Reviews

4.8/5 Obviously a great novel, but it has only one very minor issue that I picked up on.

The whole time I was reading Of Mice and Men, I couldn't help but feel like this would be a perfect play. Its written in a very play-like manner. The characters' dialogue is usually short, and very dualistic. In between lines, there might be a very brief and simple descriptor. The book is broken up into clear, distinct scenes which are set for their entire duration in one location. Characters filter in and out in a way that resembles theater.

Steinbeck is a master of storytelling in such a condensed, simple style. His prose isn't overly descriptive or elegant or robust. It's direct but paints a picture well. It takes a deft and subtle hand to cut so much fat and still leave in so much meat. The dialogue exchanges of the characters and their simple actions also contribute greatly to the image in your mind. Its like Steinbeck knew exactly where you would start filling in blanks and neglecting excessive descriptions, and he just stopped writing when he hit that point.

The characters here are so nuanced and interesting for such a brief work. The way they speak and what they say perfectly illustrates everything we need to know about them. Even when they aren't on the page, their presences loom large, especially The Boss, Curley, his wife, and Crooks.

Speaking of Curley's wife, who is never given a name, strangely, she is the only thing I'm not exactly sure about. On one hand, she is the only female character who makes an appearance and she is generally portrayed harshly and is then brutally killed for plot purposes. At best, she is portrayed as dumb but well-meaning. At worst, she is disloyal and racist. Curley's wife, who still doesn't have a name, is universally seen as a flirt and a cheater by every single other character. I can't help but feel like something is wrong with this. On the other hand, she has very believable motivations and her circumstances definitely validate her actions to some extent. I guess it depends on how you interpret it. If you see this as mildly sexist, then she's probably a negative point against the book. If you see this as complex and realistic writing, then she's a rightful inclusion.

Obviously I liked George and Lennie, whose simple story was captivating and painful. Candy was a great inclusion, and I liked the parallel between his dog and Lennie. Crooks was given a realistic and sympathetic portrayal. He's world-weary and cold, and who wouldn't be given the time period that this story is set during. Slim and Carlson both served their purposes well, as did Curly, who I loved to hate. We've all known a Curly in our life.

Overall, I loved this book and even it's one minor flaw can very easily be explained away. For the five people who didn't read this in high school, definitely check this book out.