Samir Rawas Sarayji's Reviews > Burning Bright

What the heck is a play-novelette? Answer: this book!

As a novelette - 3 stars because the story is interesting enough to finish (although a bit cliche by now, maybe not so beginning 1900s). Widowed husband remarries and wants a child, he's sterile but too proud to get tested or to admit the possibility. New wife loves him so much she gets pregnant and tries to pass it as his own. The actual father falls for her. Husband's best friend turns a blind eye and comes to everyone's aid when needed. The problem is that the story is rather linear and the conflict is never strong enough. Steinbeck being Steinbeck is so good at revealing the inner nature of his characters that he forgets the need for intense conflict in a play. So why a novelette format? Steinbeck expresses the difficulties he has reading plays and that this form is valid for non-theater productions and the general reader... which brings me to:

As a play - 1 star because the tension is lacking, and going into characters thoughts implies the action doesn't show what the characters are feeling, only the narrative does so. The beauty of reading plays is seeing the eventful and artistic ways in which writers have their characters demonstrate their emotions. Not to mention the awkward dialogue with name dropping - I mean how often do you mention a person's name when you are talking to them? Never. The beauty of a play format is having the tags that you register as you read but never focus on.

Conclusion: should've stuck to writing novels only, Mr Steinbeck, that's definitely your forte.