In keeping with my John Steinbeck theme, I read The Pearl. Mainly, I picked up the book because Steinbeck was the author I chose to read when I was younger and wanted to read a chapter book. The story is of an Indian family who finds fortune in the sea. Kino, the father, was diving and looking for pearls one day and comes across one of the largest pearls he had ever seen. His first action is to get a doctor to come cure his ailing son, then he wants to have a church wedding with his wife. The village and town start to hear news of Kino's pearl, and everyone starts to try and swindle him, steal from him, or even murder him. Kino lets the protection of the pearl become more important to him than anything else. After killing a man who was trying to thieve, Kino and his family must flee the village. A few days go by of quietly escaping, and the family realizes that there are a few trackers that have followed them. In the night Kino, approaches the trackers in order to kill them. During the dispute a gun shot is fired and Kino's son is killed. The next morning Kino and his wife Juana realize that this pearl has only brought evil into their lives. They return to the sea, and drop the pearl back where it belongs.
Moral: Wealth does not buy happiness.
Book 10: The Pearl
Author: John Steinbeck
Picture Book?: No
Posting Date: April 22, 2008
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