My Music Journal: July 3, 2025

 

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Time: 7:51PM
Song: The Story in Your Eyes
Artist: The Moody Blues
Mode of Consumption: Listening to MP3s on shuffle on the way to work.

Link to song: https://open.spotify.com/track/3kcaix8VptngsWoYDTqEN2?si=5ffa73dcea62422b

At Write On Tuesday night, we discussed the opening chapter of “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck. The previous month we had looked at Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road,” and we compared how the setup was similar. Two characters on the road, seemingly alone but for each other. One character clearly is in the position of authority or protection for the other.

In “The Road,” The Man is clearly taking care of the boy. While in “Of Mice and Men,” Lennie is reliant on George.

Things differ quite a bit after that in terms of setting, tone and plot. Although both opening chapters make it clear it would be difficult or impossible for either leader to continue living without their dependent.

Our discussion turned to how we update “Of Mice of Men” to a modern-day setting. Perhaps in a city. Maybe with two homeless people, we discussed. Perhaps they could be veterans with one suffering from PTSD and possibly recovering from injuries.

I was almost surprised to find that there hasn’t been such a work inspired by “Of Mice and Men” already published.

I’ve toyed with idea of writing an opening chapter set in a different time and place but with similar scaffolding and characters to George and Lennie.

What would motivate these characters?

How and why would they be bound together?

What dream might they be chasing instead of a farm with rabbits?