Of Mice and Men
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Whisper it quietly: some of the writing is awful
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Steven
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rated it 2 stars
Dec 03, 2014 01:07PM
“As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.” I have read this and re-read it and it still remains as meaningless as Civil-Servant management-speak. And what nonsense is that gigantic talking rabbit? Full review at: http://stevek1889.blogspot.co.uk/2014...
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The guy comes off as a Brit sneering that someone let those bloody AmERicans in to befoul the place. He needs a cuppa tea and some Downton Abbey or whatever will soothe his fever. (The Brits I know would beat him up for being so whiny.)Great book, introduces kids to folks probably not like themselves, serious themes. Fail.
(Thanks for posting, though, always like reading opposing views.)
Ouch! Not Downton Abbey though: makes me want to wretch! Would be no good if we all had to agree, eh?
Steven wrote: "And what nonsense is that gigantic talking rabbit?"The gigantic talking rabbit shows Lennie's demented state of mind, establishing that he belongs in a mental asylum.
The passage is similar to Ken Kesey's writing technique in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest where he portrays Chief Bromden's hallucinatory ramblings.
Whereas Kesey had the benefit of his experience tripping on LSD. Steinbeck I doubt ever tried LSD or any hallucinogen. I think he took a very good shot at presenting the distorted reality that might have occupied Lennie's mind after killing Curley's wife.
Try it sometime. I can think of few writing tasks more daunting.
Steven wrote: "“As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.” I have read this and re-read..."Have you never experienced a lacuna in time?
Steven wrote: "'As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.' I have read this and re-read it and it still remains as meaningless as Civil-Servant management-speak"The passage has to be taken within the context of the death of Curley's wife. Along with the lines immediately preceding and following, the passage slows the pacing of the novel to a reverent stand-still, allowing the reader to take in the fact that an innocent life has just succumbed to needless violence. The pigeon's flight tells us a soul is wending its way to heaven. She has been judged not as evil but as worthy of a heavenly resting place.
It should not escape notice that the reverence shown here for Curley's wife, a funeral service in miniature, is far more elegant than the perfunctory manner accorded Lennie's transition from mortality. Lennie's perfunctory death gets less ink than the execution of Candy's dog.
What more evidence is needed of Steinbeck's high regard for Curley's wife, as a character, or for that matter women in general?
For the novel to have steamed ahead right after her death would have implied that Curley's wife's life was of little importance. By stopping time, Steinbeck pays homage to her and allows the reader to stop and ponder what has happened as well.
Calling this awful writing seems a bit disingenuous. You may want to re-evaluate.
I call it highly artful and respectful of a woman's life.
Ditto. Good explanation Monty.Our perception of time varies with our emotional states. It really is simple.
This novel is the pinnacle of American literature.
MontyLSD was first manufactured in Switzerland in 1938. MICE AND MEN was published in 1936, so Steinbeck wouldn't have taken it before writing the novel.
He is being poetic. It is meant to evoke an emotional response through imagery, not to convey information. I don't love the passage, but it fits the narrative.
Anyone else hate these phishing posts trying to get you to read their review somewhere else? Just post it here or don't use this website!!
Chris wrote: "Anyone else hate these phishing posts trying to get you to read their review somewhere else? Just post it here or don't use this website!!"
Just flag them. G-reads does a pretty good job of deleting them.
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