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A review by orb12um
The Pastures of Heaven by John Steinbeck
5.0
For my avid followers, one may remember a scathing review of J.D Salinger’s ‘Catcher in the Rye.’ I called it a grossly American novel and resigned myself that this genre of American wasn’t for me. I’m incredibly pleased to announce that Steinbeck has assuaged my thoughts of those over the pond.
Like many inhabitants of our divided isle, I was forced along the inevitable trail of Mice and Men, and i was bored. Perhaps that was my insolent 12 year old self, or perhaps it's the manner it is taught. Since this event, I have steered clear of Steinbeck and how wrong I was.
The Pastures of Heaven is a small slice of literature that satisfies the palette to the Nth degree. Forgive my colloquial language there, but Steinbeck's range of character and fascinating insights to the rural lives of these men and women has left me craving for the that lesser brand of American English. He paints a deep picture of not only those that live amongst the landscape, but also the landscape itself. The farm kept in the style of an 'inarticulate poet' has quickly become a comparison committed to memory. His demonstration of the vulnerability of women in an environment controlled by men is fascinating. He explores loss and grief and how it affects people in different ways. An overall rather depressing picture is sprinkled with moments of joy and teaches us that all is not as it seems.
If you wish to read beautiful prose alongside intriguing personal stories, I could not recommend this novella enough. I will without a doubt be delving into Steinbeck's catalogue and am sure I will encounter more instances of eloquent and beautiful storytelling. I'm in no doubt that sometimes teaching books in schools can ruin a writer or a novel, but pick up that familiar author and then you too can write a pretentious and precocious review like you are the the first to discover one of the most famous writers of the 20th century.
Like many inhabitants of our divided isle, I was forced along the inevitable trail of Mice and Men, and i was bored. Perhaps that was my insolent 12 year old self, or perhaps it's the manner it is taught. Since this event, I have steered clear of Steinbeck and how wrong I was.
The Pastures of Heaven is a small slice of literature that satisfies the palette to the Nth degree. Forgive my colloquial language there, but Steinbeck's range of character and fascinating insights to the rural lives of these men and women has left me craving for the that lesser brand of American English. He paints a deep picture of not only those that live amongst the landscape, but also the landscape itself. The farm kept in the style of an 'inarticulate poet' has quickly become a comparison committed to memory. His demonstration of the vulnerability of women in an environment controlled by men is fascinating. He explores loss and grief and how it affects people in different ways. An overall rather depressing picture is sprinkled with moments of joy and teaches us that all is not as it seems.
If you wish to read beautiful prose alongside intriguing personal stories, I could not recommend this novella enough. I will without a doubt be delving into Steinbeck's catalogue and am sure I will encounter more instances of eloquent and beautiful storytelling. I'm in no doubt that sometimes teaching books in schools can ruin a writer or a novel, but pick up that familiar author and then you too can write a pretentious and precocious review like you are the the first to discover one of the most famous writers of the 20th century.