Reviews

Routakuun aika by John Steinbeck

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offworldcolony's review against another edition

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4.0

Significant, elegant, well-drawn and powerful.

zfeig's review against another edition

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challenging dark hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is the most fascinating Steinbeck novel you've never heard of. The Moon is down came out in 1942, just as the US was joining world war II and the Allies were losing. It's the story of a town taken over by Nazis told mostly from a Nazi perspective.

Steinbeck wrote this book as propaganda aimed to boost morale in occupied Europe. However, when the book came out, he was lambasted in the domestic press for writing a book that was 'soft on Nazis.' He continued to face acrimony at home for the remainder of the war.

Meanwhile, abroad in Nazi occupied Netherland, Poland, Sweden, Norway, France and Belgium as well as Japanese occupied China. The book was translated, printed and reprinted, secretly mimeographed, and used as fundraising for resistance movements. When the war ended, this book was one of the first books to be printed.

The book is a powerful piece of propaganda, and applies to any occupied people.

al_story's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

andreea27's review against another edition

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4.0

Desi a fost scris ca propaganda literara in favoarea democratiei si libertatii, talentul literar al lui Steinbeck nu a putut sa nu isi lase amprenta asupra acestui mic text. Intr-un orasel anonim sub ocupatia armatei unei alte natiuni anonime, impactul dintre totalitarism si democratie este aproape palpabil. Personajele, desi conturate intr-un numar relativ mic de pagini, reusesc sa intruchipeze idei, convingerile unor mase complet diferite de oameni - cine crede in libertate si cine crede in conducerea unui singur om. O lectura scurta care urmareste efectele invaziei atat asupra celor ocupati, cat si a ocupantilor.

ganeev484's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

I really loved this book. In Steinbeck's classic style inspire it being ha propaganda book the characters were well fleshed out. The takes out the human in everyone and shows their inner turmoils and emotions. It so well written there many lines that I felt lucky to read. I underlined half the book. My favorite charcter was Lasen, he was complicated and interesting.