![Citizen Steinbeck: Giving Voice to the People](/uploads/profile_image/2c0/66cdfaea-5661-4ab3-bc1d-5a23175ba2c0.jpg?m=1522335123)
Citizen Steinbeck: Giving Voice to the People
Book
John Steinbeck is one of the most popular and important writers in American literature. Novels such...
![Lifeboat (1944)](/uploads/profile_image/792/ba9118f6-ba71-48ab-9a60-8796a3108792.jpg?m=1522337441)
Lifeboat (1944)
Movie Watch
In this tense Alfred Hitchcock thriller, based on a John Steinbeck novella, American and British...
![Elia Kazan: A Life](/uploads/profile_image/7ec/ff53b96f-fef1-44d3-8042-47ce118067ec.jpg?m=1608293014)
Elia Kazan: A Life
Book
Elia Kazan's varied life and career is related here in his autobiography. He reveals his working...
![The Little Blue Book of Travel Wisdom](/uploads/profile_image/42d/d8d45db4-1a0e-4739-875d-32e58d43342d.jpg?m=1522361298)
The Little Blue Book of Travel Wisdom
Book
From the early explorers to space travelers and holiday jetsetters, those in transit have...
![40x40](/uploads/profile_image/b4f/04f9ab99-1adc-4ebf-8054-9a5cc024cb4f.jpg?m=1522325345)
Aasiyah Sidat (34 KP) rated A Study in Scarlet in Books
Jul 5, 2018
Don't get me wrong, there are some brilliant writers; Charles Dickens, John Steinbeck, the Austen's, all amazing writers, brilliant minds, but their writing style doesn't appeal to me. I would only pick up their books because of an academic reading list, and since academia doesn't need me to read fiction, I avoid it.
A very wise person recently told me that avoiding things is something I should avoid. Which is one of the reasons why I love this read harder challenge, taking you out of your comfort zone and expanding your reading is the best way to gain perspective.
Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2017/01/read-harder-1900-1950.html
![He Played for His Wife and Other Stories](/uploads/profile_image/b25/66cd7d54-5e76-4f91-a642-a2efad9dbb25.jpg?m=1522361697)
He Played for His Wife and Other Stories
Anthony Holden and Natalie Galustian
Book
He Played For His Wife...Poker has grown into one of the most popular sports in the world, with...
![40x40](/uploads/profile_image/b67/31234d17-cdc2-4cb5-8010-eb8a14369b67.jpg?m=1578534333)
Becs (244 KP) rated Of Mice and Men in Books
Oct 2, 2019
Genre: Literary classic, historical fiction
Audience: I definitely recommend at least a high schooler or up to read it. As it’s a little controversial and a bit harder of a read for a younger crowd.
Difficulty Reading: I almost put this down to never pick up and read again. I was about a millimeter away from doing it. But I have a thing against never finishing a book or DNF. If I’m going to pick something up and start reading it, I HAVE TO finish it, something about having an unfinished book doesn’t sit right with me. So, the answer is yes. This was a bit more of a difficult read. Now that it’s finished, I’m glad I stuck through and read the rest of the novel.
Insights: John Steinbeck is a great author and writer. I’ve read a few of his other novels and have loved them. Of Mice and Men just does not compare to the others. Maybe it’s the way that the characters speak. Maybe it’s the topic. Maybe it’s just Steinbeck lost touch with his writing when creating Of Mice and Men. Who knows, apparently some think that this novel is a piece of art. I mean, it’s still being sold nationwide. That must mean it’s somewhat good, right?
Ah-Ha Moment: When I found out that Lennie has a bit of a mental handicap issue. (This honestly sounds so bad in writing but I’m not trying to be rude about people who are mentally handicapped. I use to work as a caretaker for them and I loved it.) To continue on. You typically don’t see this style of character in this novels era. It was refreshing and different from other literary classic novels.
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
Favorite Quotes: “Trouble with mice is you always kill ’em. ” – Honestly, this is a perfect short, one sentence summary of the novel. If you don’t want to read Of Mice and Men, what happens is: you have George and Lennie, always traveling together. Lennie is mentally handicapped and likes to pet soft things. He gets in trouble in Weed by touching a female’s dress and not letting go when she screams. They run and come to find work bucking barley. Here, Lennie kills a newborn pup then kills Curley’s wife. George shoots Lennie in the back of the head and the novel ends.
***END OF SPOILERS***
“Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. They come to a ranch an’ work up a stake, and the first thing you know they’re poundin’ their tail on some other ranch. They ain’t got nothing to look ahead to.” – I mean, you’re not wrong George. Ranchhands are typically pretty lonely, especially in those olden days.
What will you gain: A love-hate relationship for this novel. Seriously. I love it so much I gave it four gold stars. But I hate it so much because man, it was a bit of a bore.
“Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other.”
![Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, His Wife and Her Alligator](/uploads/profile_image/bdc/25f279dd-742a-4e22-b725-7b067c60bbdc.jpg?m=1522327832)
Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, His Wife and Her Alligator
Book
'Must-read...A funny yet tragic tale of a husband and wife's car journey across the US with Albert...
![40x40](/uploads/profile_image/47c/5d322a1f-40d9-4f93-b1bf-d169c255947c.jpg?m=1615297477)