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turning_every_paige 's review for:
The Black Pearl
by Scott O'Dell
I read this story shortly after reading "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck, and they're clearly based off of the same legend.
Ramón, desperate to prove that he is a man, learns the art of pearl diving in just a few days while his father is gone, hoping to find the great Pearl of Heaven while his father is away on his own pearl diving expedition. Meanwhile, the Indians in this town and many of the other characters make their superstition about the Manta Diablo very plain. Ramón makes his own dive, finds the great pearl, and brings it home to his father. His father, awed by the pearl (however, not seeming very impressed with Ramón for successfully diving and finding it) ultimately gives the pearl to the Madonna, the town's personal representation of Mary. He then goes on an expedition to find more pearls, and does at sea. Ramón steals the pearl intending to throw it back since he now believes that the Manta Diablo wants it back; however, he is kidnaped by his rival who wants to sell it and get rich.
Long story short, the rival and the Manta die, and Ramón takes the pearl back to the Madonna and somehow believes he is now a man.
So, there was a lot more excitement in this story than in Steinbeck's version. It definitely kept me interested! However, there wasn't much character development, and the motives that drove the seemed pretty flimsy. Moral of the story? Can't tell you. I'm not really sure.
Did I like this book? Yeah, it was a fun, quick read. Would I recommend it? Meh.
Ramón, desperate to prove that he is a man, learns the art of pearl diving in just a few days while his father is gone, hoping to find the great Pearl of Heaven while his father is away on his own pearl diving expedition. Meanwhile, the Indians in this town and many of the other characters make their superstition about the Manta Diablo very plain. Ramón makes his own dive, finds the great pearl, and brings it home to his father. His father, awed by the pearl (however, not seeming very impressed with Ramón for successfully diving and finding it) ultimately gives the pearl to the Madonna, the town's personal representation of Mary. He then goes on an expedition to find more pearls, and does at sea. Ramón steals the pearl intending to throw it back since he now believes that the Manta Diablo wants it back; however, he is kidnaped by his rival who wants to sell it and get rich.
Long story short, the rival and the Manta die, and Ramón takes the pearl back to the Madonna and somehow believes he is now a man.
So, there was a lot more excitement in this story than in Steinbeck's version. It definitely kept me interested! However, there wasn't much character development, and the motives that drove the seemed pretty flimsy. Moral of the story? Can't tell you. I'm not really sure.
Did I like this book? Yeah, it was a fun, quick read. Would I recommend it? Meh.