Eyes on Final Fantasy Forums > General > The Lounge > Steinbeck

[Ouch!]

Originally Posted by Kes ^

The Pearl absolutely ruined Steinbeck for me. I think that was the first book I really and fully hated. And it didn't help that I wasn't a huge fan of the film of The Grapes of Wrath I watched.

No kidding. I've been adverse to Steinbeck ever since we had to read The Pearl in seventh grade. I think that was the only time I've been in an English class in which the whole class hated the book we were reading.

However, I did enjoy reading Of Mice and Men (though it resulted in the second worst mock trial I've ever participated in).

The witnesses changed their testimonies once they got to the stand! Everything they told us they were going to say got warped by the time they got up there and the entire case the rest of the prosecution and I had built was ruined!

[I Took the Red Pill]

Hated The Pearl. Loved Of Mice and Men. Loved Tortilla Flat.

[Aerio]

I really enjoyed the Writing in Grapes of Wrath and The Pearl. Of Mice and Men was a fun story, but I never really got into his descriptions of the scenery in each chapter. I much more enjoyed the random intervals of unknown characters talking in Grapes of Wrath (Like the car dealership owner) and the imagery used to describe things in The Pearl.

Now am I a big fan of any of the stories overall? Not really, I find them a bit boring. It is however refreshing to read Tragedies every once in awhile that really draw out the true meaning of the American Dream. A meaning that still applies much to modern America, as far as capitalism goes. Its become more about every man for himself than working together to create a society that benefits us all. Until that is fixed without the band-aid of communism or socialism to just fall off exposing the cut to the bacteria of the world, not much will improve.

For this reason I find it important for kids to be exposed to Steinbeck, even if I don't like him much. And I know a friend of mine absolutely despises his writing. In an effort to not come off like I'm copy pasting my English Teacher's lecture I'll stop now.

[rubah]

I liked The Pearl.

Heath, you should just pick up Of Mice and Men. It's very short.