A review by foosreadsandwrites
The Pearl by John Steinbeck

3.0

There are 10 really good pages in this 90 page book. I’d say there are also 2-3 awful pages. I can’t tell where it stands on all the sexism and racism it presents. It seems to condemn domestic violence and show that the main character should listen to his wife, but also calls one character “fat Apolonia” instead of just “Apolonia” throughout the book. It shows white men using their privilege to harm indigenous people, but itself is an appropriation of a Mexican legend. The commentary on greed is somewhere between fine and good, though.

It is certainly a product of its time in both style and content, and it led to some interesting discussions with students, both from the narrative itself and from the author’s choices.