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A review by ada_elisabeth
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
just had the misfortune of reading this again for school, so I thought I'd sit down and write a little review for it.
The first time I read this book was about two years ago, way back in middle school. When I read it then, nearly every teacher who saw me reading commented on how much they had loved the book. I didn't understand then what had made them enjoy it, and after two years, a reread, and much reflection, I still don't understand.
Unlike many other classics, this story is pretty easy to understand; it doesn't feature a confusing message hidden behind layers of weirdly specific words, it doesn't speculate about the future, and the meaning is made evident within the first few pages. However, that didn't make it an enjoyable read. It feels unnecessary in twenty-first century curriculum, and it's one of those rare books that manages to be both sad and not good. Steinbeck's opinion may have been a little more nuanced or at least relevant in the 1930s, but I fail to see the importance of this novella in 2023.
I will admit, the end made me a little sad this time around. I wasn't crying, wasn't even on the verge of tears, but the hopelessness of the entire situation kind of got me. I hate to think about how the other people in Honors English 10 Block 1 are doing, because they were crying when Candy's dog was shot , so I can only imagine how distraught they are now.
In any case, my rating remains the same: 3/5 stars. The American Dream was a scam all along.
The first time I read this book was about two years ago, way back in middle school. When I read it then, nearly every teacher who saw me reading commented on how much they had loved the book. I didn't understand then what had made them enjoy it, and after two years, a reread, and much reflection, I still don't understand.
Unlike many other classics, this story is pretty easy to understand; it doesn't feature a confusing message hidden behind layers of weirdly specific words, it doesn't speculate about the future, and the meaning is made evident within the first few pages. However, that didn't make it an enjoyable read. It feels unnecessary in twenty-first century curriculum, and it's one of those rare books that manages to be both sad and not good. Steinbeck's opinion may have been a little more nuanced or at least relevant in the 1930s, but I fail to see the importance of this novella in 2023.
I will admit, the end made me a little sad this time around. I wasn't crying, wasn't even on the verge of tears, but the hopelessness of the entire situation kind of got me. I hate to think about how the other people in Honors English 10 Block 1 are doing, because they were crying when
In any case, my rating remains the same: 3/5 stars. The American Dream was a scam all along.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Racism, and Gun violence