The Pearl

Quality product and top shelf customer service. highly recommend

Great story was in perfect condition

Lately I have been rereading some of the old classics I had read in high school and college. One of these books I purchased on Amazon for a bargain price was this 90-page paperback edition, (The Pearl by John Steinbeck), which I found to be an amusing and interesting read even though I had read it more than 50 years ago. The short story, like many of the novels by John Steinbeck, deals with people who lead hard working lives. This particular novel takes place in Mexico and in some ways reflects the way many people thought about certain things in the 1940s. This story revolves around a family, who follows the same kind of work their ancestors did, which is diving for pearls in the Gulf. Unlike the early pearl searchers, Kino and Juana barely make enough to support their family; however, one day Kino pulls from the ocean a large pearl. He thinks this will finally make his family wealthy enough to get his family out of the meager living existence they now live in. As always, there are twists and turns and issues that make this an interesting read. I never give away too much information when reviewing any novel, but there is a lesson here we can all learn from in this family tale. Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Martial Art and Warrior Haiku and Senryu).

Very acceptable Penguin paperback from 1992. Not the same as the photo, but I bought it for the text, not the cover. Clean and readable.

Thank you! Very fast shipping..

The pearl represents the corrupting power of money / wealth. I was touched by how much Kino cared about the education of his son (to him, the pearl represents financial resources to put his son through school and help him escape the cycle of poverty) but also appalled by his transformation when he becomes blinded with rage and greed. The pearl appraisers and the behavior of the townspeople and the doctor represent the jealous and coveting part of human nature; people will rarely celebrate others’ successes, as they are much more likely to try to drag them down to their own level. It is always in our best interest to keep our accomplishments to ourselves and celebrate quietly; making these known will only bring more jealousy. This book was kind of disappointing after having read Steinbeck’s magnum opus, East of Eden, but overall it was a short and philosophical novella with interesting ideas.

The version I got on Kindle had an introduction that comprised 20% of the entire text, which was quite a lot!!! It is basically a complete analytical book review that has 100% spoilers for the entirety of the original book. It provides an analysis of the author's biography and explores the circumstances surrounding writing the novel. It was extremely annoying and it just wouldn't end. I have nothing against Professor Linda Wagner-Martin, and in a sense her analysis was wonderful and well constructed, but alas, misplaced at the beginning of the novel, one that I've never read before and in a great way she spoiled it for me. But fortunately, I did manage to enjoy the novella quite a lot actually. I don't know why I conjured up the same feeling I had reading "The old man and the sea" by Hemingway. It's the same allegorical tale theme set in similar scenery. The political issues that Professor Linda touch upon did not concern me the least. The poetry of the story and the timeless wisdom it carries was enormously interesting and enjoyable to me. This was the perfect appetizer for me to delve into the world of John Steinbeck.

I bought this book for my teenager, she needed this for a class. It was a good buy and she has kept it nicely taken care of. She liked the book but also she was forced to read it for an assignment.

Great book, arrived in perfect condition

Se tiene que leer esta pequeña joya.

It arrived damaged from the back and it was bended in half

`The Pearl' is another book by Steinbeck of such searing beauty that it leaves you breathless and in awe. You know from the first few pages and the simple, yet captivating descriptions of a family's early morning habits, that this book will live up to the promise you feel from reading past Steinbeck works. Following a pearl fisherman who finds a life changing sized pearl and how it changes him, his family and more importantly the reactions of those around him. This starts with wonder and hope for the future and descends into blackness and misery because of the wealth the pearl represents and the jealousies it arouses. This easily matches the short, succinct beauty of Hemingways `The Old Man and the Sea' and I'm surprised it isn't given more attention by school syllabus setters or lovers of fiction in general. This is a short, powerful novella and it is as terse and well written as all of Steinbecks masterly works. If you know his style you'll know what to expect and if you're new to Steinbeck, then you are in for a real treat. This also includes some wonderful line drawings to illustrate the story. Stunning, beautiful and highly recommended. Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.

Extraordinary prose and morality tale. Almost biblical in its story telling and suspense. I think it's up there with Mice and Men.