1937 Classic Novel Ranked Among Best Quick Reads You Can Finish in a Single Sitting

Goodreads users have put together a list of the "Best Quick Reads" that you can complete in a single sitting. Coming in third was the classic, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. The novella, which is around 100 pages in most standard paperback editions, was released in 1937. It tells the story of two ranch workers, George and Lennie, who are looking for work during the Great Depression.

Although the book has been banned frequently in schools, it is still one of the most well-known stories of all time. The title, Of Mice and Men, was inspired by a poem written by Robert Burns, called "To a Mouse." It famously says, "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry."

The novella, which can easily be completed in a single sitting, was adapted into a 1992 movie starring John Malkovich and Gary Sinise that has a 97% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The story was also turned into a play, which premiered on Broadway in 1937. The most recent production in 2014 starred James Franco, Chris O'Dowd, Leighton Meester, and Jim Norton.

When speaking about the original novel, one reviewer said, "Breathtaking prose, touching characters and a heart-breaking ending. Who said only lengthy novel can make an impact?" Another said, "This is a classic that I feel everyone should read. And, I feel like Steinbeck is an author that everyone should read at least once. The writing is just too amazing to miss out on and it is so awesome how consistently amazing Steinbeck was."

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Steinbeck is one of the most successful novelists in American history. In addition to writing Of Mice and Men, he also wrote East of Eden and The Grapes of Wrath. The latter sold more than 15 million copies. Steinbeck also received the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature and the 1939 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Also making the list of best quick reads you can finish in a single sitting were Animal Farm by George Orwell, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

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This story was originally published April 26, 2026 at 11:15 AM.