REVIEW: Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck)

Book: Of Mice and Men

Author: John Steinbeck.

My rating: 3.5/5.

Premise: Streetwise George and his big, childlike friend Lennie are drifters, searching for work in the fields and valleys of California. They have nothing except the clothes on their back, and live the American dream. But dreams come at a price. Gentle giant Lennie doesn't know his own strength, and when they find work at a ranch he gets into trouble with boss's daughter-in-law. Trouble so bad that even his protector George may not be able to save him.

[⚠️ CW: racism, prejudices of the era] 

Despite being just over 100 pages, I felt so much in this book. I adored Lennie. You can't help but want to look after him and tell him it's all OK. At first I didn't like George, I found him cruel. But when he started sharing his inner thoughts and worries, you get a sense of how much of a burden his responsibilities are at times. So I ended up feeling sorry for George. I didn't like the treatment of the boss's daughter-in-law. The men make out she's a slut because she often appears at their door. But I saw a lonely woman wanting some company. Maybe I'm naive, but she didn't do anything that screamed sex-driven. The ending of the book was an emotional roller-coaster in itself! I applaud Steinbeck for making me feel so much in so few pages.