Nannybebette and Luxx's Le Fanu/Steinbeck Challenge
Talk I'll Read Yours if You'll Read Mine
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1London_StJ
I did it! I survived Steinbeck! Belva was wonderful and selected something relatively painless, for which I am extremely grateful. Below is my final "review" of Of Mice and Men.
Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. 118 pages. 9.13.09.
One of the things I remember most from my public school education is the gross lack of enthusiasm of my teachers. The subject was treated as a necessary evil by my instructors themselves, and I believe much of my own reading prejudices have their root in the dry rote that governed the teaching of "classic" literature.
I have abhorred John Steinbeck for as long as I remember, probably due (at least in part) to the mediocre introduction I received at the hands of a high school English teachers who were less than enthused themselves (not all English teachers or public schools are so disappointing- I just happened to have no luck in my school system). And so it was with a mixture of reluctance and curiosity that I accepted Belva's (aka nannybebette) challenge to read Of Mice and Men as part of an I'll Read Yours if You'll Read Mine partnership. She was kind and challenged me to read a very short work that was gathering dust on my shelf, and I completed my half of the challenge this afternoon.
One of the first things I noticed while reading Of Mice and Men was a sense of comfort on the part of the narration; the descriptions and character development seemed so natural that the sense of realism was undeniable. Although there is much that Steinbeck keeps to himself in terms of his main characters, I found Lennie and George to be well-rounded and honest - simple men trying to keep their heads above their water as they pursue (to different degrees) what qualified as "the good life" for two migratory farm hands.
Much to my surprise, I had no real emotional response to the novel. I tend to be a very emotive reader, and more often than not will respond passionately to what I read. However, Steinbeck has left me feeling completely neutral; I was not particularly invested in the characters or events of the book, and found the conclusion neither satisfying nor disappointing. In the end I'm willing to consider this neutrality a positive result of the trial - I didn't hate the book, so I'm more open to reading something along the lives of Travels with Charlie, but I also didn't love it, so I doubt I'll be tackling The Grapes of Wrath anytime soon.
And now, Belva, the ball is in your court. I hope your reading of Carmilla goes well! Or at least mostly painlessly.
Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. 118 pages. 9.13.09.
One of the things I remember most from my public school education is the gross lack of enthusiasm of my teachers. The subject was treated as a necessary evil by my instructors themselves, and I believe much of my own reading prejudices have their root in the dry rote that governed the teaching of "classic" literature.
I have abhorred John Steinbeck for as long as I remember, probably due (at least in part) to the mediocre introduction I received at the hands of a high school English teachers who were less than enthused themselves (not all English teachers or public schools are so disappointing- I just happened to have no luck in my school system). And so it was with a mixture of reluctance and curiosity that I accepted Belva's (aka nannybebette) challenge to read Of Mice and Men as part of an I'll Read Yours if You'll Read Mine partnership. She was kind and challenged me to read a very short work that was gathering dust on my shelf, and I completed my half of the challenge this afternoon.
One of the first things I noticed while reading Of Mice and Men was a sense of comfort on the part of the narration; the descriptions and character development seemed so natural that the sense of realism was undeniable. Although there is much that Steinbeck keeps to himself in terms of his main characters, I found Lennie and George to be well-rounded and honest - simple men trying to keep their heads above their water as they pursue (to different degrees) what qualified as "the good life" for two migratory farm hands.
Much to my surprise, I had no real emotional response to the novel. I tend to be a very emotive reader, and more often than not will respond passionately to what I read. However, Steinbeck has left me feeling completely neutral; I was not particularly invested in the characters or events of the book, and found the conclusion neither satisfying nor disappointing. In the end I'm willing to consider this neutrality a positive result of the trial - I didn't hate the book, so I'm more open to reading something along the lives of Travels with Charlie, but I also didn't love it, so I doubt I'll be tackling The Grapes of Wrath anytime soon.
And now, Belva, the ball is in your court. I hope your reading of Carmilla goes well! Or at least mostly painlessly.
3London_StJ
Thank you!
4rainpebble
Very nice review Luxx.
I am a little past the mid point of Carmilla as I was in the midst of another read and trying to finish a different challenge at the time we set ours. You did really well. I am so happy that you didn't "hate" the read.
I am rather in the "ewwww" stage at this point of my read, but am committed to finishing, which I should be doing within the early afternoon. I shall let you know my thoughts at that time.
belva
I am a little past the mid point of Carmilla as I was in the midst of another read and trying to finish a different challenge at the time we set ours. You did really well. I am so happy that you didn't "hate" the read.
I am rather in the "ewwww" stage at this point of my read, but am committed to finishing, which I should be doing within the early afternoon. I shall let you know my thoughts at that time.
belva
5rainpebble
Okay Luxx, I accepted your challenge and just as you read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (of whom I adore and you are not fond of) I just finished reading Carmilla: A Vampire Tale by Sheridan Le Fanu.
I found I also did not hate this little tale. Neither did I love it. I found it to be very predictable but not boring. I quite liked the character of the first person, who is telling the tale; the victim. I also found the villainess to be a well rounded (though readable) character. All in all it was rather a non-frightening and unintimadating read for me, which surprised me.
So now I can say I have read a story about a vampire.
Thank you Luxx for this challenge. I never would have read this tale had I not been challenged to do so. Well done, girl.
belva
I found I also did not hate this little tale. Neither did I love it. I found it to be very predictable but not boring. I quite liked the character of the first person, who is telling the tale; the victim. I also found the villainess to be a well rounded (though readable) character. All in all it was rather a non-frightening and unintimadating read for me, which surprised me.
So now I can say I have read a story about a vampire.
Thank you Luxx for this challenge. I never would have read this tale had I not been challenged to do so. Well done, girl.
belva
6London_StJ
I'm very glad you didn't hate it! I enjoyed our challenge - good luck with your next one.
