Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is an excellent novella that packs a heck of a lot into its 100 pages or so. It focusses on a pair of ranch hands, George and Lennie, during the great depression, and their friendship is central to the story.
Key themes throughout the book are loneliness, and dreams for the future. It shows how characters are trapped by their social roles and economic prospects. It is written in a frank, easy to read style and the characters come alive through their dialogue. Once started, it was difficult to put down and a very quick read. I have to rank it as one of the all time best books I’ve ever read, and although I read a library copy, I am considering purchasing my own for no other reason than it was that good.
My 2011 Resolutions 