Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck Centennial Edition) Reviews

• A masterpiece -- and I will never forget it!

  
  By A17FLA8HQOFVIG on 2001-11-03
  John Steinbeck wrote this classic gem in 1937. It's been a Broadway play and there have been several adaptations of it in movies and TV. I was generally familiar with the story but this was the first time I actually read the book. Wow! I was completely blown away! This is the story of a two lonely and alienated men who work as farm laborers, drifting from job to job in California. Lennie is gentle giant, physically strong but mentally retarded. George guides and protects Lennie but also depends on him for companionship. Together, they have a dream to someday buy a little farm where they can grow crops and raise rabbits and live happily ever after. This, of course, is not to be as the title suggests. "The best laid plans of mice and men" is a line in a poem by Robert Burns, which describes how a field mouse's world is destroyed by a plow.

  Steinbeck's narrative voice is seemingly simple in his descriptions of nature of as well as the details of the bunkhouse. His characterizations of the people are magnificent. We meet the other workers, all loners, and appreciate the beauty of the unique friendship between Lennie and George. We meet Candy, the old man who is outliving his usefulness. We meet Crooks, the black stable hand, shunned by the men and therefore turning to books for companionship. We meet the cruel Curley who taunts Lennie into a fight. And we meet Curley's wife, another lonely soul who uses her femininity to get the wrong kind of attention.

  There's tension in every word and I found myself holding my breath, knowing that something awful would happen, my eyes glued to the page, the world of Lennie and George deeply etched into my consciousness. I was pulled right into the story, wanting to shout warnings as I saw the inevitable consequences. The ending was incredibly sad, but yet satisfying. It couldn't have ended any other way. It's a small book, only 118 pages long. But it is a masterpiece and I will never forget it. I give it my highest recommendation.
  
  

• Classic American masterpiece

  
  By A1U7ZZRHGYQSMR on 2000-05-08
  I read this book aged 15 for my GCSE English literature exam. Right from the start I fell in love with Steinbeck's unassuming, delicate language and his vividly real characters. The theme of loneliness on the "ranch" where the main characters work really haunts the reader, and we feel great sympathy for the barren lives lead by the characters - matched by the bleak, dusty Salinas landscape. All the main characters suffer from some form of prejudice, which in turn isolates them from the main thread of communication in the mid-west community - from Lennie, who is punished for his mental disability, to Candy, punished for his age, the negro, Crooks and the "jailbait", Curley's Wife. Each character suffers such absolute desolation in the face of promminence, I couldn't help feeling such strong empathy for the tragic people who inhabit this book. It is a credit to Stenbeck's unique eye for socialistic views and values that he draws such desparing, but neccassary, attention to the "abused" little man of 20's America.
  
  

• Post-Depression American Tragedy

  
  By A3FVAWZNKW9GX on 2004-03-18
  "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck remains properly on the reading lists of high school students because of the regional imagery through succinct dialogue. Unlike "Grapes of Wrath," Steinbeck brings us swiftly into each moment, never letting us linger too long before walking us to the next place.
  
  The American Dream has many variations, but always, it is about independence and the pride of being one's own man. Lennie and George want this independence more than most men, but have less than most men to get there. In their case, it isn't a white picket fence, but a farm where they can raise rabbits.
  
  Lennie is not a bright man. He desires to care for someone and to be loved, but is unable to think past his own fear. George tries to protect him, but he too, although smarter than Lennie, is managed by his insecurity and foolishness.
  
  The story surrounds Lennie and George's efforts to get and retain work on ranch near Soledad, and more so, toward their American Dream. The big picture is always with them, but it is the day-by-day difficulties they have with being outsiders. Their intrinsic inability to be free is sheer tragedy, as they both fail again and again to make the right decision.
  
  It's a lonely story about two men who hope more than they can think, who are destined by their misery never to enjoy true companionship and happiness.
  
