Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

13 reviews

goemonxiii's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad 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

3.25

I love John Steinbeck, but this is one of his weaker works in my opinion. It was an interesting and new perspective on Californian history, and it did bring up three essential points of discussion (those being how disabled people have been treated historically, and how Black and poor people have been discriminated against in early Californian history), but it's far from my favorite novel or even Steinbeck novel. It's a quick read, and I do like Steinbeck's perspective on many topics, but aside from Lenny and the discussion on anti-Black, anti-poor, and anti-disabled sentiments within society, I didn't really care for the other characters or environment. Also I feel it beats you over the head with its foreshadowing so heavily to the point where the "twist" becomes obvious. I wouldn't say that you should skip this title as, once again, it is a really quick read (I finished it in about 2 hours), but please don't characterize Steinbeck on the basis of this book (characterize him by the opinions in this book, not the writing style).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Slavery, and Alcohol

a few deaths, sad ending, recurring animal deaths

, important discussions regarding racism, ableism, and classism, new perspective on early California history

jzargo_thebird's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

3.0

This book is definitely not the big behemoth that many people put it up to be. But I can't argue against the fact that it is such a pure and raw showcase of emotions and character that I have ever read in a book. They use literally next to nothing in terms setting or plot devices etc. But its just a bare bones story.  And I think it's just one of those books where I have no notes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

rat_king6767's review against another edition

emotional hopeful relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Slavery

Minor: Toxic relationship and Medical content

ashley_1206's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

3⭐️
honestly i liked the theme and lennie&george’s relationship 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Slavery, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

lindasoderlundd's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Violence

randomrevolutionaryreader's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Absolute Favourite.
The way it comments on the American Dream and the lives of the disabled people, transient workers, black people and women of the Great Depression is absolutely enriching. Recommended for American History students or anyone that wants to get immersed in the sad but true reality of that time.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexism

Minor: Rape and Slavery

A real shock to reality. Excellent first read.

myllo's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Murder

ruby_gordon's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

_piercingwords_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It is a well woven, full circle kind of story that can be finished in one session. 
Better to analyse thoroughly to get the most out of it though.

It is a bit repetitive, not much happens until the end, but somewhere near the end I was really rooting for the characters to make it and was left devastated by the ending. So very tragic.

The writing takes a bit to get used to and relies heavily on dialogue. The characters feel very real, thus are complicated though and not immediately likeable. This author has studied people and the way they speak.

Reminded me of the play Death of a Salesman when it comes to the themes of it.

It is objectively a well written story, but it left me with a feeling of dread, very dark story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Misogyny

kathrinellis's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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

3.0

It was interesting to read the story, especially with the dialects. Apart from that, I did not really connect with the characters and the plot so I would not consider reading it again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, and Slavery