Eric Stone
I first read this in high school, and even years later, the ending remains one of the most powerful things I’ve ever experienced in literature. It was the first time I really stopped to think, "Love can mean so many different things."
The story reminds me of the Buddhist concept of non-attachment - the idea that if you truly love someone, you only want what is best for them, even if that means a painful loss for yourself. It’s like deeply loving a spouse and being able to mourn the loss of the relationship while still being genuinely happy that they found a path to greater joy elsewhere.
Of Mice and Men touches on that same selfless, heartbreaking territory - though, as the book shows, it’s a dangerous and heavy thing to decide for someone else exactly how their life should proceed (or not proceed, as the case may be). It’s a slim book, but the weight of that final choice is something that stays with you forever.
I first read this in high school, and even years later, the ending remains one of the most powerful things I’ve ever experienced in literature. It was the first time I really stopped to think, "Love can mean so many different things."
The story reminds me of the Buddhist concept of non-attachment - the idea that if you truly love someone, you only want what is best for them, even if that means a painful loss for yourself. It’s like deeply loving a spouse and being able to mourn the loss of the relationship while still being genuinely happy that they found a path to greater joy elsewhere.
Of Mice and Men touches on that same selfless, heartbreaking territory - though, as the book shows, it’s a dangerous and heavy thing to decide for someone else exactly how their life should proceed (or not proceed, as the case may be). It’s a slim book, but the weight of that final choice is something that stays with you forever.