  Few books are as thematically pure as "Of Mice and Men," which follows Man's search for self and meaning carefully. It is harsh in language and image, and the abstract ideas might be too much for younger readers to comprehend, but any intelligent teen will gain from it where John Knowles' "A Separate Peace" and J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" leave off.
  
  I fully recommend "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck.
  
  Anthony Trendl
  editor, HungarianBookstore.com
  
  

• Mice, Men, and other things.

  
  By A31MFE0FTPR0GB on 2000-02-08
  I thoroughly enjoyed this book from end to end. I give it a 4 ¾ star rating because of... oops this is still the introduction! I hope you enjoy this review and read the book!

  The book is mainly about two men named Lennie and George and their travels to reach their dream of building a great farm and "livin' off the fatta da lan." I like this book because just by reading it you know that John Steinbeck put his heart and soul into this book. If "Of Mice and Men" were a food I would describe it as rich and satisfying. The only thing I didn't like about the book is that especially in the beginning it would go away from the story and describe the landscape it in great detail. Don't get me wrong! I like detail but it took too long to get back to the story. Speaking of detail. When the detail in then book was focused on the story it gave it an amazing effect! The character development in this book was also very good. From main characters like George to main characters like Crooks, John always let the reader know lot about the character. Finally, the dialogue in the book is excellent. Everything is said right and right at the correct time. WOW! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an enriching story but can handle a little tragedy.

  This concludes my review of the book "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck. For all of you who decide to read it... ENJOY!
  
  

• "A guy needs somebody to be near him....A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody."

  
  By A319KYEIAZ3SON on 2006-10-23
  Written in 1937, when the Depression was still affecting all aspects of the farming community, this powerful novel depicts the lives of migrant workers--grim, pessimistic, and offering little hope for an improved future. Focusing on two characters who arrive in the Salinas Valley during peak season, Steinbeck creates touching scenes between Lenny, a big, severely limited worker who does not know his own strength, and George, a whippet-thin man who serves as Lenny's constant companion and protector.
  
  Both Lenny and George have dreams of one day living on their own farm, where Lenny, who loves the feeling of soft things--even dead mice--wants to take care of rabbits. George hopes one day to benefit from his own hard work on his own farm and to create an environment where Lenny can be safe from his own impulses. As Steinbeck brings the characters on the ranch to life, he shows how every person there has dreams of a different life but few opportunities to change the lives they already have. Some are physically handicapped from accidents on farms, while others are emotionally handicapped by lack of opportunity or their own personal limitations.
  
  Life is lonely, uncertain, and harsh but George tries to make life for Lenny more bearable by allowing him to have one of the new puppies in the barn. When Curley, the boss's son, brings his flirtatious wife to the farm, he introduces a new element which eventually leads to a tragic ending. Women are considered dangerous to the status quo, as they reinforce the need for "soft" elements in lives that otherwise offer little softness.
  
  Giving vivid pictures of the natural surroundings while also creating vivid pictures of the interactions of these men, Steinbeck shows that even among those whose lives offer little hope, there is a desire to take advantage of each other. Crooks, the black stable hand who is forced to live alone in the barn, undermines Lenny. Carlson takes advantage of Candy's love for his old, smelly dog and causes pain to Candy. Lenny's puppy, Candy's dog, a heron capturing a water snake, and dreams of their own farm all become symbols which add to the drama of the conclusion. In this powerfully sad novel, Steinbeck offers little hope that the lives of these men will improve and even less hope that they will ever be able to control what happens to them. n Mary Whipple
  
  
  
• John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men: A Review
  By A2HNA46DVA09G on 2000-03-20
  My name is Kelly, and I am a junior in high school and I was recently assigned to read John Stienbeck's novel OF MICE AND MEN. I thouroughly enjoyed reading this book, for many different reasons. For instance, Steinbeck uses a storyline that grabs the attention of all ages, young or old. In the begining, we are introduced to George and Lennie the novel's two main characters. They are fleeing from their former hometown in search of a new job opportunity on a ranch located in the Salinas Valley. The two fathem a dream of owning their own ranch one day with lots of acres and rabbits. They work out a plan to earn money so this dream can be fulfilled. While on the ranch the young childish Lennie is objected to numerous situations, in which they put George in akward posiitions. George's loyalty is constantly tested throughout the novel. With a surprise ending their dream seems to fade away. This book is one everyone should read, because it teaches the meaning of friendship and the "American Dream".
  
