Book review!

In case you need to know what it looks like...

Since I don't get to go any place too cool for extended periods of time anymore, I think I'll start adding book reviews to this blog.

I just finished The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck. First, I'm not a huge Steinbeck fan, I think mainly because it was required reading in freshmen high school English, and I had no attention span for that. My friend Alina gave it to me, and truthfully it's a novella, so I thought what the hell, it'll take all of a long flight and then I can go back at her and let her know how much Steinbeck sucks.

Surprisingly, it was really enjoyable. She prefaced it, before giving it to me, with "don't read the back cover or the introduction", which turned out to be a brilliant idea.



There are some themes in literature I really enjoy:
1) Political struggles (it runs in the family)
2) Love stories that speak to broader social justice or political issues (think "Les Miserables")

3) Dreams deferred (think Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates or Notes from the Underground by Dostoyevsky)

The Moon is Down falls squarely in the first category, but is well written. Steinbeck's description of the scenery is amazing and really sets the mood for the entire book with the descriptions of the setting. Without giving anything away, because you should read this, the setting plays a huge role in understanding the mind set of the antagonists. 

Secondly, Steinbeck treats you like an adult. I genuinely had books that point out the obvious and leave no space for imagination. For example, my cousin read The Hunger Games, I did not because it is shit. She hated it mainly because its not meant for adults, it states the obvious, which in many cases children need. Like in a conversation, the passage would read:

"Is that a blackbird pin you are wearing?" Said [the main character] as she points to the blackbird pin.

I'm not an idiot. You do not need to address the same thing twice in a conversation. But Steinbeck doesn't do that! The climax of the book is completely unspoken, but you get the idea, and that's what makes it great! Steinbeck treats you like an adult, with critical thinking skills.

I think I'm going to read more Steinbeck. His background would be something I love. West coast, migrant worker, salt of the earth, depression era writer that speaks to social justice. That should be right up my alley. This book definitely has made me want to pick up another Steinbeck novel.

Conclusion: READ IT! It's well worth it. 

Currently reading: "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo and "Joesph Anton: A Memoir" by Salem Rushdie