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alicias_books's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ticianeaneane's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
uwuuhu's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
More proof that I really enjoy Steinbeck's writing. 10 interconnected stories of 10 different families that all live in the Pastures of Heaven valley in California. Beautiful, weird, interesting people with heartfelt and hopeful desires and faults. Every story is beautifully written and reads like a dream.
klparmley's review against another edition
5.0
Very good short stories that make a great novel. Very clever.
beatrice_apetrei's review against another edition
5.0
“He did not often think of people as individuals, but rather as antidotes for the poison of his loneliness, as escapes from the imprisoned ghosts.”
John Steinbeck made his way in my 'to-read' list when I discovered Meg&Dia's song 'Monster', that is supposed to have been written after 'East of Eden'. That time, I wasn't aware of the impact that this author will have on me.
No matter what book I read written by him, he changes something in me. He makes me hate every material and finite thing, he makes me yearn for things that last even after death.
Now, in The Pastures of Heaven, Steinbeck tells ten different stories about people that all live in a small village somewhere between Salinas and Monterey. Alright, so most probably all of you already know these things.
But this book is not about the places or the time, but about how people change during different experiences they have to endure : some make plans without having a solid base, some hide from the past (afraid of the things that might come along with the truth), some are being denied everything only to free themselves with the first chance they get, some are misunderstood, some are having their lives taken away because of society and their baseless ideas and so on.
I didn't know what story Steinbeck had prepared for us at the time, but I saw this book on a popular book-site and I ended up buying it without knowing anything about it. I found the title beautiful and also the cover had something. It is said not to judge a book by its cover, but the cover and the title (also the author) were the ones that drove me to Pastures of heaven.
It's beautiful, it's what everyone needs. I cried, I smiled and cried again and never have I felt bored reading it.
I recommend it with all my heart.
milli_04's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
dougb's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
nwilliams96's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5