I am so regretful that I returned the school library.

Although there were only a limited number of books that I borrowed and then returned.

Every time I think about it, a sense of remorse fills my heart.

I should have made better use of those precious resources in the library.

Maybe I could have found more interesting and useful books to expand my knowledge.

But now, it's too late.

I can only look back and wish I had done things differently.

I hope that in the future, I will be more珍惜 such opportunities and make the most of the library to improve myself.

I thought that Steinbeck was an author extremely deeply rooted in his America, but that turned out to be untrue!

In "The Moon Is Down", he turns his gaze towards the current events in Europe at that time, towards the dark times that troubled every normal contemporary of this terrible conflict called World War II.

The faceless country and its people are easily recognizable, and the mastership of the writer creates a true fresco, without omitting or unnecessarily embellishing the realities of war.

It is a wonderful and short anti-war novel and it is worth devoting time to it!

Quote:

"The people with a herd instinct win battles, but the free people win wars."

P.S. The book suddenly became very malicious, once again the fascist aggression is tearing our world apart! I hope that Ukraine will succeed in completely destroying the Russian invaders!

This text is filled with ironic humor. Line after line after line. Or is my brain twisted?!

Isn't it kind of funny that the value of propaganda, which is what this was when it was originally written in 1942, all depends on which side you stand? Propaganda is usually seen as "bad literature". But not here. This is the first time I have read propaganda that gets its message across through humor, and it is good!

Here is a little background information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moon...

********************

On completion: I thoroughly enjoy the ironical humor delivered in this book. Steinbeck wrote it during WW2 as encouragement to the people of those countries which were occupied by the Germans, to encourage resistance! I believe Steinbeck has through humor achieved his purpose. However, I removed one star because the message delivered is a bit heavy handedly presented in the latter half. After all, it was meant to be written as propaganda. But it certainly achieved its purpose. It shows how propaganda can be effective when presented in an unexpected and humorous way. It makes you think about the power of words and how they can be used to influence people's thoughts and actions. Overall, it's an interesting read that combines humor and propaganda in a unique way.

The first encounter with Steinbeck seems to be a good one, with luck. Starting off so promisingly, surely I will read more from him.

The book, perhaps due to its brevity (only 181 pages), perhaps due to its beginning, seems to be easy, a book about war and conquest like so many others. However, along the way, I understand why it was banned in its time. It has a powerful message that, if free conquered people manage to understand and apply it, the oppressors will have a lot to suffer. I appreciated that it didn't get complicated with pompous descriptions, but the action was brisk, making you wonder what to expect.

I warmly recommend this book!

"Free people do not start wars, but once a war starts, they are able to fight even when defeated. Herd people, who follow a leader, cannot do this, so battles are won by herds, and wars, by free people."

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**Expanded Article**:

This is a rather short article. It lacks the necessary details and elaboration. In order to make it more comprehensive and engaging, it requires a significant rewrite and expansion. We can start by adding more background information, providing examples to support the main points, and perhaps including some personal anecdotes or opinions. This will not only make the article more interesting to read but also enhance its credibility and value. By taking these steps, we can transform this short and simple article into a more substantial and informative piece that will be of greater benefit to the readers.

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What can occur when an oppressive military force realizes they are encircled and outnumbered by those they have invaded?

A seemingly tactile and efficient military group, simply known as “the invaders,” has besieged and taken over an unnamed town in Northern Europe. The town’s residents are collectively confused about what has happened, as the invasion was so rapid. It turns out that the invaders had assistance from a local shopkeeper within the town. After successfully seizing the town, the invaders have been ordered by their superiors to confiscate coal from the local coal mines. The citizens are forced to work in the mines to gather the coal.

