The Pearl – John Steinbeck

The Pearl – John Steinbeck – 1947

Reviewed by: Özlem 

The Pearl is a very short, but wonderful book. Even though the story only happens in a duration of three or four days, it is still able to pull you in to the tale and play with your feelings. By reading this book, you are not only able to experience the excitement and sorrow, but also get a touch of the author’s originality. In this novel, everything or every character, has its own music. I find this very interesting, because the music is in a way representing the personality. Everyone seems to be defined through what kind of music is heard. There is the music of the enemy, of the family, of danger; everything has it’s own tune. Of course, the only way you can really understand the importance of the music, is to just read the book. It will take you about two days, and it is worth all of that time, if not more.

Reviewed by: Lale 

I have to wait a little while before I can start reading another book, so strong the emotions The Pearl stirred in me.

Something happens to an ordinary family (an accident, a disease that sucks up all the joy and drains the finances, a wrongful accusation, a law suit, a violent attack by a maniac, or a natural disaster), and that family’s life changes forever. It happens all the time, all around the world. We hear it in the news, we read it in the papers. The Pearl tells one of those stories. The setting is different and the life-altering event is extraordinary, but the people it happens to are ordinary people. They were, until “it” happened.

In just 90 pages, Steinbeck tells the story of Kino, Juana and Coyotito in a simple and beautiful way that befits their simple and beautiful beings. With every word you expect something bad to happen (and it does), you read with your heart beating, you hold your breath in suspense. Then it’s over. The book is finished, but its effects will remain with you, just as “it” will with Kino and his family.