As riveting as classic American literature is, “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck was just like any other book I’d read in English class: dull and mind-numbing. I consider myself an avid reader and usually, I’m able to get through just about any book. But I had an especially tough time reading this one. Despite the fact that it’s only 107 pages, the old-timey language and lackluster plot line make Of Mice and Men difficult to read. Plus, it’s downright gloomy.

The plot starts off with two men, George and Lennie, arriving in California to begin work on a farm during the Great Depression. George and Lennie are childhood friends, and George believes it is his duty to take care of Lennie because Lennie has a mental illness. The men have a dream of owning their own farm but, because of the Depression, do not have enough money to purchase one.

The novel charts George and Lennie’s experiences on the farm and shows how friendship can get you through a tough situation. Though I agree with the theme of the story and believe it to be true, I feel that Steinbeck could have conveyed this message in a more interesting way. Excluding a couple of events, many of the problems that George and Lennie encounter are miniscule and do not really have much of an effect on the reader.

I can’t stand sad books, and I really wish that Steinbeck would have ended his novel in a different way. The ending is the saddest part of the book and it leaves readers with a bitter taste in their mouth. Though I can understand why George did what he did, I still don’t feel that an author should end a novel with such sorrow.

Overall, I didn’t like “Of Mice and Men.” It did not capture my attention and I felt that it was “just another book to read.” Though the theme is heartwarming, the ending is quite depressing. I do not recommend reading this book for leisure.