Occupied by enemy troops, a small, peaceable town comes to face-to-face with evil imposed from the outside--and betrayal born within the close-knit community. As he delves into the motivations and emotions of the enemy commander and the quisling traitor, Steinbeck uncovers profound, often unsettling truths about war--and about human nature. (Goodreads)
My family decided that we need to be reading more books together, and this is our first pick for the adventure. We're all Steinbeck fans, which probably has a lot to do with being from California and having many of his novels set in locales we visited many times while growing up. So, this felt like a wonderful place to start, and honestly, it was far more moving than I anticipated. The writing, of course, was beautiful. Steinbeck has a way with cadence and word choice that sets up a scene very simply, but with wonderful emotional impact. And the story in this, well, it resonated on a powerful level. I only get political on here rarely, but the climate in the USA right now is dreadful. Things that are happening make me despise our leaders and actively resist. Things that are happening cannot be undone--to the world, and to human beings. I see photos and read the news daily and cringe. But this novel, well, it gave me hope. As our nation descends into something far from a democracy, reading this gave me hope that in the end, even at great cost, democracy and truth will win out. In many ways, I really needed to read this, and be refreshed in the sense of what I, and so many others, fight for. Because I have devoted my life to teaching and helping others understand the essence of what makes us ALL human is not a definition that can be extended to one group or population and not another. Because I firmly believe that we cannot be a great nation without the huddled masses we have sheltered in the past and should continue to do so. Because I know what bravery looks like, and true service to the greater good. For these things, it is necessary to fight, even in the small ways day to day, and I am grateful to have had been lifted up by this novel.
Good review! I haven't read much of Steinbeck- perhaps because Canadian schools have a different curriculum of required reading at the school level.
ReplyDeleteThe Moon is Down is a very important novel. When it was published, it was felt that presented a true picture of what was happening in occupied Norway. It was an instant hit. It became a play and then a movie, but more importantly, it was smuggled into Norway on mimeographed sheets for readers there. Steinbeck was honored by the Norwegian government after the war. I believe at Steinbeck's funeral, a Norwegian flag was draped over his coffin.
ReplyDeleteI've read just one book of his. thanks for giving this review. It's enticed me to read more. :) I've missed visiting your page. Sorry got so busy.
ReplyDelete