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challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death
Moderate: Racism
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A timeless portrait of the American Dream’s fragility, written in accessible language that still packs an emotional punch. Great for discussion about power, responsibility, and mercy killing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Violence
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm still crying
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Violence
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
‘Of Mice and Men’ is an emotional tale of loneliness and broken dreams. I adored this back when I was studying it as a child and returning to it reminded me how much I adore reading. It’s emotional and traumatic at times, but the characters are full of depth and Steinbeck’s luscious nature descriptions make it worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs
Minor: Ableism
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have never given a book such a low rating…I get it, the book was published in 1937, but sooooo much was left to be desired..
First I can handle a fair amount of cussing, but it felt that George was always bellyaching and tormenting Lenny..I understand why, but let’s just say if I was getting screamed at George I would have gone to the cave!!
Had a feeling something weird was going to happen,but the fact George finally ended it made it 10x more horrific especially since Lenny is sadly not all there..
Too much cussing for me, fowl characters, and most importantly no happily ever after and worst part the journey was not worth it for me!! Even a horrible story I can say “not what I wanted, but the journey with characters were worth it” I sadly cannot say the same for this book…if you like happily ever afters, this is not your story!!
First I can handle a fair amount of cussing, but it felt that George was always bellyaching and tormenting Lenny..I understand why, but let’s just say if I was getting screamed at George I would have gone to the cave!!
Had a feeling something weird was going to happen,
Too much cussing for me, fowl characters, and most importantly no happily ever after and worst part the journey was not worth it for me!! Even a horrible story I can say “not what I wanted, but the journey with characters were worth it” I sadly cannot say the same for this book…if you like happily ever afters, this is not your story!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, Murder
Minor: Bullying, Alcohol
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book makes me so sad everytime I read it. Such a great short about mercy and human connection
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Murder
Minor: Rape
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm not a huge John Steinbeck fan but wanted to give this "playable novel" a try since it is a famous work of his. I do admit that I wasn't going to love the book, but I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to read through.
The story follows two migrant workers, George and Lennie as they make their way to their new job in a California farm during the Great Depression. The story explores their unusual friendship and is somewhat one of its kind of books during the time that explores the idea of "vulnerable men" and what their life could look like when they fail to make the right decisions.
It is interesting to think about how Steinbeck emphasized friendship between men as an essential bond in a man's life and 80 years after the book's publication, we are facing a similar sentiment or need for the "lonely men epidemic". This story shows the importance and perhaps "love" that two men can have for each other even if they are not related. This is important to highlight in the story since migrant workers then would travel from farm to farm looking for jobs and often have no family to take care of. Through this story, Steinbeck offers some kind of relief among loneliness and uncertainty through something so overlooked like friendship.
Steinbeck also wrote the novel as a "playable novel" or book that could transition to a play since he wanted greater accessibility to his novel, which I would consider a pioneering concept during those times as well. Considering that back in the 1930s, this novel was sold for $2 (which nowadays, due to inflation, would be around $45) and only very few people could afford it. Through plays (which were rising in popularity in the 1930s) would allow more people to enjoy the story.
In conclusion, although the novel wasn't my cup of tea, I can appreciate its lasting impact to today.
The story follows two migrant workers, George and Lennie as they make their way to their new job in a California farm during the Great Depression. The story explores their unusual friendship and is somewhat one of its kind of books during the time that explores the idea of "vulnerable men" and what their life could look like when they fail to make the right decisions.
It is interesting to think about how Steinbeck emphasized friendship between men as an essential bond in a man's life and 80 years after the book's publication, we are facing a similar sentiment or need for the "lonely men epidemic". This story shows the importance and perhaps "love" that two men can have for each other even if they are not related. This is important to highlight in the story since migrant workers then would travel from farm to farm looking for jobs and often have no family to take care of. Through this story, Steinbeck offers some kind of relief among loneliness and uncertainty through something so overlooked like friendship.
Steinbeck also wrote the novel as a "playable novel" or book that could transition to a play since he wanted greater accessibility to his novel, which I would consider a pioneering concept during those times as well. Considering that back in the 1930s, this novel was sold for $2 (which nowadays, due to inflation, would be around $45) and only very few people could afford it. Through plays (which were rising in popularity in the 1930s) would allow more people to enjoy the story.
In conclusion, although the novel wasn't my cup of tea, I can appreciate its lasting impact to today.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death