What John Steinbeck Novel should be read first?
Of Mice and Men is okay, but not at all subtle… lots of people like it but the way he shoves the message down your throat made me gag. He also wrote The Pearl, which is short. Of Mice and Men is short two, so if you’re going for quantity rather than quality, read those two first. However. Grapes of Wrath is one of the most amazing novels I have ever read. The complexity is astounding. When you’re reading it, keep an eye on machinery, water, and dirt, and what you think they symbolize. They all come together at the end of the book. There’s definitely biblical allegory and yeah, there’s a guy who represents Jesus… it’s totally complex and beautifully written. My English teacher says Of Mice and Men is “a good sophomore novel”. *shrug* So maybe you’ll do well with it. But you definitely need to read Grapes of Wrath. Don’t skip it because it’s so long. And set aside some time to analyze it as well.
