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just_the_things21. Each summer, pick a classic or book I have been hesitant to read and give it a try
This year I read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. I chose this one partly because it's one everyone seems to have read except for me (in my high school advanced classes, we were specifically not allowed to read the "easy Steinbeck" like this) and partly because I was pretty sure I knew what I was in for. Countless shows, books, and movies reference this work or parody it, and I wanted to be "in" on the joke finally. Turns out that Highlander episode was pretty darn spot-on with its interpretation of it.
Thing I didn't like: I had an idea that there might be a bit of a body count racked up in this one, and I was prepared for that. What I wasn't prepared for were all of the animal deaths. There were SO MANY dead animals. I had a hard time with that emotionally. People dying I can deal with. But animals... that's harder for me.
Thing I liked: Steinbeck's setting descriptions in this book are my new favorite. There are only a few times he goes into the details about setting, but every single time he does, he not only paints a clear picture but does so in a way that makes every single detail ALSO somehow relevant to the story or character development at the same time. It was magical the way he moved us forward on multiple levels at once, with no throw away words. His character voices were also fantastic--each unique and strong. But the setting descriptions... I can't get over how he did that.
I don't know if "enjoy" is the right word to use, but I did like the book. It packs a strong punch but also captures human nature well--the good and the bad. I'm glad I finally read it.
This year I read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. I chose this one partly because it's one everyone seems to have read except for me (in my high school advanced classes, we were specifically not allowed to read the "easy Steinbeck" like this) and partly because I was pretty sure I knew what I was in for. Countless shows, books, and movies reference this work or parody it, and I wanted to be "in" on the joke finally. Turns out that Highlander episode was pretty darn spot-on with its interpretation of it.
Thing I didn't like: I had an idea that there might be a bit of a body count racked up in this one, and I was prepared for that. What I wasn't prepared for were all of the animal deaths. There were SO MANY dead animals. I had a hard time with that emotionally. People dying I can deal with. But animals... that's harder for me.
Thing I liked: Steinbeck's setting descriptions in this book are my new favorite. There are only a few times he goes into the details about setting, but every single time he does, he not only paints a clear picture but does so in a way that makes every single detail ALSO somehow relevant to the story or character development at the same time. It was magical the way he moved us forward on multiple levels at once, with no throw away words. His character voices were also fantastic--each unique and strong. But the setting descriptions... I can't get over how he did that.
I don't know if "enjoy" is the right word to use, but I did like the book. It packs a strong punch but also captures human nature well--the good and the bad. I'm glad I finally read it.
