Reviews

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

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ilovegravy's review against another edition

5.0

tldr: It’s not often that a book gets me in my feelings, but this one did.

So apparently kids in the UK analyse this book in school. Luckily, in Lithuania we don’t. I didn’t have the emotional maturity to fully appreciate most of the literature we went through in classes and so I’m glad I didn’t waste my first impression of this book on being an edgy 16 year old.

I know quite a few people with mental disabilities and the pure innocence of their joy is one of the most beautiful things I see around me. Their sadness or confusion, however, fills me with emotions on the other side of this very spectrum.

I can’t possibly phantom living a life of the main character. Caring for a companion as his in the world so cruel. I guess sometimes you have to remember how bad it used to be to appreciate how it is now.

This is one of those books where nothing really happens till the very end where you get punched in the gut (you knew it’s gonna happen, but it’s still unpleasant), and then it ends. And you just kind of sit there thinking, feeling…

Well I can see why it’s on the school reading list. It definitely has essay potential.

angus_mckeogh's review against another edition

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3.0

I'm pretty sure I read The Pearl a long time ago in school. I honestly don't remember it at all. I had a vague idea from cultural references what this one was about. And I'm aware that Steinbeck won the Nobel in 1962. So essentially this was my first foray into his work. It was okay. Maybe a little better than average. The setting, dialogue, and characters seemed authentic; however, the story as a whole seemed a bit maudlin and contrived. The ending was horrific and so sudden. I was hoping I'd like it a good bit more. Perhaps something else he's written.

ekacpuc's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

alexspillsbeans's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

bookishbrighton's review against another edition

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4.0

This story has stuck with me since reading it in school; there’s a reason it’s one of the classics - the story, the characters, the relationships…it does stick with you.