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swiftiesophie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Hate crime, Infidelity, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
surdiablo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Short, beautiful, haunting and depressing. Capable of invoking raw emotions in a very short time. This was my first book from Steinbeck, looking forward to read more of his classics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, and Murder
emmaopaline's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Blood, and Murder
leandrathetbrzero's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
George and Lennie dream of a farm to call their own, but first they need to save enough money laboring on the land of others. Their fierce friendship is a curiosity to some and the envy of others. But its strength is tested as they join a new crew and encounter the farmer’s vindictive son. John Steinbeck poignantly highlights the bleak lives of laborers in 1930s America. Intended or not, this story also cultivates discussions on the treatment of those with mental disabilities throughout history.
One of my goals each year is to read a few of the classics I missed during my education. I never felt my English classes were lacking in any way, but many titles in the “classic” canon get referenced in social situations, on television and in movies, and even in other books. And this is one of the few moments where I do admittedly feel FOMO. John Steinbeck is an author I had yet to try, and as I own Of Mice and Men, I decided that now is as great a time as any.
Upon finishing this quick read, I am curious to know how teachers address with their students the many instances of animal death and harm to animals as well as the depiction of Lennie, a character with an undiagnosed mental disability. There is an uncomfortable ease with which the characters acknowledge Lennie’s tendency to accidentally kill mice and other animals when he becomes frustrated or upset. When Carlson pressures Candy into letting him shoot his elderly dog, one that Candy raised since it was a puppy, the scene brought me to tears. For a short novel, it is very emotionally taxing, and I can fully understand why it survives as a classic in American literature. Steinbeck’s purposeful use of such literary devices as foreshadowing, repetition and metaphor is brilliant as well.
With that said, the blunt descriptions of animal death and harm to animals ignited visceral reactions in me. I wouldn’t willingly expose myself to those scenes again. And while I appreciate the appearance of a protagonist with a mental disability, and my heart ached for him at every turn, I was upset with how violent Steinbeck made him. I couldn’t help but try to imagine how little readers in the 20th century were exposed to characters like Lennie, wondering how this particular depiction impacted their views and understanding of people with mental disabilities. I also wonder how this story would have changed if it were written by a modern author in the historical fiction genre.
A heart-wrenching tale that left me in tears more than once, Of Mice and Men deserves its label as an American classic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
lindasoderlundd's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
caitlin033's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Animal death and Violence
Minor: Sexism
randomrevolutionaryreader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Absolute Favourite.
The way it comments on the American Dream and the lives of the disabled people, transient workers, black people and women of the Great Depression is absolutely enriching. Recommended for American History students or anyone that wants to get immersed in the sad but true reality of that time.
The way it comments on the American Dream and the lives of the disabled people, transient workers, black people and women of the Great Depression is absolutely enriching. Recommended for American History students or anyone that wants to get immersed in the sad but true reality of that time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Rape and Slavery
A real shock to reality. Excellent first read.irynna's review against another edition
dark
emotional
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
My second John Steinbeck novel (after the Pearl), solidifying one of my newfound favorite authors. amazing writing, amazing setup and description and characters, and I don’t see things coming until right before they happen and then I am shocked. The second novel where this happens. Definitely reading more Steinbeck :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Racism, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
coriblake's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Lynching is mentioned/threatenedrachael_jo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Murder