As time passes, the invaders settle into billets and maintain the occupation of the town. The enslaved townsfolk begin to grow silent and appear more obedient than usual. However, their eyes are constantly fixed on their tyrannical enemy, filled with anger and ever-growing hatred. Over time, the silence and hateful stares start to intimidate the invaders, gradually undermining any authority they held over the townspeople. Soldiers associated with the invasion force have begun to disappear, and the citizens commence their own clandestine retribution.

Published in 1942, “The Moon is Down” was intended as an allegorical piece of literature, advocating for the resistance of the allies against the Nazis in occupied lands across Europe. This novel was said to be one of the most popular works in Western Europe and China during WWII. With its great popularity came criticisms, of course. But its popularity prevailed, and the criticisms were outweighed by praises. The novel was categorized as allied propaganda and was secretly translated, printed, and published in numerous languages at great risk to those involved. It was both covertly and widely distributed to citizens in occupied countries throughout Western Europe and China. A member of the Italian resistance noted that simply owning a copy was an offense punishable by death.

The key themes in this tale revolve around the nature of power and the correlative unpredictability of humans, how circumstances drastically impact the value of a human life, the brutal realities of military occupation, and how the durability and viability of a democracy depend on the shared notions of endurance, commitment, and core values of its citizens. Moreover, this story serves as an excellent illustration of the absolute necessity of resistance against pervasive forces that aim to suppress and subjugate. Steinbeck provides great insight into how centralized decision-making against a different culture, motivated by callous attitudes, malevolent intentions, and an unrelenting desire to establish despotic rule, will only ever encounter resistance.

When reading the book, I continuously thought about the infamous French resistance and their unwavering ambition to drive the Nazis out of France and reclaim their country with the help of allied forces. However, another WWII event also comes to mind when I recall the invaders’ swift takeover of the town early in the story and their desire to extract coal from the mines. Namely, the rapid invasion of Norway in 1940 by the Nazi war machine using Blitzkrieg to gain access and control of the ports and create secure supply routes to seize Swedish iron ore. Additionally, the Nazis’ intention to establish Norway as a base of operations to assist them in their battle against the Soviet Union.

From the introduction of this novel, I learned that Steinbeck worked with the Office of Coordinator of Information (COI) in 1941. His affiliation with the COI enabled him to interact with citizens who had been displaced from their native countries occupied by the Nazis, including Norway and France, as well as other countries like Denmark, Belgium, and Holland. It is reasonable to assume that Steinbeck fabricated some of the events in this story based on civilian accounts of what was happening in their homeland. A likely example is Norse citizens sharing events from the aforementioned invasion of Norway, allowing Steinbeck to form new ideas, such as the townspeople being made to extract coal from the mines in the novel.

I remember being in school and being told to read Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.” I wasn’t an avid reader back then and never completed it. I was more concerned with getting home from school and playing Mortal Kombat on my PS2. However, I recall being in class and learning about Curley’s wife’s red dress and how it represented her promiscuous nature, and so on. That was my first exposure to an allegory in literature, something I failed to appreciate at the time.

Regarding allegories and Steinbeck, the novel’s title, “The Moon is Down,” is aptly chosen by the author. It is from the second act of Shakespeare’s Macbeth: “The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.” The moon symbolizes the human spirit, that of hope, freedom, and resistance. When the moon is down, it depicts an encounter with the dark and subduing forces of oppression and exemplifies how authoritarianism can temporarily quash the previously mentioned hope and freedom. As this rule briefly considers itself victorious, the moon is inevitably set to rise again and shine over those who have been oppressed, liberating them from the confines of subjugation. The message behind this novel’s title and the story within is that tyranny can never have a permanent place in the world, especially in the face of both resilience and resistance.

On an entirely unrelated note, I have been wondering if Albert Camus ever read this book and used it as an influence for his own novel, “The Plague,” which was published 5 years later.

In conclusion, this book has been a great introduction to Steinbeck. Reading the introduction and learning about the enormous sentimental impact this book had on people during their experiences of extreme anguish, and the risks taken to keep this novel spreading across Western Europe and China throughout the war, will stay with me for a long time. This novel stands as a symbol of the power of civilian resistance and a reminder of the endurance that can be found within oneself during even the most severe hardships. I look forward to reading more of Steinbeck’s work in the future.

