Rating: 
Summary: Dark and stunning morality tale
Review: John Steinbeck evinces a studied mastery of storytelling in this striking novella. This story is unadorned and unadulterated by the over-complexities and pretenses of lesser writers. Although this tale can stand alone as a consummate morality tale and social indictment, I think most will appreciate his steady mounting pace and his elegiac descriptions of nature. This is skilled and beautiful piece of literature and an irrefutable must-read.
Rating: 
Summary: A Fable of Wrath
Review: While I won't go so far as to say that this is Steinbeck's best book, I will say that it is one of his most compelling. I read almost the entire thing in one sitting. Although I realize that this isn't exactly an epic feat considering that book is only 118 pages long, it was the first Steinbeck book that I found myself literally unable to put down. I had to know what was going to happen to Kino and his family. The story always went in fresh directions and there was no telling how it was going to end.I see some similarities between this book and The Grapes of Wrath. Both stories involve simple innocent people being taken advantage of by ruthless merciless authorities who live charmed lives, who effortlessly outwit the protagonists, and from whom the innocent can find no refuge. The same sense of injustice, the same bitter rage, cries out from both books. The both place the same emphasis on the "fambly". And both books involve the ultimate sacrifice being made by the most innocent of innocents. If I had to pick between the two I would say that Grapes in the better book. Being longer, it naturally explores its themes with more depth and complexity, although I hardly agree with the implication that communism was the answer for these migrant workers. In The Pearl, Kino's true enemies, who attack him in the night and try to steal his pearl, are left conspicuously faceless. The Pearl is like a beautiful rough sketch done in pencil. It's very abstract and deliberately fable-like. The writing and the style of the story also reminded me a lot of The Old Man & the Sea in the way both books almost religiously embrace simplicity. I only read the story for the first time a few days ago. As a fable, I haven't really yet considered all the symbolic meanings and allegorical references in the story. I haven't yet considered, for example, the implications of the fact that all the "competing" pearl buyers actually all work for the same man and are in league with one another. An intriguing idea, but who are these people? I can't help thinking that Steinbeck is pointing a hidden finger at some real "pearl buyers" somewhere out there in the world. Isn't that what all fables and allegories do?? Anyway, as I was reading I didn't bother much with these sorts of questions. I leave those sorts of things to rumble around in my head till sometime later when I'm not busy.
Rating:
Summary: Okay, I was FORCED to read this
Review: Things I'm forced to read in school generally lose appeal to me. I could care less. I'd rather pick something else that I WANT to read. However, this book was well written. I won't talk about the story as so many others have, but of the moral. It's important in everyday life. People need money to survive, those who cannot starve, while those with too much keep it all to themselves (generally). What is being said is that greed for MORE is going to ultimately destroy ourselves and the people for whom we've tossed aside in our avarice. The third party, the innocent one, was destroyed in this novel by the first party's lust for money. I found the novel depressing when I finished it, but I learned an important lesson, without it being TOO preachy. I'd give it a five, if it wasn't forced upon me.
Rating: 
Summary: Good story, well written, but negotiable message
Review: Steinbeck makes some important and valid statements of true living with this book, but all in all, the main character, Kino, simply made some bad decisions. The great pearl Kino finds isn't inherently evil in and of itself, as the story seems to try to point toward, rather, pearls are what these divers seek as a means of helping to survive- much like a prospector seeking precious metals. He knew quite well, (we are to assume being that he's been doing this for some time), that he knew the relative value of such a pearl, yet he engages in mind games with the pearl buyers and lets himself be intimidated and riled up by their discounting it's worth, he would have been much better off if he were to keep the news of such a wondrous find to himself, and go about seeking a more appropriate price quietly - did he not foresee the fact that others would be full of desire for his find as well, did he not foresee trouble being aroused simply by not keeping the knowledge of its discovery to himself or at least until a much later date? In my opinion, the best lessons to be learned from this story is 1.) To protect your assets, 2.)Don't allow your worth to be publicly displayed unless you're capable of suitable protection of such and ready to deal with what that may bring, and 3.) Things are not evil, people are. Kino simply should have handled things differently.
Rating:
Summary: dramatic and impressive!
Review: I found The Pearl very impressive.It ýs the story of man called Kino and his family.With the finding of the "Pearl of the World",Kino's life gets harder and harder even though he tought it will be better.This book shows how a man can become like an animal to protect his Pearl from other people,even his wife.I think everyone should read this book because it gives a life lesson.The only bad thing about it was it was very short!
