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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
2 stars. I acknowledge how this is a classic and important piece of literature but damn was it a drag. I didn't care for anything about it outside of the writing. Like nothing worked for me and this reads like a book you have to read for school and do a report on. It's one of those types of reads and it wasn't fun. Luckily, the audiobook is super short at 3 hours so I don't feel as if I really wasted my time.
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
I love this book so much. My favourite book. It has such a nice story, but a truly tear jerking ending. A simply beautiful book, but also relatively easy to read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
I understand why this book has become so influential within the literary world, however, my understanding does not equate to any sort of admiration.
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A literary masterpiece by John Steinbeck. The protagonists of the book are George and Lennie, a kind, innocent friend. Lennie got them into serious difficulty at their last job, and it appears that in this book he may go into even more trouble since George may not have been able to rescue him. They eventually find work at a ranch after having to flee their previous workplace.
The protagonists of the book are George and Lennie, kind, innocent friends. Lennie got them into serious difficulty at their last job, and it appears that in this book he may go into even more trouble since George may not have been able to rescue him. They eventually find work at a ranch after having to flee their previous workplace.
The amazing thing about that is that it demonstrates how Steinbeck feels about racism and sexism as well as how some of the other characters' reactions to the circumstances they find themselves in. The fact that this book is short and does not drag on is yet another plus for people who dislike reading lengthy books or feel bored when doing so.
This demonstrates the book's excellence because it demonstrates how it covers all of these topics—racism, sexism, the Great Depression, etc.—in a short amount of time. I really hope you read Of Mice and Men after reading this review since it is a fantastic novel.
The protagonists of the book are George and Lennie, kind, innocent friends. Lennie got them into serious difficulty at their last job, and it appears that in this book he may go into even more trouble since George may not have been able to rescue him. They eventually find work at a ranch after having to flee their previous workplace.
The amazing thing about that is that it demonstrates how Steinbeck feels about racism and sexism as well as how some of the other characters' reactions to the circumstances they find themselves in. The fact that this book is short and does not drag on is yet another plus for people who dislike reading lengthy books or feel bored when doing so.
This demonstrates the book's excellence because it demonstrates how it covers all of these topics—racism, sexism, the Great Depression, etc.—in a short amount of time. I really hope you read Of Mice and Men after reading this review since it is a fantastic novel.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am heartbroken. Beautiful, but tragic story.
