Have I read this before: Nope. Steinbeck.     

Review: So I have avoided reading anything by Steinbeck for the longest time because back when I was in junior high I’d picked up The Grapes of Wrath, read about 20 pages, and hated every last single word. But I have a decent amount of Steinbeck on my list and I can’t hide from him forever, so I chose the shortest work of his that was on the list and went for it.

And it wasn’t too bad. I don’t remember exactly what it was I hated about The Grapes of Wrath way back when, but there was nothing in this story to suggest that there was anything inherent in Steinbeck’s writing style or choice of themes to make me hate his writing in general.

The Pearl is quick and sad. It struck me as somewhat similar to The Old Man and the Sea in a few ways, but of course they’re very different stories.

Guess I’ll have to read more Steinbeck.

Rating: 6/10