This was a compulsory book for English during my final year of highschool. I absolutely abhor this book and end up taking an extra subject on English Literature on the same year. It was the years I had to stay in Terengganu's school and I remembered distinctly that half of the class have difficulties with the language and the teacher was adamant to simplify the book into something that is favourable to the kampung kids in Malay with Terengganurian accent no less. 
 The story unfolds beautifully with the seas and surrounding of Mexican settlement but then the paranoia sets in when one man found the most beautiful and largest pearl he had. With the treasure he had in his hand, his imagination and paranoia began to drift him towards insanity as he began to distrust everyone around him. He eventually escaped with his family and tragedy strikes him in the most unimaginable way. 
 Its not one of the greatest by Steinback (even if it was a retelling of a story) but it did provide some food for thoughts. But I sincerely I hope the ministry of education would come up with another book as there was too much tragedies in the syllabus alone.