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A review by florendie
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
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