  
• OF Mice and Men
  By A21PZIC8EQXLFE on 2003-05-29
  I am a tenth grade student and I recently read "Of Mice and Men" for a school project. I thought it was an excellent book. I felt that the author, John Steinbeck, did a first class job with this novel. It portrayed the relationship between George and Lennie in a way that made you become very attached to the characters. You wanted to read more to find out if they ever accomplished their goals and to see if their dreams became a reality. George and Lennie are complete opposites; George is a small, quick intelligent man, while Lennie is a man of huge dimensions but has the brain of a child. Throughout the story Lennie acts in ways that infuriate George, but George will always be there for his friend because he knows Lennie needs him to survive. Lennie can buck barley like no one else because of his pure strength, but would probably starve to death if he didn't have George to provide his daily meals. I think that has to do with why this book has been banned in the past by schools across the country. Some people may be offended by how the mentally challenged person is shown in this story. It seems as though the view being expressed is that people with mental problems can't do anything for themselves. They are also a constant threat to others because they cannot control themselves. Lennie didn't realize what he was doing was wrong until it had gone too far. These are stereotypes of mentally retarded people that some people may believe are reinforced by this novel. They are lead to believe that this book is discriminatory towards the mentally challenged. Parents whom believed this did not want their children reading this book because they did not want them to be exposed to these types of ideas. Also, Curly's wife does not fit the traditional mould. She is unhappy with her marriage and is not completely loyal to her husband like a conventional wife should be. She is always flirting with the men that work on the farm. Some adults believed that this was unacceptable behavior to expose to children. I don't think that a school today would even consider banning this book because cultural standards have changed greatly from when this book was first published in 1937. I also don't believe that this book should have ever been banned. It is a great book that takes you on an emotional roller coaster. Once you get started it is almost impossible to put down. The ending is also written to perfection. It is unpredictable and is incredibly moving. I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it anyone.
  
  
• Quite a book
  By AFZ3U491T0ZV4 on 2004-02-23
  Overall, John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is really a good book. Even though it's rather short, it delivers its message quite well. The book opens with George and Lennie near the Salinas River south of Soledad, California. Lennie is a big, loveable guy who isn't very smart, but is easily pleased. Lennie loves to stroke soft things, and has a mouse in his hands that he accidentally killed by petting it too hard. Lennie's portrayal is extremely sympathetic and sentimental, but I couldn't help but like him, regardless of his flaws. George is the little man behind Lennie; he acts as the big man's brain in guiding him and keeping him out of trouble. The two travel and work together and have a friendship unlike anything most other characters in the novel have ever experienced. The book really got me to feel like I knew the characters, especially Lennie, and to pity them. The underlying theme of man's innate loneliness and his need for companionship is a bit dark and pessimistic for my taste, but is delivered tactfully with the repeated story of George and Lennie's farm where Lennie will be able to tend rabbits while the two live off the fatta the lan' offers hope so the book can be easily stomached by someone with a more optimistic worldview. All things considered, I would definitely recommend this book for everyone to read; the ideas behind it should be considered by all.
  
