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challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Murder
Minor: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Can definitely see why this is such an important novella in American literary history. An important read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Murder
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Gun violence, Misogyny, Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Been on my TBR list for quite a while. Since it’s considered a “classic,” I finally decided to give it a go and listened to the audiobook read by Billy Howle.
I think the loneliness and absurdity of life on a ranch are spot on and well depicted, I could feel the workers’ powerlessness.
That said, because I chose the audiobook version, I was more taken aback by the racial slurs and the profanities. And I’m not sure why Curley’s wife doesn’t have a name.
I know it’s a book that needs to be read with the historical context of 1930s America in mind, and Steinbeck does seem to want to advocate for the little guy. But it didn’t fully work for me. We don’t get much backstory on any of the characters, which made it hard to relate.
Still, I’m glad I read it. It definitely made me uncomfortable, but at least now I know.
I think the loneliness and absurdity of life on a ranch are spot on and well depicted, I could feel the workers’ powerlessness.
That said, because I chose the audiobook version, I was more taken aback by the racial slurs and the profanities. And I’m not sure why Curley’s wife doesn’t have a name.
I know it’s a book that needs to be read with the historical context of 1930s America in mind, and Steinbeck does seem to want to advocate for the little guy. But it didn’t fully work for me. We don’t get much backstory on any of the characters, which made it hard to relate.
Still, I’m glad I read it. It definitely made me uncomfortable, but at least now I know.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Misogyny
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I couldn’t remember if we actually read this in school or just watched the movie. That being said this was incredibly depressing and sad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Classism
dark
sad
medium-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
John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men has been one of the controversial books often found on a banned book list. This alone is what intrigued me. The profanity is very prevalent throughout the book, however growing up in an incredibly rascist household, I would not have batted an eye reading this in my youth. I personally also have issue with the misogyny and overall disdain for Curly’s Wife. All of this accounted for, I do not see the harm in youth reading this book with the guide of someone who can help put things into the historical context.
Our journey starts with two migrant workers, Lenny and George. They are on their way to a new ranch location for work. With empty pockets and big dreams, they set up camp and talk about the future. Lenny appears to have a developmental disability and relies heavily on George for guidance. George instructs Lenny not to talk when they get to the new ranch. Lenny does his best to comply but is soon egged on by the the boss’s son Curly. Curly is clearly looking for a reason to fight somebody and focuses in on Lenny. George and Lenny do their best to keep their heads down and focus on their dream but George can’t watch Lenny 24/7 and Lenny has made accidental trouble in the past. A tale of friendship, tragedy, and the ever elusive American Dream.
Things I enjoyed on a personal note:
The portrayal of male friendship was rough but beautiful. To the very end George wanted what was best for Lenny. As the overarching theme I felt it was done fantastically.
Things I did not enjoy:
I have never read Steinbeck before so I am curious if this was a one off, but the way Curly’s Wife is treated throughout the entire novel was just gross. She is called all sorts of insults but never once her own name. Even in death she is heavily disrespected as Candy looks down at her corpse and says:
“You God damn tramp,” he said viciously. ” You done it, di’dn’t you? I s’pose you’re glad. Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good. You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart.”
I am hardly saying Curly’s Wife was a good person. Especially after her interaction with Crooks. She is perceived as nothing but a problem and treated rather poorly in every scene.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’m giving Of Mice and Men 3⭐️ because I truly hated it, but it was well written. It was a very tough time in history, with a lack of education, resources, employment and even shelter. Most of the characters were out for themselves with the exception of George who was always looking out for Lennie. There was just too much of the patriarchy, misogyny, racism and ableism. This is definitely not a story for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, Racial slurs
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault