The Moon Is Down in Around the World in 80 Books

May 26, 2025 Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, war

I didn't know what to expect when a friend's husband pressed this book on me last week, saying, "It's excellent for these times...you'll see what I mean."

Yes, I see what you mean.

This is the story of a town that has been captured, taken over by an army of men. It's a close look at both sides, those who have been taken over, and those who are doing the capturing. Quickly, it becomes apparent, that no one is happy. The captured resist, in subtle and not so subtle ways. Killing results in more kill ...more

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May 31, 2014 Karen rated it really liked it

I read several of John Steinbeck books in High School and College, and I have been re-reading them again, particularly the short novels. I really enjoyed The Moon is Down.

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Jan 19, 2013 Kent Winward rated it really liked it

In the midst of the current debate about gun control, I was impressed by Steinbeck's prescience that the protection of an independent human spirit comes from within -- not at the end of a gun barrel. While written about the occupation of a town by German soldiers, one has to wonder if we would have been so quick to invade Afghanistan and Iraq if our Presidents, generals, soldiers and citizens had read this gem of a novella. ...more

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Mar 21, 2014 Jessica rated it really liked it

Shelves: classic

I'm often tempted to skip introductions to classics, but here, it's immensely useful in setting the scene for the circumstances in which Steinbeck wrote the book and the critical reaction to it. I find it surprisingly deft in keeping the essential human nature of occupiers and the occupied, and can easily see how it became an underground hit within resistance movements. ...more

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