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The Moon Is Down
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Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Author: John Steinbeck
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $10.40
You Save: $ 2.60 ( 20% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Author: John Steinbeck
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Average Customer Rating:
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The Moon Is Down Description
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.52
EAN: 9780140187465
ISBN: 0140187464
Label: Penguin Classics
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 144
Publication Date: 1995-11-01
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Studio: Penguin Classics
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.52
EAN: 9780140187465
ISBN: 0140187464
Label: Penguin Classics
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 144
Publication Date: 1995-11-01
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Studio: Penguin Classics
Editorial Review of The Moon Is Down
Today, nearly forty years after his death, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck remains one of America’s greatest writers and cultural figures. We have begun publishing his many works for the first time as blackspine Penguin Classics featuring eye-catching, newly commissioned art. This season we continue with the seven spectacular and influential books East of Eden, Cannery Row, In Dubious Battle, The Long Valley, The Moon Is Down, The Pastures of Heaven, and Tortilla Flat. Penguin Classics is proud to present these seminal works to a new generation of readers—and to the many who revisit them again and again.
Customer Reviews of The Moon Is Down
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Simply Excellent - But Buy as Part of a Collection
Review: This is Steinbeck's fifth novel or more accurately a novella. The writing is exceptional and it must be ranked as average or better, but it is short and cannot be compared with his best known novel "Grapes of Wrath." Steinbeck shifts his focus away from California and gives us a very interesting book based on World War II. Think it is exceptional and one of his better short works. It is almost as good as his other famous novella "Of Mice and Men," which was his first novel. I have read most of his works including the present, which is an interesting and a must read for Steinbeck fans. It has interesting prose and good drama, and it is very well written. I would rank it on par with "Cannery Row" and ahead of "The Pearl" and better than "Tortilla Flat" in my opinion - based on the writing.
It is an interesting book. It is about resistance to an invading force. We can assume that it is probably Norway during World War II, and their resistance to Germany, but Steinbeck keeps it a bit vague which broadens the appeal of the book. It could apply to any invading force.
John Steinbeck (1902 - 1968) was among the best known American writers of the 20th century. He won the 1962 Nobel Prize for literature. His 1939 Pulitzer Prize winning novel, "Grapes of Wrath" has over ten million copies in print.
Steinbeck was born in rural California, went to Stanford, and spent most of his life in California. He has been associated with the plight of farm workers and others. His books have been very popular and many were made into movies and stage productions. He won an Academy Award nomination for best story in 1944.
I have read a number of his novels and am still surprised with the quality of his work - especially his short stories and short novels and this is another good example. The present work is short and probably ranks among the middle or higher of his 17 novels and novellas. Readers will appreciate the clarity of the prose, the characters, and the message.
It is not a heavy read and takes one evenings to read. I liked the book and give it a positive recommendation, and it would be high on my list of Steinbeck novels.
As a suggestion, do not buy the book alone, but rather would buy it as part of a collection such as Steinbeck's book: "The Short Novels of John Steinbeck," from Viking Press in 1953, and updated versions of that book.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: My first Steinbeck!
Review: A very, very short but very, very wonderful book that takes place during WWII. In a remote, unnamed town in an unnamed country, Nazis take control, thinking themselves in an easy position with all the arrogance of a regime of people with radical ideals. They quickly discover it's not much of a picnic to be in a town full of people silently resenting you and ready to take action the moment one of the invaders lets down their guard, whatever the consequences. This book might have only been a bit over a hundred pages but it was vastly moving and really impressed itself on my mind. Highly recommended.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Not The Best, But Good!
Review: The Moon Is Down is a history book. It wasn't written to be such but it is now. It's a history of everything right and most things wrong during World War II.
John Steinbeck takes us on a journey of a people conquered physically but not in their hearts and souls. It's a good read. . . a very good read, because it reminds us of what terrible things can happen, Man's Inhumanity to Man, to coin a phrase.
But it also reminds us of strength and honor. It shows us what can be, good and bad.
It is not Steinbeck's best but it is still good. It isn't Grapes of Wrath or Of Mice and Men, but not every book is. It's good, very good.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Occupied Countries
Review: Now it was that the conqueror was surrounded, the men of the battalion alone among silent enemies, and no man might relax his guard for even a moment. If he did, he disappeared, and some snowdrift reeived his body. If he went alone to a woman, he disappeared. The men of the battalion could sing only together, could dance only together, and dancing gradually stopped and the singing expressed a longing for home. THeir talk was of friends and relatives who loved them and their longings were for warmth and love, because a man can be a soldier for only so many hours a day and for only so man months in a year, and then he wants to be a man again, wants girls and drinks and music and laughter and ease, and when these are cut off, they become irrestibly desirable. "
~John Steinbeck, The Moon is Down
This book, written and released in the first year of of the Second World War, was extremely contraversial for Steinbeck. He had already established himself as a wonderful author whom was loved and respected for his clever word choice and characters, but the authoring of this book called him into question in some eyes.
