Reviews

The Short Reign of Pippin IV by John Steinbeck

yvetteadams's review against another edition

2.0

Political satire is not for me. Wish i knew that's what i was in for! It was no Of Mice And Men.

jay_the_hippie's review against another edition

4.0

An interesting political satire. This is my fourth Steinbeck novel in a short time, ranging over a great deal of different styles. This one was the funniest, satirizing nit just the French, but also Americans, British, and the people of many other nations. Most of the story is moved by plot and ideas, rather than character, but King Pippin is not a flat character. He wants to do well at the job he never wanted to do.

gardnerhere's review against another edition

3.0

It's still Steinbeck in that his satire bites and gnaws, but it is hard not to be shocked by Steinbeck writing about fumbling French monarchy. It's only partly successful, but his early character descriptions of Pippin and Charles Martel are fabulous.

runslikesnail's review against another edition

5.0

So serious. So hilarious. Steinbeck just never lets me down - even when it's not what I'm expecting.

doughastings's review against another edition

4.0

Hilarious. The women are a little one dimensional, but I could still enjoy the book. A very good satire of modern politics, by returning to a monarchy. So clever. The edition I read was my father-in-law's from 1957, so that was cool too.

When I read the list of political parties, and hit "The Christian Atheists", I laughed so hard I woke my partner.

There were four of five sentences that were just pure genius that I tried so hard to remember, but alas, I cannot. But I think I would have been on a very similar page to Steinbeck, politically.

And I haven't read Steinbeck in decades, it makes me want to re-read all those books I read so long ago. And not just because Ursula LeGuin knew him when she was young and really liked 'The Grapes of Wrath'.

wyliem's review

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

rebeccamadeira's review

funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Witty and dry and self aware. The kind of funny that doesn’t always make you laugh out loud but makes you appreciate the laser sharp precision of its cleverness.
A fascinating balance between zany antics and heavy handed political commentary. I never knew where it was going as it blazed through the truly short reign of poor sweet Pippin and his personal relationships as the government machine chewed him up and spat him out. 

borys610's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

benjolk's review

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

bigaaal's review

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75