day because I so badly needed that epic story and Steinback's beautiful words to last.
Great review. Glad to hear Steinbeck still moves you, it is rare to find a book that does that.
Antoinette wrote: "Love your words, Robin!"Thank you, Antoinette. He inspired me.
Barbara wrote: "Like you, Robin, Steinbeck made me a reader, and his novels were the reason I chose to major in English. He hasn't always been highly respected among the literary elite, but the popularity of his work has outlived his critics and the more avant garde writers of his day."Interesting, Barbara, that you mentioned he wasn't always highly respected in literary circles. I wasn't aware of that. Well, his work has stood the test of time, hasn't it?
Mark wrote: "Cracking review of the work of a great author Robin, Grapes of Wrath is one of my all time favourites - for some reason, I haven't read this one yet. One day :))"Hi, Mark! If you decide to give it a go, it'll take a few hours of your time. It's short but powerful.
Lori wrote: "Love your love letter of a review. No one touches Steinbeck! He made a reader of me as well."That's wonderful to hear, Lori! Thank you.
You are bringing back happy memories, Robin, not only of reading this book but of dropping my daughter off at summer camp at a beach in Steinbeck's old stomping grounds, and of hearing a similar story about a fisherman who found a fish with a bellyful of gold. about a man who forgot he had everything to begin with.
You are the sort of reader he was writing for.
Beppie wrote: "It was all about Fitzgerald for me (once upon a very young Beppie time). Until I read Steinbeck. He captures place and humanity in a way that honors both with a meticulous attention to the interplay of each upon the other...and does so in such a way that they become universal and timeless. *Deep satisfying sigh*"You said it, Beth, so well! xoxo
(and you reminded me about my love for Fitzgerald too... just on the heels of Steinbeck...)
Michelle Cox wrote: "East of Eden transformed me. I remember measuring out the pages, not allowing myself to read more than a few pages a day because I so badly needed that epic story and Steinback's beautiful words to last."That's a sign you're in reading heaven, isn't it, Michelle?
Ray wrote: "Great review. Glad to hear Steinbeck still moves you, it is rare to find a book that does that."Thank you, Ray, I appreciate that!
Steinbeck inspires such emotion in me, too. (I also fight the strong urge to make-out with him, because he's dead now and that would just be gross).
Oh, those Blew My Mind books! I just read the excellent No Two Persons. Made me look at my history of reading and sent me down book memory lane. I think you’d love it. Review soon.Meanwhile, you make me want to read this one right now. Fantastic review, as always.
He’s SO good, Robin, how lucky you were in first love. I’ve never read this, and have a gorgeous hardback designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith waiting for me. Thanks for the reminder and for your lovely review 🫶🏻
Robin, this was my first Steinbeck too--assigned for 7th grade English along with The Red Pony, which I also loved. I am forever thankful for Miss Morris who taught me to think in depth about what I read.Isn't it wonderful when books are just as wonderful years later?
Left Coast Justin wrote: "You are bringing back happy memories, Robin, not only of reading this book but of dropping my daughter off at summer camp at a beach in Steinbeck's old stomping grounds, and of hearing a similar story about a fisherman who found a fish with a bellyful of gold.about a man who forgot he had everything to begin with.
You are the sort of reader he was writing for."
Well, that's a HUGE compliment, Justin. Thank you....
I'm back in his pages again, with The Red Pony. It's a good place to be.
Carmen wrote: "Great review."Thanks so much, Carmen.
Julie wrote: "Steinbeck inspires such emotion in me, too. (I also fight the strong urge to make-out with him, because he's dead now and that would just be gross)."Hah! I do understand. He was brilliant, and also drop-dead-gorgeous as a young man.
Debbie wrote: "Oh, those Blew My Mind books! I just read the excellent No Two Persons. Made me look at my history of reading and sent me down book memory lane. I think you’d love it. Review soon.Meanwhile, you make me want to read this one right now. Fantastic review, as always."
Thanks, beautiful Debbie. I'm going to have a peek at No Two Persons now. Your recommendations are not to be missed!
Jennifer wrote: "He’s SO good, Robin, how lucky you were in first love. I’ve never read this, and have a gorgeous hardback designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith waiting for me. Thanks for the reminder and for your lovely review"Oh, you've got a treat ahead of you, Jennifer. I'm reading his The Red Pony now. It's so good to read him again after all this time!
Lisa wrote: "Robin, this was my first Steinbeck too--assigned for 7th grade English along with The Red Pony, which I also loved. I am forever thankful for Miss Morris who taught me to think in depth about what I read.Isn't it wonderful when books are just as wonderful years later?"
God bless those amazing teachers, Lisa. And yes, it is wonderful when a book is just as moving as it was the first time, many years earlier.
