Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Let's Bust A Recap : Of Mice and Men

Y'all. Of Mice and Men. By far, the most depressing thing I've read this year. Maybe even ever. It was awful. I got depressed just thinking about writing this recap of it. Oy. Vey. Let's just get it over with, shall we?

If you've been reading the blog the past couple weeks, you know that I went on the Ultimate Roadtrip Across the United States with my dad. You know that I spent a few sweet days in North Carolina with family. And you know that during all that time, I read three books.

The second book I read was Of Mice and Men. Why did I think taking this book on my sweet family-time trip would be a good idea? My husband read it a while back and told me it was depressing. I'll tell you why I took it. It's on my book list for the year, it's small, and I've wanted to read it ever since Cody did. 

Cody was right. So depressing. Not like, crying-my-eyes-out depressing. More like, I-physically-felt-ill-by-the-end-of-it depressing.

Of Mice and Men centers around two friends, George and Lennie, and their dream of owning their own piece of land. They're common laborers just trying to scratch out a living and scrape up enough money to buy an acre of property to call their own. They're an unlikely pair who have really become family to one another. In Of Mice and Men, it seems that they are finally about to obtain the object of their dreams when tragedy strikes. 

This book really is a quick read. It doesn't take long to get through, but I just wouldn't recommend it. On the up-side, Steinbeck knows how to paint a picture with his pen. I was transported to California and could see and hear the characters as if I were sitting by the little stream or hanging out in the bunkhouse with them. And his writing is compelling, too. Like a trainwreck you can't help but watch, I couldn't stop myself from turning page after page till the bitter end. 

But that's just what it was. Bitter. There was quite a bit of language that I just honestly wasn't expecting, and the story itself was....disturbing. 

You guys should know by now that I don't like to spoil the story of the book I'm recapping, so if this post is actually making you want to read Of Mice and Men, I can't blame you. If I read a recap like this, I'd probably go out and read the book immediately. What is it with us humans and our morbid curiosity, amiright? But reading Of Mice and Men is making me seriously second-guess my desire to read The Grapes of Wrath which is on my Life List. It will certainly not be making next year's book list, I can tell you that. 

Have you read Of Mice and Men? Did you find it depressing, disturbing, or wonderfully entertaining? Believe me, I'd be interested to hear a positive perspective on this book. What's the most depressing thing you've ever read?

5 comments:

  1. I found it as depressing as you. And I did not see the end coming, which made it worse I think. The most depressing book/thing I have read would probably be one of the war books I've read about people committing war crimes. True stories about human nature completely void of God. Gruesome. Even books like Unbroken are hard for me to read.

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  2. I've got this book on my shelf! In fact the exact edition you've shown here. I dont know if I can take another serious book. I feel like I need a fantasy book right now! but this is definitely on my to-read list! also, I am running the Book Blog awards this year for the 2nd year in a row and wanted to let you know nominations are open until October 31st . There are 15 awards up for grabs this year. You may nominate your own blog or ask your readers to nominate you. Readers vote on November 15th.
    Please leave a comment on my blog or tweet me @emancipatedmimi or my co-host @QuratulainR to get the badge to add to your site. You may use it to encourage your readers to vote for your blog on Nov 15th. The awards are intended to be fun and exciting, and get your blog some exposure as well. Hope you will join =) I'm usually on Twitter so tweet me anytime with questions or comments =)
    NOMINATE here: http://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kkntQ2xPpTaBcw-5OlDwUMMp1J11psxKS2Pvzi3TQ6k/viewform
    VOTE HERE on Nov 15: http://docs.google.com/forms/d/1uKrnRIt0X7x489A3N60BC4InisHZRR8TVVFQBiCF12E/viewform

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    1. Oh cool! Thanks for the heads up. I looked it over, but I don't think that my blog really fits any of the categories. =(

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  3. The most depressing book I ever read was "House of Mirth" - ironically named, I know. Have you ever read it? Also, your summary definitely did not make me want to read it, so kudos for a job well done! ;)

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    1. I have not read House of Mirth, but I have heard about how depressing it is.

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