A review by goemonxiii
The Pearl by John Steinbeck

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

I loved The Pearl. The writing style was new and engaging, I liked the recurring musical motif throughout, I liked the discussion of greed and anti-Native sentiment, I liked seeing into another culture, I liked the main character and his family, I just really liked The Pearl. Going in you kind of know you're going to get an "all that glitters is not gold" message, but the plot isn't predictable despite its universal theme. I wouldn't really call it a "plot twist," but there is a point where Steinbeck dared to go at the end of the book that, for me, makes it all worth reading. The physical environment descriptions were beautiful, the main characters were easy to root for, and the story is meaningful and unique. I'd highly recommend The Pearl, it's a quick read but it's thoroughly enjoyable and has substance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism

really sad ending, child death

, discusses poverty, the life-changing effect of money on a poor family, the greed of individuals and a desperate community, poverty as a result of colonization and racism, and the joy of starting a family