Book description
This now-classic novel by Richard McKenna enjoyed great critical acclaim and commercial success when it was first published in 1962. The winner of the coveted Harper Prize, it was on the New York Times bestseller list for seven months and was made into a popular motion picture that continues to…
Why read it?
2 authors picked The Sand Pebbles as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
An old army buddy of mine used to say that when he had trouble at work and was worried about being able to support his family and when life was beginning to be a little too much, he would pick up a copy of The Sand Pebbles by Richard McKenna. Soon, he’d be transported to the deck of the USS San Pablo, during the 1920s, steaming up the Yangtze River in the heart of China and suddenly everything was right.
McKenna was a sailor in the US Navy for 22 years (1931 to 1953). He enlisted at the age of…
From Martin's list on GI life as told by GIs.
This acclaimed 1962 novel about a Yangtze River gunboat, the fictional USS San Pablo, and its crew, was adapted into a major 1966 film. The author drew upon his own experiences aboard a gunboat stationed in Changsha and Hankow. The protagonist is an independent-minded machinist, Jake Holman. At the heart of the novel is the clash of waning Western imperialism and emerging Chinese nationalism in the mid-1920s.
From John's list on or set in the Hunan province in China.
If you love The Sand Pebbles...
These Blue Mountains
A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.
German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…
Want books like The Sand Pebbles?
Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Sand Pebbles.
Share your top 3 reads of 2025!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
1,340
readers submitted
so far, will you?
📚 If you like The Sand Pebbles, you might also like...
Miami Beat
Jose Castillo is a cynical, wise-cracking Cuban-American who restores classic cars. He’s also a private eye whose sarcastic ways sometimes get him into trouble.
One day, in the process of installing a four-barrel carburetor on a 1965 Mustang, into his shop walks trouble—in the shape of a mysterious, beautiful woman…
Bruce Songs
Bruce Songs is an authoritative guide that offers an in-depth exploration of Bruce Springsteen's musical legacy. Covering Springsteen's entire discography, from "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." to "Only the Strong Survive", this unique book combines historical context, literary analysis, and meticulous research.
Unlike any other resource, it provides detailed analyses…
