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alixbx's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I read this for my 2024-25 Re-Reading Your Childhood challenge. This was required reading in high school, so I did read this back around 2008/2009, thereabouts. Since I am using a reading journal I found on Amazon to reflect on eBook reads (I usually annotate in my physical copies), I'm going to break this down in the 3 Main Parts: Pre-reading Reflection, Essential Review, and Post-reading Reflection (reflections will be abridged).
Pre-reading Reflection:
-I was uncomfortable when I read this in school, but I don't feel that I really appreciated the purpose and message of the text for what it really meant. The gravity of the content wasn't missed, but not understood as deeply as I think it probably should have been.
Essential Review:
-This book was ahead of its time in many ways. That said, it's not a fun book to read, but I do understand why it is required reading. It teaches important lessons, even if they are subtle. My belief is that Steinbeck intended to show softness and humanity in the kinds of people society would look down upon for on reason or another. I believe he absolutely achieved that in this writing, which is remarkable given how short it is compared to many other classics that end up being required reading. Though he wouldn't have intended it at the time, the ending of the book also teaches current day readers how far we have come in our treatment of people of different disabilities and standings in society.
Post-reading Reflection:
-I realize now what I thought I remembered with clarity, I did not. While I had all the right details, I had them in the wrong order, so when I was re-reading it the emotions were intense as I realized the things I had wrong. Even though I knew the ending, I was in tears - the kind you cry when you feel defeated. I also was able to see even bigger of a picture in all that Steinbeck was commenting on through the decisions he made with character interactions, character behaviors, and character decisions. In this way, some characters are really lovable - Lennie, Candy, Slim, and Crooks - and then characters that you cannot stand - Curley, Carlson. Equally, the diversity of characters is there - well off, poor, white, black, male, and female - but when you have a book that uses the "n" word dozens of times, even with it being of the time when the text was published, it is hard to be glad that this black character is portrayed in a positive way with softness when you know how horrible that language used to speak to and about that character. The book is both so of the times and equally ahead of its time, but in different ways. More than every I understand and support this as required reading because good conversations about what has changed and what remains from then to now.
Pre-reading Reflection:
-I was uncomfortable when I read this in school, but I don't feel that I really appreciated the purpose and message of the text for what it really meant. The gravity of the content wasn't missed, but not understood as deeply as I think it probably should have been.
Essential Review:
-This book was ahead of its time in many ways. That said, it's not a fun book to read, but I do understand why it is required reading. It teaches important lessons, even if they are subtle. My belief is that Steinbeck intended to show softness and humanity in the kinds of people society would look down upon for on reason or another. I believe he absolutely achieved that in this writing, which is remarkable given how short it is compared to many other classics that end up being required reading. Though he wouldn't have intended it at the time, the ending of the book also teaches current day readers how far we have come in our treatment of people of different disabilities and standings in society.
Post-reading Reflection:
-I realize now what I thought I remembered with clarity, I did not. While I had all the right details, I had them in the wrong order, so when I was re-reading it the emotions were intense as I realized the things I had wrong. Even though I knew the ending, I was in tears - the kind you cry when you feel defeated. I also was able to see even bigger of a picture in all that Steinbeck was commenting on through the decisions he made with character interactions, character behaviors, and character decisions. In this way, some characters are really lovable - Lennie, Candy, Slim, and Crooks - and then characters that you cannot stand - Curley, Carlson. Equally, the diversity of characters is there - well off, poor, white, black, male, and female - but when you have a book that uses the "n" word dozens of times, even with it being of the time when the text was published, it is hard to be glad that this black character is portrayed in a positive way with softness when you know how horrible that language used to speak to and about that character. The book is both so of the times and equally ahead of its time, but in different ways. More than every I understand and support this as required reading because good conversations about what has changed and what remains from then to now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Major Character Deathbella613's review against another edition
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is my first by Steinbeck. I can see why he is renowned. I knew nothing about it going into the book but I found the beginning similar in feel to flowers for algernon (haven't actually read that one but my high school performed the play when I was a teen)
I think it was best to go into it without any spoilers so I'm not going to put anything here. But I did cry after I finished it.
Steinbeck is an incredible and compelling writer.
I will note that I was very annoyed with the loud music played over the narration for the first 90sec of the audiobook. I couldn't really understand any of the first two minutes of listening. I also just wasn't a huge fan of the narrator. So I'm rating the book, not the audio itself, and would probably recommend finding a different audio recording or reading physical copy.
I think it was best to go into it without any spoilers so I'm not going to put anything here. But I did cry after I finished it.
Steinbeck is an incredible and compelling writer.
I will note that I was very annoyed with the loud music played over the narration for the first 90sec of the audiobook. I couldn't really understand any of the first two minutes of listening. I also just wasn't a huge fan of the narrator. So I'm rating the book, not the audio itself, and would probably recommend finding a different audio recording or reading physical copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder
artemisg's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Death, and Racism
lucy_fabulous's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Murder
lucius_gooseman's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
daisy_eliza's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
5.0
A truly beautiful book that is simplistic yet sets each character up as individual. You truly feel all of George's emotions being stuck with Lenny, yet you feel sympathy for Lenny, a gentle soul too strong for his own good. The ending is truly brutal but essential to the story and although it hurts George to kill Lenny it is essential else Lenny would surely befall a worse fate if Curly got a hold of him. I hope after George, Candy and Crooks got their farm and had some rabbits. Lenny would have loved the rabbits.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Murder
claire_leibovitz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
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? Yes
3.0
The ending was really sad. I didn’t think I was attached to the characters, but it turns out I was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death
kakashigoons's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Lord have mercy... this drained me. Despite being 75% exposition and 25% plot, I fell in love with the two main characters and their friendship. I don't think I'll ever read it again, though. It's too much on my heart.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder
kris_reads4's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs
Minor: Animal death
teddie_valetine98's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail