Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

102 reviews

mattyvreads's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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

4.75

It goes without saying that this book is an absolute classic. Scholars and ninth graders can agree. 

This latest read through was maybe my fifth or sixth time enjoying this short story. Every time I read it, I catch some new detail that I missed the time before. 

George and Lenny’s love for each other is palpable. It is a timeless story and message, yet paradoxically, might only be able to exist in its time. Much like all of Steinbeck’s work, it is a brilliant and human critique of the cruelty of capitalism. How it “breaks a man’s back” only to “shoot them in the back of the damn head” so to speak…

I am obsessed with the age old question, which might never have an answer. Is “Curly’s wife” named such because Steinbeck was a misogynist, who didn’t care to give her an actual name -or- is that a purposeful statement, pointing to the inherent misogyny of the time and setting and circumstance? If I had to bet, I’d say a little column A, little column B.

(As a side note: damn! Y’all can’t leave Crooks alone?)

Readers beware that this book uses the N word about 56,000 times in a total of 3 pages. (I’m not an idiot. I do understand the unfortunate contextual use within the setting and historical precedent. Still though, as a modern reader, it is jarring to say the least.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Animal death, Misogyny, Ableism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, and Violence

Minor: Gun violence

eliya's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

i was really hoping that this was gonna end with the five of em living their best lives. this is hopelessly devastating.

the scene that steinbeck paints is very well done. heavily descriptive just up to the point where it sets the scene, no further, which i appreciated bc i get dizzy with too much detail.

quick read, horribly packed with internal conflict. poor george. poor lennie. poor mae. i strongly believe that steinbeck was not “demonstrating bias of the period” so much as participating in it heavily.

i’ll think about this book for a while.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Racism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Animal death

Moderate: Physical abuse and Toxic relationship

Minor: Rape

interaction where lenny grabs hold of a woman’s dress and won’t let go, she is terrified and says he tried to rape her

heavy use of the n word

meggg508's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

this book made me feel so angry and conflicted and now i’m like AHH

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Minor: Rape

rat_king6767's review against another edition

emotional hopeful relaxing sad medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Grief, Racism, Violence, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Slavery, Bullying, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Death

Minor: Medical content and Toxic relationship

allisonsmith120's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Racial slurs, Misogyny, and Racism

Moderate: Violence

ria_at's review against another edition

sad

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Animal death

gandalf_a's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Murder, Animal death, Blood, and Violence

Minor: Bullying and Cursing

_p0ssum_'s review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Animal death

Minor: Grief

grinchem's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a short but poignant tragedy. It was my first time reading something by Steinbeck, and I now understand why his works have withstood the test of time. The story does an excellent job of taking various distinct but isolated moments throughout and connecting them by the end. All the good and the bad in this story is very human.

Fair warning, there is a significant amount of racism in this story, including the N-word. However, the racism is portrayed in a negative light. Do with that information what you will.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Animal death

There are many examples of racism in this story, and the N word is used frequently. However, racism is portrayed in a negative light. A main character has a significant intellectual disability, and struggles as a result, and this is a major part of the plot. Very major spoiler ahead:

Near the very end of the story, this character accidentally commits a murder because he panics doesn't really understand that he's hurting the person. This event is treated as a tragedy for both of the characters.

lucyinwonderland's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Gun violence