He tells the story of an occupied country, more importantly, an occupied city, where the invading soldiers come into a peaceable-minded people's town and try to slowly take power; eventually seeing that no one takes well to enslavement, and winter begins. Steinbeck gives each character on each side equal time to tell their reasons for being there, for killing the soldier, for falling in love with the coal miner's wife and visiting her on rounds, for being a mayor who stands up to the colonel but does not consider himself to be very brave.
We find out the minds of all creatures of war, the occupied, the enslaving, the confused and angry.
"Good. Now I'll tell you, and I hope you'll understand it. You're not a man anymore. You are a soldier. Your comfort is of no importance and, Lieutenant, your life isn't of much importance. If you live, you will have memories. That's about all you have. Meanwhile you must take orders and carry them out. Most of the orders will be unpleasant, bu that's not your business. I will not lie to you, Lieutenant. They should have trainedyou for this, and not for flower-strewn streets. They should have build your soul with truth, not led along with lies... We can't take care of your soul."
When I read this, I wonder about our troops in Iraq. I wonder about the Iraqi refugees trying to flee from the destruction and pain we've caused, for whatever end. War is an ugly business, and this book shed light on it for me as just that: a snapshot into war and how it effects the creatures within it.
I recommend The Moon is Down and promise you will be moved by the simple story John Steinbeck tells about this unnamed town somewhere in the snow, fighting for their lives by turning cold, hanging solidly together, while soldiers attempt to hold the entire existence under control, even though they long for the familiarity of home.
"Do you remember in school, the Apology ? Do you remember Socrates says, 'Someone will say, "And you are not ashamed , Socrates of a course of life which is likely to bring you an untimely end?" To him I may fairly answer, "There you are mistaken: a man who is good for anything ought not to calculate the chance of living or dying; he ought only to consider whether he is doing right or wrong'."
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The Rules of Engagement
Review: John Steinbeck is best known for his depictions of American life, of the trials that ordinary men must face as they travel through life. "The Moon Is Down" is a departure in setting for Steinbeck, with the action placed in a small Norwegian town during WWII. Yet even with a change of scenery, the elements that make Steinbeck such a keen observer of human fate are present in this timeless, almost 'everyman' examination of how war affects the conquered and the conquerer.
One Sunday morning, German soldiers arrive in a peaceful Norwegian town, and make short work of their occupation. Boarding with the mayor, the commanding officer hopes that the two can retain order as the Germans go about their business of extracting coal from the local mine to further their war actions. Yet the mayor will not betray his people, even to save them. As the occupation continues, the townspeople, unused to war, begin to fight their captors, with devastating consequences on both sides. And as the resistance increases, the soldiers find themselves despairing of victory.
The story is short, with sparse amounts of description, which adds to the 'everyman' feel; readers are able to see themselves and their towns in the same situation. The conversations between characters are intense and focused; shifting between the brutal reality of war and the bittersweet memories men carry with them. "The Moon Is Down" is a poignant look at the effects war has on every side, and the debts that must be paid.
Review Summary: Simply Excellent - But Buy as Part of a Collection
Review: This is Steinbeck's fifth novel or more accurately a novella. The writing is exceptional and it must be ranked as average or better, but it is short and cannot be compared with his best known novel "Grapes of Wrath." Steinbeck shifts his focus away from California and gives us a very interesting book based on World War II. Think it is exceptional and one of his better short works. It is almost as good as his other famous novella "Of Mice and Men," which was his first novel. I have read most of his works including the present, which is an interesting and a must read for Steinbeck fans. It has interesting prose and good drama, and it is very well written. I would rank it on par with "Cannery Row" and ahead of "The Pearl" and better than "Tortilla Flat" in my opinion - based on the writing.
It is an interesting book. It is about resistance to an invading force. We can assume that it is probably Norway during World War II, and their resistance to Germany, but Steinbeck keeps it a bit vague which broadens the appeal of the book. It could apply to any invading force.
John Steinbeck (1902 - 1968) was among the best known American writers of the 20th century. He won the 1962 Nobel Prize for literature. His 1939 Pulitzer Prize winning novel, "Grapes of Wrath" has over ten million copies in print.
Steinbeck was born in rural California, went to Stanford, and spent most of his life in California. He has been associated with the plight of farm workers and others. His books have been very popular and many were made into movies and stage productions. He won an Academy Award nomination for best story in 1944.
I have read a number of his novels and am still surprised with the quality of his work - especially his short stories and short novels and this is another good example. The present work is short and probably ranks among the middle or higher of his 17 novels and novellas. Readers will appreciate the clarity of the prose, the characters, and the message.
It is not a heavy read and takes one evenings to read. I liked the book and give it a positive recommendation, and it would be high on my list of Steinbeck novels.
As a suggestion, do not buy the book alone, but rather would buy it as part of a collection such as Steinbeck's book: "The Short Novels of John Steinbeck," from Viking Press in 1953, and updated versions of that book.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: My first Steinbeck!
