Okay, this is actually a re-read of a favorite classic literature story of mine. In my book club--a group of friends who like to get together to share coffee, or hot chocolate or Pepsi, in my case, and talk books--I tend to be the one who selects classics when it's my month to pick our book. (though I have picked a few killer romantic suspense books, too!) I'm sure it's because I'm the English teacher in the group, and they often ask me what my favorite "classics" are that I think everyone should read at some point in their lifetime, or to recommend something that I enjoyed teaching my students when I taught literature. (I'm strictly grammar and writing now, it seems 
).
OF MICE AND MEN fits both criteria. I'm a Steinbeck fan to begin with, because few authors capture a place and an era like he could--or create gritty characters you love or hate or want to fix like he does. And, I discovered that this was one "classic" that my students (even my sweathogs who would never go on to college and might just be lucky if they even graduated high school) loved!
My reading group loved it, too--though they were either saddened or angered by the ending--by the bleakness of the picture Steinbeck painted of life during the Great Depression. But I think that's the magic of the book--for those of us who didn't live back then, he manages to make us "feel" how hard life was back then.
I've recommended other classics to my group, but this is the only one I've actually read again yet this year.
5/5
steaminess not a factor
2 Harlequin
2 non-Harlequin
Julie Miller
PRIVATE S.W.A.T. TAKEOVER--The Precinct: Brotherhood of the Badge mini-series--Intrigue (available now at www.eHarlequin.com)
KANSAS CITY CHRISTMAS (Edward's story)--Intrigue (coming in November!)
OUT OF CONTROL--Blaze, 2009 www.juliemiller.org
