The original post: /r/books by /u/nk127 on 2025-01-13 14:26:07.

After searching very thoroughly for my next read after East Of Eden, I picked To A God Unknown for its heavy and serious tone. This book is no replacement to EoE and some readers may never connect with it. Yet, i found it a satisfying read due to Steinbeck’s writing style and the elements he has to offer.

As a reader, the aspects related to religion, superstitions and beliefs have confused me a bit and i did not wholly understand them. But beyond these aspects, I absolutely loved the story.

This is a simple story. A simple story of a passionate and committed man who loves something very deeply and would not let go of it until the very last. And a simple story of other simple people around him.

I loved this book for Steinbeck’s writing and detailed portrayal of what the farmers, animals and vegetation goes through during a drought. Even though my forefathers were farmers never did I once ask my elders what land meant to them, what a drought brought them and how they coped.

The chapters related to migration of farmers along with their cattle are absulutely heart wrenching.

“the cows dropped, one by one, and did not get up under the goad, but only looked tiredly at the sky”. “the moving herds filled the road and the farmers along the road were hostile. They patrolled their fence lines and shot any stock that broke through”…“The miles covered daily grew fewer and fewer, and the tired stock rested all night, and did not search for food”. These lines have made me dumbstruck.

The book is so rich in its hopefulness that we would barely notice its sadness. This may not be a classic. But it improved my world view.