A review by surdiablo
The Pearl by John Steinbeck

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I'm afraid I don't have a lot to say this time, just that this book made me teary-eyed / emotionally drained while being around 100 pages only, which is very impressive because I always found novellas way too short to be impactful. It was such a tense, emotional rollercoaster that had me under a spell the entire time. I have read only 'Of Mice & Men' so far besides this one, but I think it's safe to say I simply love Steinbeck's writing style. It's so simple yet elegant where no words feel wasted, and he sure as hell knows how to pack an emotional gut punch. Can't wait to read 'Grapes of Wrath' in June with a certain classics connoisseur I happen to know.. 😂
Expand filter menu Content Warnings