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melankoly's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
oilm's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
chris_dech's review against another edition
1.0
Alas, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is simply not what it is purported to be. While it does portray Depression-era life pretty well, it generally falls flat due to the story's central conflict.
There's nothing wrong with Lennie as a character, but it's the things that surround Lennie that I take issue with. Curley's wife, for example, is never named but is treated less as a person and more as a villain or simply an object. Steinbeck's attempts at humanising her, in my opinion, just fail because of the way she's generally portrayed. The characters are not particularly interesting either, save for George and Slim, the most fleshed-out and emotional in the novel.
The ending is sad and tragic, but there is not enough elsewhere in the novel worth really enjoying except for the message about the importance of dreams and camaraderie. But even that is drowned out by the dull characters, mistreatment of women (that's putting it lightly), and a plot that only really gets good at the very end.
2/10.
There's nothing wrong with Lennie as a character, but it's the things that surround Lennie that I take issue with. Curley's wife, for example, is never named but is treated less as a person and more as a villain or simply an object. Steinbeck's attempts at humanising her, in my opinion, just fail because of the way she's generally portrayed. The characters are not particularly interesting either, save for George and Slim, the most fleshed-out and emotional in the novel.
The ending is sad and tragic, but there is not enough elsewhere in the novel worth really enjoying except for the message about the importance of dreams and camaraderie. But even that is drowned out by the dull characters, mistreatment of women (that's putting it lightly), and a plot that only really gets good at the very end.
2/10.
megschlo2021's review against another edition
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
isabel_inspace's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
joshburtwistle's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of those classics I felt like I'd read even though I hadn't. The result is that there were no surprises here, but there's still lots to appreciate in its careful construction and earthiness and desperate sadness.
amyw2's review against another edition
5.0
According to the American Library Association, this is one of the top 100 most banned books.
Why not read a banned book?
Why not read a banned book?
storyphile's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape