Review: 'To A God Unknown' by John Steinbeck

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

'To A God Unknown' by John Steinbeck, 188 pages - Instagram @c_reads_books

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To A God Unknown by John Steinbeck tells the story of Joseph Wayne, a man who embarks on a journey to California in order to create a prosperous farm and do his dead father proud. Upon first arriving in his new land, Joseph comes to believe that a tree on the farm holds his newly passed father’s spirit and sees the tree as a symbol of luck and ease. Joseph’s three brothers and their families soon follow him to California, and the Wayne family prospers and grows on the fertile land. One of Joseph’s brothers kills his tree, though, worrying that Joseph is performing pagan rituals, and soon after, the land dries up and disease spreads. Joseph, however, refuses to give up on the now dying land, seeing it as an extension of his own self.

I really enjoyed this book. It is very recognizably Steinbeck, as are all of his books, and in the most positive way. I love that most of his books are set in nearby locations in his home state of California, and I like to imagine that all of his stories and the people in them are coexisting around each other in Steinbeck’s own version of California. Back to this specific book, I especially loved the theme of man trying to control nature, and Joseph even seeing himself as much a part of his land as the grass that grows on it. I really loved the ending too, in that regard. The title of this short novel is especially fitting, as the whole book, as well as the way Steinbeck describes nature, is very mysterious and magical, which is really special and beautiful to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Steinbeck, or just wants to read a very powerful story about the beauty and mysteries of nature!