giuliana_ferrari's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Racism, and Misogyny
kearneth's review against another edition
- 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? No
1.5
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Animal death, Sexism, Rape, Misogyny, and Mental illness
mayszn's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Cursing and Animal death
Minor: Sexism, Hate crime, and Misogyny
mattyvreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This latest read through was maybe my fifth or sixth time enjoying this short story. Every time I read it, I catch some new detail that I missed the time before.
Spoiler
George and Lenny’s love for each other is palpable. It is a timeless story and message, yet paradoxically, might only be able to exist in its time. Much like all of Steinbeck’s work, it is a brilliant and human critique of the cruelty of capitalism. How it “breaks a man’s back” only to “shoot them in the back of the damn head” so to speak…I am obsessed with the age old question, which might never have an answer. Is “Curly’s wife” named such because Steinbeck was a misogynist, who didn’t care to give her an actual name -or- is that a purposeful statement, pointing to the inherent misogyny of the time and setting and circumstance? If I had to bet, I’d say a little column A, little column B.
(As a side note: damn! Y’all can’t leave Crooks alone?)
Readers beware that this book uses the N word about 56,000 times in a total of 3 pages. (I’m not an idiot. I do understand the unfortunate contextual use within the setting and historical precedent. Still though, as a modern reader, it is jarring to say the least.)
Graphic: Death, Animal death, Misogyny, Ableism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence
eliya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Spoiler
i was really hoping that this was gonna end with the five of em living their best lives. this is hopelessly devastating.the scene that steinbeck paints is very well done. heavily descriptive just up to the point where it sets the scene, no further, which i appreciated bc i get dizzy with too much detail.
Spoiler
quick read, horribly packed with internal conflict. poor george. poor lennie. poor mae. i strongly believe that steinbeck was not “demonstrating bias of the period” so much as participating in it heavily.i’ll think about this book for a while.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Racism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Animal death
Moderate: Physical abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Rape
Spoiler
interaction where lenny grabs hold of a woman’s dress and won’t let go, she is terrified and says he tried to rape herallisonsmith120's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Racial slurs, Misogyny, and Racism
Moderate: Violence
snackattackisback69's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, and Murder
Moderate: Racism and Misogyny
mad_henshall's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Racial slurs, Racism, Misogyny, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence
bossesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal cruelty
marenm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Classism, Gun violence, Sexism, Ableism, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Cursing, Animal cruelty, Gaslighting, Murder, and Physical abuse
Minor: Rape and Schizophrenia/Psychosis