Overall, it is a fully enjoyable read. Highly recommended. - (Especially if you have read or intend to read “The Plague” by Camus).

I will end this review by leaving you with some quotes that stuck with me:

• “...he tried not to think what he knew – that war is treachery and hatred, the muddling of incompetent generals, the torture and killing and sickness and tiredness, until at last it is over and nothing has changed except for new weariness and new hatreds.” (p.23).

• “...he was a solider, given orders to carry out. He was not expected to question or to think, but only to carry out orders; and he tried to put aside the sick memories of the other war and the certainty that this would be the same. This one will be different, he said to himself fifty times a day; this one will be very different.” (p.23).

• “In marching, in mobs, in football games, and in war, outlines become vague; real things become unreal and a fog creeps over the mind. Tension and excitement, weariness, movement – all merge in one great gray dream, so that when it is over, it is hard to remember how it was when you killed men or ordered them to be killed. Then other people who were not there tell you what it was like and you say vaguely, “Yes, I guess that’s how it was.”” (p.23).

• “That is a mystery that has disturbed rulers all over the world – how the people know. It disturbs the invaders now, I am told, how news runs through censorships, how the truth of things fights free of control. It is a great mystery” (p.44).

• ““...the one impossible job in the world, the one thing that can’t be done” - “And that is?” - “To break man’s spirit permanently.”” (p.50).

• “If you think that by killing men you can prevent someone from censuring your evil lives, you are mistaken.” (p.109).

• “The people don’t like to be conquered, sir, and so they will not be. Free men cannot start a war, but once it is started, they can fight on in defeat. Herd men, followers of a leader, cannot do that, and so it is always the herd men who win battles and the free men who win wars.” (p.111).

They should’ve trained you for this, and not for flower-strewn streets. They should have built your soul with truth, not led along with lies.


It is a quiet day. Cooler than yesterday but still unseasonably warm. I have slid into the new year without any preconditions. Expectations seem to me to be a luxury or a caprice. I am probably not well suited for either. This year, I wanted to read more Steinbeck. "The Moon is Down" is timely. The focus is on occupation. There has been an invasion and things are in motion. Steinbeck captures this in small conversations in quiet rooms. It is winter and privation is the norm. Steinbeck is reluctant to use types and he stops well before that. There's a kind of Grand Illusion effect in the denouement, but I found it honest and moving. I think Steinbeck's work really makes you think about the consequences of war and occupation. It shows how people are affected, both physically and emotionally. It also makes you question the motives of those in power. I'm glad I chose to read this book. It has given me a lot to think about.

The book "The Enclosed Space of War" was different from the books I usually read.

However, the more I read, the more I got hooked on it, and in my opinion, it had a good ending.

It accurately depicted the state of helplessness; it was truly being without a way out.

This book offered a unique perspective on war and the emotions and situations that come with it.

The author's writing style was engaging and managed to draw me into the story.

As I delved deeper into the pages, I found myself empathizing with the characters and their struggles.

The description of the enclosed space added an extra layer of intensity to the narrative.

Overall, it was a captivating read that left a lasting impression on me.

I would recommend this book to others who are interested in exploring different aspects of war and human nature.

*Without the Risk of Going Astray in the Story

I was a little worried that my taste might have changed! Or because I'm getting older, no book appeals to me anymore, and I was afraid that a long time would pass since the last book I gave a full five stars to!
I was always wondering with myself why I was so picky! Why don't I have a good view of most books...
Until I started "The Secret Moon". And that's where I remembered that I used to love Erich Maria Remarque's books!
That's where I remembered that I love anti-war books, especially those about world wars.
That's where I understood that my taste hasn't changed at all, and this long drought was only because I hadn't gotten my hands on a good book during this period!

