tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post84222527925884916..comments2023-10-31T13:07:05.461+00:00Comments on Park Benches & Bookends: The Pearl by John SteinbeckJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08861424110678889637noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-79096970419204367132012-05-15T18:23:39.026+01:002012-05-15T18:23:39.026+01:00Hi Simon,
Have you gotten around to Hemingway yet...Hi Simon,<br /><br />Have you gotten around to Hemingway yet?! ;o)<br /><br />I'm surprised you prefered 'The Pearl' to 'Of Mice and Men'. The Pearl was 'ok' but definately not Steinbeck's best (Give East of Eden a try!)<br /><br />It's interesting to note both books have tragic endings which isn't typical in Steinbeck's writing.<br /><br />ChrisChrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-87118330046844580662012-05-15T16:00:25.335+01:002012-05-15T16:00:25.335+01:00I've only read two Steinbeck books (as I think...I've only read two Steinbeck books (as I think I mentioned when we met!) - Of Mice and Men and this one, and I much preferred this one, actually. I loved the folktale feel to it, and the lyrical quality to the language. Plus it's short, which I always love!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-32257317635545300522012-05-13T11:50:14.296+01:002012-05-13T11:50:14.296+01:00Melissa,
I totally agree, it isn't a good int...Melissa,<br /><br />I totally agree, it isn't a good introduction and not one of his best but I still enjoyed it by and large. Do you remember why you hated it?Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-22301201499161832742012-05-08T15:22:21.556+01:002012-05-08T15:22:21.556+01:00The Pearl was my first Steinbeck book and I hated ...The Pearl was my first Steinbeck book and I hated it. It's probably been 14 years since I read it and I've grown to adore his work. I definitely don't think it's a good introduction to it though.Melissa (Avid Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02119628715475021774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-76767994370207945952012-05-08T09:03:32.526+01:002012-05-08T09:03:32.526+01:00JoAnn,
The Pearl is not a favourite of mine but I...JoAnn,<br /><br />The Pearl is not a favourite of mine but I enjoyed it. It's amazing how our ideas and perceptions change after school. I re-read Of Mice and Men about 12 years after I originally studied it and it still struck cords with me.<br /><br />I never read The Pearl in school so I might re-read it in 12 years and see what I think then!Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-58208322847606162512012-05-08T09:01:42.826+01:002012-05-08T09:01:42.826+01:00Kirthi,
I'm not surprised you read Of Mice an...Kirthi,<br /><br />I'm not surprised you read Of Mice and Men in school, alot of people do. I am surprised you weren't very impressed though! lol<br /><br />You should definately give Steinbeck another try. His books are wonderful.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-85574463974972222902012-05-08T08:59:52.919+01:002012-05-08T08:59:52.919+01:00Sam,
You'd be amazed how many people who have...Sam,<br /><br />You'd be amazed how many people who have read Steinbeck have only read 'Of Mice and Men'. This is particularly true in the UK as many people studied it in school (that was my first exposure to Steinbeck's writing)<br /><br />Although I love Of Mice and Men and think it is a brilliant story I can't stress enough that Steinbeck wrote many books, some equally good, others better. It is well worth exploring his other works. East of Eden is a good place to start.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-16420963231769801102012-05-08T08:56:56.668+01:002012-05-08T08:56:56.668+01:00Hi C.B, thanks for your response :o)
I agree with...Hi C.B, thanks for your response :o)<br /><br />I agree with the points you made, the class system is definately at play in the book and there is no doubt that the educated, advantaged people in the book take advantage of Kino who is on the 'bottom rung' <br /><br />However I think the story is multifaceted with the pearl corrupting those around Kino. 'Power corupts and absolute power corupts absolutely'<br /><br />ChrisChrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-80179237707595677282012-05-08T02:37:07.924+01:002012-05-08T02:37:07.924+01:00I purchased a copy of The Pearl a few months ago. ...I purchased a copy of The Pearl a few months ago. Steinbeck is a favorite, although this particular title never did much for me. I wanted to see if it had improved since high school, but now I seem to be putting it off...JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-81224038050512036592012-05-06T16:17:10.153+01:002012-05-06T16:17:10.153+01:00I agree with Sam: I've only read Of Mice and M...I agree with Sam: I've only read Of Mice and Men, and it was for school! It was...unique (definitely not my favourite) but I think I'd like to give The Pearl a try ^_^Kirthihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10857145616217476440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-59129099234427813482012-05-06T15:59:58.248+01:002012-05-06T15:59:58.248+01:00The only Steinbeck I have ever read is Of Mice and...The only Steinbeck I have ever read is Of Mice and Men, which is a bit shameful as he is my husband's favourite author. I'm guessing I should try some of the more famous novels before The Pearl?Sam (Tiny Library)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16375434438465319913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-90455107997257819672012-05-06T14:53:42.298+01:002012-05-06T14:53:42.298+01:00I think you can make a good case for your reading ...I think you can make a good case for your reading of this book, but that's not how I saw it.<br /><br />For me, The Pearl is an attack on a societal system that perpetuates the poverty of the lower classes. A good, hardworking man like Kino is unable to escape the system that is stacked against him. He is honest, he is decent, but those around him, particularly those with money above him, are not. Because of this, and because they hold all the power, Kino is unable to escape the desperate poverty he lives in even when his "ship comes in" in the form of The Black Pearl.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06906212382849291562noreply@blogger.com