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Summary: Should be required reading for all Americans
Review: I just finished reading the little 90 page novel, "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck. Written in 1942 about an unnamed Scandinavian country that is occupied by the Nazis, it is testimony to the un-conquerability of free men and women, and the terrible price paid in the souls of the occupying forces. The parralels with the present US occupation of Iraq are profound. It should be required reading for all Americans .. I'm thinking of sending a copy to Paul Bremer.
Rating: 
Summary: Steinbeck uncovers profound, often unsettling truths.
Review: John Steinbeck fully represents a great American author. His novel, "The Moon is Down" was written as a form of propaganda for its time, and Steinbeck uncovers profound, often unsettling truths about war-and about human nature. In every chapter you read, you can find a descriptive image about the town which has been conquered, and the feelings of its people. This book reveals the evil in human nature, and the reaction of a conquered people. A small town has just been taken over and is now Nazi occupied. The troops come in, and immediately the attitude of this once peaceful town, turns into vengeance. The mayor represents the word of the people. He stays office for a in while, however under the influence and control of the Nazi's. The people of the town show no kindness, and much disrespect to the officers, which in turn makes the Nazi's angry. This leads to the death of many innocent lives. There is much loneliness and danger in the town, which results in many citizens trying to escape to England. Some successfully do, and get to the English leaders to ask for help. The English sends planes over, and drops boxes and parachutes filled with bombs and ammunition for the people of the town to use against the Nazi's. This is where the trouble begins, and certain important lives are lost. Steinbeck includes striking images and fine dialogue throughout the entire novel. Every chapter contains a descriptive image of the town adding to the drama. This, for example, found on page 51, "And over the town there hung a blackness that was deeper than the cloud, and over the town there hung a sullenness and a dry, growing hatred." Even when a line is not in context, we can understand the story by Steinbeck's creative and vivid scenes. He flavors his words in such a way, that we can fully capture the mood of a scene, and the meaning of the novel. Steinbeck helps us to understand the war and the people involved in it. A sense of togetherness is exemplified in the people, and the theme of working together is expressed in their attitudes, as they fight to save one anothers lives. What was happening to them was unfair and immoral, however they stuck through it by understanding that a group is so much better than an individual, and caring for others helps make them and you a stronger person.
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Summary: Not just propaganda
Review: Some label The Moon Is Down as propaganda (usually a negative connotation even if its cause is virtuous) and there is an argument to make for that. The novella, about an unnamed European town under Nazi occupation, was written during John Stienbeck's stint as a World War II reporter and was translated into several languages and purposefully spread to areas that might face the dilemma depicted within. Yet Steinbeck is still Steinbeck and even if The Moon Is Down is a propaganda piece, that does not mean it is anything swallow. Among other things, Steinbeck excelled at portraying people in difficult situations with deep psychological and moral insight. That applies to the destitute Okies of The Grapes of Wrath, the wanderers from Of Mice and Men and it certainly applies to the humble townspeople of The Moon Is Down, who must decide between indigent but safe captivity or righteous but bloody resistance. Perhaps the most difficult and most interesting predicament is that of Mayor Orden. Is it is his duty to maintain security and order or to lead his people against the invaders? But what is remarkable about The Moon Is Down (especially considering its status as a propaganda novel) is how well Steinbeck explores the other side, that of the occupiers. Steinbeck refuses to let them be paper bad guys. Instead, he skillfully explores their paranoia that the town will rise-up and kill them and their misery due to everyone around them hating them. The atmosphere of The Moon Is Down is tense and it becomes only a matter of time before the bubble bursts. In the meantime, Stienbeck gets behind his characters' eyes for a deep and powerful portrait of occupation. The Moon is Down may have been written as a propaganda piece, but it is also a lot more.
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Summary: Propaganda at its best
Review: I imagine many people who read this book don't realize that Steinbeck wrote "The Moon is Down" as a vehicle for propaganda. It was translated into many languages and distributed throughout the world. The original setting was a small town in the United States, but William "Wild Bill" Donovan of the OSS and others felt it would be too horrific for the people of the United States so soon after World War II so Steinbeck changed the setting to an unnamed northern European country. Steinbeck did considerable research on resistance in occupied countries and found that though the countries had different histories, cultures, languages, etc., the most successful methods of resisting and fighting the enemy were the same everywhere: the method he portrays in "The Moon is Down." Students who choose to read this book for a school assignment will really impress their teachers if they note that the title is a phrase from Shakespeare's "MacBeth." (Be sure to find the source in the play--I'm not going to give you everything!)
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Summary: Majorly UNDERrated.
Review: Although Steinbeck is one of America's most beloved authors, this particular work seems to be overshadowed by his more famous Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men. This incredibly touching story does not get the credit it deserves. The fond statements the genius author makes about democracy rouse patriotic emotions in the reader. This is a war book that is not about war. It's about power, corruption, and narrow-mindedness. It's about love, freedom, and equality. It's about the things every human being should know and read about, so I recommend that all people read this amazing piece. I promise it will make you think about things you take for granted.
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Summary: Not revised for American audiences
Review: I have the original 1942 edition of The Moon Is Down and it is set in an unspecified Scandanavian town. The story could never have been written to occur in the USA and then revised to occur in Norway, although (sadly) it's impossible to read it now without considering the situation of American soldiers in Iraq.
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Summary: A wonderful read
Review: Before I read this book, I always thought the Nazis were unbreakable, faceless, heartless, killers with nerves of steel. Well "The Moon Is Down" proved me wrong. Steinbeck does a spectacular job of showing the story through the enemy's eyes. It gives a wonderful twist to stories we're so used to hearing.
"The Moon Is Down" isn't like those. It shows the story from the enemy's eyes as well as the Good Guys'. You are able to witness the fear of both sides. It shows us that the Nazis were as afraid as we were. They went insane, they raped, they killed themselves, everything. There was just something about the way this book was written that made me read on in utter anticipation.
What I really liked was how it would transition from a good guys' conversation to a bad guys'. It was almost you were in two places at once. It would even show conversations that had no relevance to the main plot, just to show you that is isn't all about the main plot. No book should direct you ONLY to the main plot. The only bad part is it ended rather abruptly. A wonderful read.
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Summary: Another winner by Steinbeck...
Review: This one may not be as well known as some of his other works, but it is worth reading. Tight writing, excellent plot and characterization rank this book right up there with his classics "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Of Mice and Men."
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Summary: A different kind of Steinbeck
Review: This is possibly the most unusual Steinbeck contribution to the body of American literature. The underlying unique Steinbeck perspective and observation placed in a setting foreign to his other works makes The Moon is Down a necessary read for those interested in Steinbeck, but the book would be a worthy one without the author's name beneath the title. I'd recommend this one, no matter what the reading tastes of the reader.
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Summary: Great Political Satire
Review: Although this is not Steinbeck's usual style of writing, it is a great book. It is sad, witty, and action packed. It is one of my favorite Steinbeck books and my favorite political satire. This is a great read for adults and teenagers.
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