"The Secret Moon" is a short but valuable novel! It may not create a good feeling in the reader at first glance, but just the first few pages are enough for any reader to know that they are reading a brilliant anti-war book!

In my previous reviews for books like "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "The Angry Hills", I had noted that Erich Maria Remarque is the master of description! In this book too, it can be clearly felt that these descriptions only come from the pen of Erich Maria Remarque!
The snowy scenes and the cold and icy world that are written about in some pages of this book can better depict those spaces in the reader's mind than seeing several pictures and films!
The beauty of the story, the grip of the pen, and the relatively good translation all make me enjoy this book very much and record it as the first five-star book of 2022.
Bravo!

This book doesn't cost much and of course it's not very thick. I recommend you read it.

The Moon Is Down is one of Steinbeck's remarkable short novels. In this work, he shows his profound respect and homage to Shakespeare and Socrates.

Steinbeck deliberately keeps the details of who and where this story takes place rather vague. I推测 that the soldiers might be Germans during World War II. They seize a small town, probably located somewhere in Norway. The town has a mine, and the soldiers need the coal to power their war machine.

However, just like any conquered people, the locals do not passively accept their fate. Instead, they undermine, challenge, and disrupt their captors in various ways.

The quotes from the novel further enhance its depth. For example, "They hurry toward their destiny as though it would not wait. They push the rolling world along with their shoulders." This shows the sense of urgency and determination of the characters.

Another quote, "Their talk was of friends and relatives who loved them and their longings were for warmth and love, because a man can be a soldier for only so many hours a day and for only so many months in a year, and then he wants to be a man again, wants girls and drinks and music and laughter and ease, and when these are cut off, they become irresistibly desirable." It reveals the human side of the soldiers, their longing for a normal life.

The quote "They know that ten heads lopped off will destroy them, but we are a free people; we have as many heads as we have people, and in a time of need leaders pop up among us like mushrooms." emphasizes the spirit of the locals, their unwavering belief in freedom and their ability to rise up against oppression.

Finally, "… there must be a spark in little men that can burst into flame." This quote suggests that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant individuals have the potential to make a significant impact and bring about change.

Overall, The Moon Is Down is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of war, occupation, freedom, and the human spirit.

The Moon is Down is a relatively short and somewhat interesting narrative. It details the occupation of an unnamed city by an invading force of men, perhaps Germans during World War II. The story explores the reactions and resistance of the occupied people, who initially resent and eventually come to hate the occupiers.

However, unfortunately, I didn't really feel a strong connection with the characters. As a result, the story seemed a bit flat and lacking in depth for me.

Nonetheless, I was intrigued by the similarities it had with another book I'm currently reading, The Year of Jubilo, which is set in post-civil war America. I find The Year of Jubilo to be more engaging. In fact, I would argue that these two books make good companion pieces.

Interestingly, in both books, there might be valuable lessons for the Russians who are currently attempting to occupy parts of Ukraine. It's important to note that such comparisons are complex and should be considered in the context of their respective historical and political situations.

You are not an ordinary human, you are a soldier. Your comfort and ease are not important. And for the battalion, your survival is not that crucial either.

Conversations between two or more people form the structure of a story.

In my opinion, the translation and editing need to be reviewed.

This was the first book I read by this author.

I liked his idea.

Especially the end of the story.

It made me think deeply about the sacrifices and hardships that soldiers endure. Their lives are dedicated to a cause greater than themselves, and often, their own well-being takes a backseat. The importance of their role in maintaining the safety and security of the battalion cannot be underestimated, yet their individual fates may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

The structure of the story, as formed by the conversations, adds an interesting dimension. It allows the reader to get a sense of the different perspectives and personalities involved. However, the translation and editing could be improved to enhance the overall readability and clarity of the text.

Overall, this book has left a lasting impression on me, and I look forward to reading more works by this author in the future.