Review: A very, very short but very, very wonderful book that takes place during WWII. In a remote, unnamed town in an unnamed country, Nazis take control, thinking themselves in an easy position with all the arrogance of a regime of people with radical ideals. They quickly discover it's not much of a picnic to be in a town full of people silently resenting you and ready to take action the moment one of the invaders lets down their guard, whatever the consequences. This book might have only been a bit over a hundred pages but it was vastly moving and really impressed itself on my mind. Highly recommended.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Not The Best, But Good!
Review: The Moon Is Down is a history book. It wasn't written to be such but it is now. It's a history of everything right and most things wrong during World War II.
John Steinbeck takes us on a journey of a people conquered physically but not in their hearts and souls. It's a good read. . . a very good read, because it reminds us of what terrible things can happen, Man's Inhumanity to Man, to coin a phrase.
But it also reminds us of strength and honor. It shows us what can be, good and bad.
It is not Steinbeck's best but it is still good. It isn't Grapes of Wrath or Of Mice and Men, but not every book is. It's good, very good.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Occupied Countries
Review: Now it was that the conqueror was surrounded, the men of the battalion alone among silent enemies, and no man might relax his guard for even a moment. If he did, he disappeared, and some snowdrift reeived his body. If he went alone to a woman, he disappeared. The men of the battalion could sing only together, could dance only together, and dancing gradually stopped and the singing expressed a longing for home. THeir talk was of friends and relatives who loved them and their longings were for warmth and love, because a man can be a soldier for only so many hours a day and for only so man months in a year, and then he wants to be a man again, wants girls and drinks and music and laughter and ease, and when these are cut off, they become irrestibly desirable. "
~John Steinbeck, The Moon is Down
This book, written and released in the first year of of the Second World War, was extremely contraversial for Steinbeck. He had already established himself as a wonderful author whom was loved and respected for his clever word choice and characters, but the authoring of this book called him into question in some eyes.
He tells the story of an occupied country, more importantly, an occupied city, where the invading soldiers come into a peaceable-minded people's town and try to slowly take power; eventually seeing that no one takes well to enslavement, and winter begins. Steinbeck gives each character on each side equal time to tell their reasons for being there, for killing the soldier, for falling in love with the coal miner's wife and visiting her on rounds, for being a mayor who stands up to the colonel but does not consider himself to be very brave.
We find out the minds of all creatures of war, the occupied, the enslaving, the confused and angry.
"Good. Now I'll tell you, and I hope you'll understand it. You're not a man anymore. You are a soldier. Your comfort is of no importance and, Lieutenant, your life isn't of much importance. If you live, you will have memories. That's about all you have. Meanwhile you must take orders and carry them out. Most of the orders will be unpleasant, bu that's not your business. I will not lie to you, Lieutenant. They should have trainedyou for this, and not for flower-strewn streets. They should have build your soul with truth, not led along with lies... We can't take care of your soul."
When I read this, I wonder about our troops in Iraq. I wonder about the Iraqi refugees trying to flee from the destruction and pain we've caused, for whatever end. War is an ugly business, and this book shed light on it for me as just that: a snapshot into war and how it effects the creatures within it.
I recommend The Moon is Down and promise you will be moved by the simple story John Steinbeck tells about this unnamed town somewhere in the snow, fighting for their lives by turning cold, hanging solidly together, while soldiers attempt to hold the entire existence under control, even though they long for the familiarity of home.
"Do you remember in school, the Apology ? Do you remember Socrates says, 'Someone will say, "And you are not ashamed , Socrates of a course of life which is likely to bring you an untimely end?" To him I may fairly answer, "There you are mistaken: a man who is good for anything ought not to calculate the chance of living or dying; he ought only to consider whether he is doing right or wrong'."
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The Rules of Engagement
Review: John Steinbeck is best known for his depictions of American life, of the trials that ordinary men must face as they travel through life. "The Moon Is Down" is a departure in setting for Steinbeck, with the action placed in a small Norwegian town during WWII. Yet even with a change of scenery, the elements that make Steinbeck such a keen observer of human fate are present in this timeless, almost 'everyman' examination of how war affects the conquered and the conquerer.
One Sunday morning, German soldiers arrive in a peaceful Norwegian town, and make short work of their occupation. Boarding with the mayor, the commanding officer hopes that the two can retain order as the Germans go about their business of extracting coal from the local mine to further their war actions. Yet the mayor will not betray his people, even to save them. As the occupation continues, the townspeople, unused to war, begin to fight their captors, with devastating consequences on both sides. And as the resistance increases, the soldiers find themselves despairing of victory.
The story is short, with sparse amounts of description, which adds to the 'everyman' feel; readers are able to see themselves and their towns in the same situation. The conversations between characters are intense and focused; shifting between the brutal reality of war and the bittersweet memories men carry with them. "The Moon Is Down" is a poignant look at the effects war has on every side, and the debts that must be paid.