All About Books discussion

Please discuss our winner here.

Ah, I have read this twice in my life and won't reread it as I dislike this book even though the incredible writing always pulls me in at the start. That said, I remember enough of this that I hope to join in the discussion once people start making comments.

I've read it several times and always really liked it. I'll add a link to my review later. It's short and thought-provoking.

I've also read it at least once; still I'll pick it up again: I've learned to appreciate Steinbeck more and more in life!!!!

This was the first Steinbeck book I had read. I don't think I have read it since I was 14/15 but I really enjoyed it. I would love to read it again.

I've checked out several books from the library, but I'm going to try to make time to read this. I haven't read it before, and I really enjoy Steinbeck.

I read it last year and thought it was sad but thought provoking, but won't reread it.

I read this fairly recently. It makes me want to read more Steinbeck, though I didn’t love this one.

I read this in high school but not since so this is a good opportunity to revisit it.

I definitely hope to revisit it as well.

I found an audiobook edition at the library so I will be starting in a few days.

I'll also start it in a day or two. Probably for the coming week end

I have just read this recently when my son read it in high school. This summer my daughter needs to read it. So, I am so familiar with this disturbing but powerful story.

I read this in my 10th grade English class and loved it. I'm a sucker for a good classic book such as of mice and men. The story line behind it I think is one of the best.

Sterted and finished in a day. I had read it some years ago, but Ive re-read it gladly.
I have to say I think that Steinbeck is at his best in his longer works - The Grapes of Wrath for all - but also here all his core themes - the last of the earth, the sympathy among men, are well described.
I'll wait for some others to finish it before commenting deeply

I had forgotten what a powerful story this is! I ended up increasing my rating from 4* to 5.

The tragedy in this novella is on a level with Shakespeare or the ancient Greeks - (view spoiler)[despite all George's attempts to prevent it, Lenny's fate is inevitable. (hide spoiler)] Steinbeck does a masterful job in his characterization of Lenny; he made me feel sorry for Lenny while still being a bit creeped out.

While George & Lenny were memorable enough that I recalled much about them even decades after reading the book, I had forgotten the secondary characters. Candy in particular struck me during this reread - (view spoiler)[his circumstances are almost as tragic as Lenny's, what with the death of his old dog & then the loss of the dream of owning a small spread with George & Lenny. (hide spoiler)]

Lenny is a terrific character Leslie.
And you're rigth - at least I do agree - in saying that you're sorry AND creeped out by him.

And I also find interesting your comparing this to Shakespeare; I can agree on some points, but still I find that Steinbeck gives his best in his longer works: the characters are not fully develoed here as in Shakespeare...

Perhaps you are right that the characters are not fully fleshed out but even so, they are vivid. Slim in particular is someone I would like to know more about.

But my reference to Shakespeare and the Greeks was more about the inevitability of the tragedy than about the writing.

Leslie wrote: "But my reference to Shakespeare and the Greeks was more about the inevitability of the tragedy than about the writing."

In here we totally agree!!!!!!

I am just not a Steinbeck fan; I've read and disliked four of his novels. My middle daughter really enjoyed both this book and The Grapes of Wrath. I didn't even like them when I liked more dark novels than I do now. That said, he writes extremely well.

I think it will be August before I get a chance to read this one.

I am interested to read this one, this was the first book I studied at GCSE (I would say that's when school gets more serious because that's the start of gaining qualifications). I have gone on to complete English at university level so I have read many more books since then. I would be eager to see if my reading of the book has changed in any way.

Karin wrote: "I am just not a Steinbeck fan; I've read and disliked four of his novels. My middle daughter really enjoyed both this book and The Grapes of Wrath. I didn't even like them when I liked more dark no..."

The Grapes of Wrath is one of my favourite book!!!

Finished this last night. I still enjoyed this one as much as I did when I read it for the first time. I think this was one of the first books I really enjoyed studying when I was in secondary school, mainly because it was first book we were doing our school exams in, so we really studied the characters, the contextual history as the book is set during the Great Depression, I think at that time I was also studying the impact of the Great Depression on Germany in History.

I think the character that has always stuck with was Curley's wife. (Probably because I did a piece of coursework on her which involved writing a diary entry as if I were her) I remember giving her a backstory, that she dreamed of moving to Hollywood to be in films but was married off by her own father for a sizable dowry. I even gave her a name, Norma after Marilyn Monroe.

Oh why did I put off reading this so long. Perhaps it was luck and I ended up reading this as the right book at the right time.

I am very happy that I didn’t read this in school as that might have ruined this delightfully sad story of love. When is it time to recognize the sickness a d out something out of its misery.

Loved it.

Alannah wrote: "Finished this last night. I still enjoyed this one as much as I did when I read it for the first time. I think this was one of the first books I really enjoyed studying when I was in secondary scho..."

What an interesting way to study characters in depth. Did you discuss the fact that she wasn’t given a name?

Jennifer wrote: "Alannah wrote: "Finished this last night. I still enjoyed this one as much as I did when I read it for the first time. I think this was one of the first books I really enjoyed studying when I was i..."

I think we looked at the idea of oppression for her character, given the idea that many women didn't have jobs in those days and were expected to be stay at home mothers.