Rating: 
Summary: The Pearl
Review: While this wasn't the most boring story in the world, I found it exremely depressing and tedious. I think that Steinbeck has well-developed characters and uses complex human emotions and responses, it may not relate to a lot of people and seemed unrealistic.
Rating:
Summary: Ignorance grows as the warning grows
Review: This book is not quite as beautifully written as "Of Mice and Men", but it has a very powerful and true message albeit it might be a little exaggerated in this particular story. It's a tale about the power of the dreams that drives us, taking us places where we didn't dream of going, and neither wanted to go. It's a story about taking one apparently harmless step that forces you to take another step, and yet another until you end up where you didn't expect, one little step that only the wise would avoid taking. It's also a story about day and night, what happens on the surface and what happens beneath. The message becomes apparent early in the book, but it grows stronger and stronger as the main characters grow more and more ignorant towards it. While reaching the last pages my adrenalin was pumping, knowing that something was going to happen, but not knowing exactly what and I was somewhat surprised by the ending. This is the second book I've read by Steinbeck and definitely not the last.
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Summary: The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Review: As an eighth grade project, we're being assigned to read the pearl. So far, i think its a great book. (I'm not done)
It's annoying me that so many kids in our class are complaining how hard and boring this book is. I would really love to slap them in the face. This book is incredibly easy and is about at a 9th grade level, and we are in horizons.
Some are prejudiced against mexicans which is really sad seeing as i am half in my blood.
I will not tell you anything about this book, only to just give it a chance. It's an easy read and once you understand the moral and theme it will come to you easier. happy reading!
Rating:
Summary: Steinbeck shows the human condition
Review: John Steinbeck has to be one of the most famous writers of the twentieth century, and this is because his books portray the true human condition and social ills in our country. It is a parable to show how the poorer men in this country are the ones who work the hardest and know more about love than anyone else, yet they are the ones who suffer the most and who are paid the least. They are given little attention, and no one ever stops to help them. It is a book showing the hypocrisy of the wealthy, the church, and the high society. The church will not allow a marriage if someone does not have enough money at the time this book was written, and Steinbeck wrote of the wonderful love between husband, wife, and baby son. This book is easy to read because of the language, yet it is hard to read because it is so sad. A pearl fisher finally finds the pearl of his life- a magnificent pearl that will make him happy and wealthy. Suddenly the doctor who would not help his baby when the baby got stung by a scorpian comes to their aid because he knows that they now have a magnificent pearl. The priest comes to marry them because he knows that they have the pearl now. But when the man goes to the market to sell the pearl, the jewelers refuse to give him what the pearl is worth and try to pass it off as a freak of nature that no one would want to buy. The man is so frustrated that he leaves without selling it. During the night, the wife tries to throw the pearl back into the ocean because she feels that it is bringing them bad fate, but the husband catches her and slaps her. After killing a man over the pearl, the family must run away. The pearl does not bring anything but destruction. This shows that when man gets what he wants, there is still more that he always wants, and there is no end to greed. Money and riches do not bring happiness but destruction. A great story, although it is very sad.
Rating:
Summary: Synopsis of the Pearl
Review: The Pearl is a story set in Mexico many years ago. The main character is Kino, a poor Indian during the time. He lives with his wife, Juana, and baby son, Coyotito. Kino is a pearl diver, who one day finds a giant oyster, which he immediately brings to the surface and opens. In the oyster, he discovers a beautiful pearl, which must be worth a lot. He is very happy and decides that now he can send his son to school when he is older and can officially be married in the church. He does not desire wealth, but a better life for his family. This is the beginning of his struggles with the pearl. The pearl brings on many surprises and causes turmoil Kino's, and his family's, life. Kino goes to seek out someone who will pay him a large sum for the jewel. Thieves and robbers come in search of him, and the pearl. Kino, Juana, and their baby are chased up the mountains by murderers who wish to steal the pearl. In the end, Kino and Juana, walk back into town together, and throw the pearl back into the sea. The symbolism of the pearl is very important in this book. A pearl is created in a living thing, unlike precious metals such as gold or silver. A pearl is caused to form because of irritation. This shows that things are not always what they seem to be. Kino believes that the pearl will bring him wealth to provide for his family, but the pearl ends up disrupting their lives. When the pearl is returned to the sea, it turns from ugly, to beautiful since this is its rightful place. The pearl does not create havoc in the sea and provides nothing but pure beauty. This is a wonderful story that shows the danger of man's greed, and what really matters in life.
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