Name: The Pastures of Heaven
ISBN: 9780141922942

John Steinbeck

Each of these delightful interconnected tales is devoted to a family living in a fertile valley on the outskirts of Monterey, California, and the effects that one particular family has on them all. Steinbeck tackles two important literary traditions here; American naturalism, with its focus on the conflict between natural instincts and the demand to conform to society's norms, and the short story cycle. Set in the heart of 'Steinbeck land', the lush Californian valleys.

The Pastures of Heaven

“After the bare requisites to living and reproducing, man wants most to leave some record of himself, a proof, perhaps, that he has really existed. He leaves his proof on wood, on stone, or on the lives of other people. This deep desire exists in everyone, from the boy who writes dirty words in a public toilet to the Buddha who etches his image in the race mind. Life is so unreal. I think that we seriously doubt that we exist and go about trying to prove that we do.” / “No one can survive the smothering of a little time.”

stories of human nature; an unassuming collection. steinbeck really has a grip on his characters’ psychological motivations (not always a “pleasure” – traditionally – to read but their oddity that is almost vile he can make entertaining). truly a string of curses propagated in the manmade fields of heaven

shen

“After the bare requisites to living and reproducing, man wants most to leave some record of himself, a proof, perhaps, that he has really existed. He leaves his proof on wood, on stone, or on the lives of other people. This deep desire exists in everyone, from the boy who writes dirty words in a public toilet to the Buddha who etches his image in the race mind. Life is so unreal. I think that we seriously doubt that we exist and go about trying to prove that we do.” / “No one can survive the smothering of a little time.”

stories of human nature; an unassuming collection. steinbeck really has a grip on his characters’ psychological motivations (not always a “pleasure” – traditionally – to read but their oddity that is almost vile he can make entertaining). truly a string of curses propagated in the manmade fields of heaven

The Pastures of Heaven

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