George and Lennie travel together from ranch to ranch, getting kicked out every time because of Lennie’s stupid and innocent mistakes, gathering money to get closer to accomplishing their dreams. As soon as they can, they’re going to have their own land, with cows, alfalfa plants, and a whole lot of bunnies.
If I had one word to describe this book, I’d use the word “depressing”. Depressing, dark or sad as it is, I felt frustrated while reading the book, seeing the hope that George and, especially, Lennie had of a better future, all while feeling this nervous presentiment that something would go wrong.
John Steinbeck wrote with brief, informative sentences, and had a special talent to express hope, which almost convinced me to the point of feeling worse at the end of the book than if it hadn’t.
Don’t get me wrong…. I liked the book very much. I admired the effectiveness of the author, as I prefer using long adjective-filled sentences in my writings, I enjoyed Lennie’s dumb kindness, and even the frustration was an… interesting emotion, which you should have every now and then. What bothered me, was the implied meanings of the book. The story implied that however motivated you are, however well you mean and want to help…. it’s not enough and some things just won’t work out if you don’t have the mental (or physical) ability. Well, if that’s so… then what’s left for these people?
This book doesn’t have a nice ending. So I would not recommend this book to anyone who only likes happy endings, or doesn’t want to see the sad side of life in books too.
Ayame
