The Pearl by John Steinbeck

This was a difficult book for me to read! It was short and accessible, but I didn't like the setting and I could tell it wasn't going to be a "nice" story.  Everything told me it was going to be sad, sad, sad. And it was. I knew it was "just a story" but I really care about characters, even fictional ones, and I hate to read about suffering. Yet, Kristine told me she had really liked it, so I felt like I should read it to sense more about what she likes. And of course Steinbeck reading has to be good for you, so even though it was hard, I soldiered through it.

Actually, I'm glad I did. I wouldn't choose to read it again...but in thinking about it, it has a most wonderful message. Among them are...listen to the your intuition or Holy Spirit or whatever sense you want to call it. But when it calls, you need to listen. Another message is that there's no use in trying to fool yourself that one simple thing will end all of your problems. Life is never that simple. This was a short but very meaty story. Thank you, Steinbeck, and thank you Kristine.