The Pearl

by John Steinbeck
Read by Hector Elizondo
87 pages

This classic novella could really be summarized by the phrase, "Money is the root of all evil."  It begins with a small, young family of Mexican pearl fishers.  The baby has been stung by a scorpion and needs medical treatment that the parents, Kino and Juana, cannot afford.  They go pearl fishing and pray to find a pearl large enough to pay for treatment.  Their prayers are answered, and they find "the pearl of the world."  They think that the pearl will solve all of their problems, but it doesn't.  The pearl complicates their lives and does more harm than good.

I really enjoyed this classic parable.  It is beautifully written, and Hector Elizondo is the perfect narrator for this story. I would definitely recommend this audio book, available on Overdrive, to anybody interested in reading this tale.