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kiwij96's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
After having to leave their previous town, George and Lennie find themselves on another ranch as a stepping stone for their own future ranch.
This is the first time I've read this book independently since leaving school. School definitely made this book feel longer but it was a quick evening read of 120 pages.
Reading it in Secondary School, I used to think Curley's wife was the villain of the story. But having read it now as an adult, there are no villains. It is just a concise social commentary on life in 1930s America:
1. Sexism: Curley's wife didn't even have her own name and based on her conversation with Lennie, she didn't even have her own life - she just married Curley to get back at her mother. Dreamt of being an actress and making a name for herself.
2. Racism: Crooks also didn't even have his own name. He lived on his own, segregated from the rest of his colleagues based on the colour of his skin. He put up with racist slurs being hurled at him constantly.
3. Ableism: Crooks' nickname comes from his injury. Candy and Lennie get left out of the men's outing to town. And George frequently tells Lennie that Lennie is a burden.
The book is not well-written by modern standards for sure: racist, misogynistic and ableist terminology is rife. The repetition also becomes a bit painful at times. But in little over 100 pages, you understand the characters and there is no need to continue it much further than where it ends.
The story is wanting the American Dream. Everyone in this story wants it, dreams of it, works for it. But in the end, no one really achieves it.
This is the first time I've read this book independently since leaving school. School definitely made this book feel longer but it was a quick evening read of 120 pages.
Reading it in Secondary School, I used to think Curley's wife was the villain of the story. But having read it now as an adult, there are no villains. It is just a concise social commentary on life in 1930s America:
1. Sexism: Curley's wife didn't even have her own name and based on her conversation with Lennie, she didn't even have her own life - she just married Curley to get back at her mother. Dreamt of being an actress and making a name for herself.
2. Racism: Crooks also didn't even have his own name. He lived on his own, segregated from the rest of his colleagues based on the colour of his skin. He put up with racist slurs being hurled at him constantly.
3. Ableism: Crooks' nickname comes from his injury. Candy and Lennie get left out of the men's outing to town. And George frequently tells Lennie that Lennie is a burden.
The book is not well-written by modern standards for sure: racist, misogynistic and ableist terminology is rife. The repetition also becomes a bit painful at times. But in little over 100 pages, you understand the characters and there is no need to continue it much further than where it ends.
The story is wanting the American Dream. Everyone in this story wants it, dreams of it, works for it. But in the end, no one really achieves it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Ableism, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Rape
clockwork_hel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
i read this for school, of course that made me hate it more than I already did
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Misogyny, Sexism, Ableism, Death, Racism, and Racial slurs
thepurplepeep's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Murder
vejis's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Animal death
euannn900's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
While the majority of this book was well written and enjoyable to read I felt that it lacked some depth, until the ending which was like a gut punch. Devastating and emotional, it really gives you a lot to think on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Murder
beereading90's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ich weiß nicht was ich dazu sagen soll.
Es scheint alles nicht ausreichend zu sein um dieses Buch zu beschreiben.
Steinbeck ist solch ein meisterhafter Erzähler.
Er schafft es so viel auf so wenigen Seiten zu sagen. Man denkt man hat einen dicken Roman gelesen.
Sobald man das Ende erreicht hat wird einem klar, dass die erste Hälfte komplett forshadowing war und man es am liebsten noch einmal lesen möchte.
Es scheint alles nicht ausreichend zu sein um dieses Buch zu beschreiben.
Steinbeck ist solch ein meisterhafter Erzähler.
Er schafft es so viel auf so wenigen Seiten zu sagen. Man denkt man hat einen dicken Roman gelesen.
Sobald man das Ende erreicht hat wird einem klar, dass die erste Hälfte komplett forshadowing war und man es am liebsten noch einmal lesen möchte.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Violence
jan_z's review
dark
sad
fast-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? N/A
3.75
This is my first Steinbeck novel and I picked it up without having any idea about the genre or story.
It shows how everyone has a dream and yet there are very few who are able to attain it even if they work for it.
The friendship between Lennie and George is really admirable since it's constantly tested by different factors.
It shows how everyone has a dream and yet there are very few who are able to attain it even if they work for it.
The friendship between Lennie and George is really admirable since it's constantly tested by different factors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Death, and Animal death
emmajh91's review
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Racism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Animal death, and Death
meursault_letranger's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Ableism
Moderate: Animal death and Gun violence
Minor: Racism
cranedphoenix's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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
5.0
Wow such a great book but it's truly got me messed up George killing Lennie isnt the ending i was expecting at first i figured maybe thered be a chase and gun death but no
Lennies such a nice character he means well and George and him do feel like they care about each otherwhich makes the ending worse especially when George tells him to remember he was never mad at him
Short fast and devastating three words for this book but good
Lennies such a nice character he means well and George and him do feel like they care about each other
Short fast and devastating three words for this book but good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Racism, Racial slurs, and Murder
Moderate: Violence and Animal death