  
• A MUST READ CLASSIC
  By A2TMT84XD1RCB6 on 2001-01-14
  George Milton, a little man physically, tried to receive a harvesting job along with his close friend Lennie, who on the other hand, is a giant of a man physically, but very slow mentally. George acted like Lennie's older brother and watched out for him. Their boss stated, "Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy. I just like to know what your interest is" (25). "Lennie kills without malice-- animals and people die simply because of his strength. Lennie himself must die simply because within the society of man he is an anomaly and weak." The theme of the book is universal," a friendship and a shared dream that makes an individual's existence meaningful." The great, classical novel will remain well read, and a well-liked book for ages to come. The book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is an attempt to reveal "commitment, loneliness, hope, and loss remains," along with the labor forces in the late 1930's. Reader can easily relate to the characters and setting in the novel and, as a result, the book has influenced many readers. The book had great significance on the readers during the time in which the book was written. The style of writing is very simplistic, easy to understand, and very entertaining. " Part of Steinbeck's greatness lies in his ability to capture this tone of basic reality." Steinbecks'style of simplicity and easy reading in Of Mice and Men captures the reader's interest right from the get go, and along with the easy relating themes and plot keeps the readers attention until the last words are read. "John Steinbeck is famous for his compassionate depiction of people of the bottom of American Society," In this book, like so many of his others, he describes the time period, social events, and gives a clear pictures of what life was like. Steinbeck is mostly known for his great attention to detail and his sense of social justice in Of Mice and Men. George is a small man, who not only has himself to look after but also has the job of looking after and caring for his mentally delayed friend Lennie. George said, "Whatever we ain't got, that's what you want. God a'mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an' work, an no trouble. No mess at all, and when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want" (11-12). As they grow up they find the true friendship they have is so important, along with the commitment to one another. This great novel will remain a classic forever.
  
  
• Of Mice and Men- a banned book?
  By A2PNS90BKGNM16 on 2003-08-23
  This popular high school or college required reading written by Steinbeck was one book I have never read. Neither have I watched the movie (1940) or newer versions (1981, 1992). What intrigues me is ALA has listed the novel as top sixth 100 banned books during 1990-1999. How can popular novels written by a famous author who earned a Presidential Metal of Freedom in 1964 received banned and challenged review years after initial publication? Perhaps it was a typo until I confirmed:
  
  "Of Mice and Men" was banned:
  Syracuse, Indiana, 1974;
  Oil City, Pennsylvania, 1977;
  Grand Blanc, Michigan, 1979;
  Continental, Ohio, 1980
  Skyline High School, Scottsboro, Alabama, 1983.
  
  The book was challenged:
  Greenville, South Carolina, 1977;
  Vernon-Verona-Sherill, NY, School District, 1980;
  St. David, Arizona, 1981;
  Telly City, Indiana, 1982;
  Knoxville, Tennessee, School Board, 1984
  
  Steinbeck wrote the novel at his house in Los Gatos back in 1937. It was an era of depression; migrant workers and poverty persisted in the US. Steinbeck had dropped out of Stanford earlier to work on the Sprechels Sugar Ranch in this area as a farm hand. He observed the workers behavior and wrote about them. They represented low education and economically poorly people who would do anything to survive. He accurately described the way things were with no flowerily words.
  
  The plot of the novel was quite simple.
  
  George Mitton (witty, small) and Lennie Small (big man with small brain) both dreamed of acquiring a little land of their own someday. They also were in need of each other. This was in the middle of the depression years among many poor migrant workers searched for work. As low social class they got no respect in the society. Steinbeck showed his sympathy and concern for the down trodden the way we are concerned with homeless and jobless today.
  
  Paired with both accusations and past accidents these two went to work at a Ranch. It was there the readers were introduced to some interesting characters, all seemed to evolve around rancher's son Curley. Curley is the bully, always ready to pick on those weaker people, but was an insured failure in a big way. He failed to be a respected boss #2, husband, and a man. His wife (name never mentioned) knew what was missing in life. She tried to get Lannie's attention in taking her. It led to her accidental death. There in the barn among the dark, dank smell of hay the one event after another began to unravel.
  
  The end of the novel was worth contemplation and debate. Lennie Small hid in the brush and awaited his frightful punishment. George Mitton had to make a decision; he took matters into his own hands by ending Small's life. The tragic ending could have been averted. Some writers sometimes believe the ending of a novel to provide vicarious happy endings especially targeted for youth. Steinbeck ended it as a tragedy.
  
  Could in the novel George Mitton run away in the novel from the crime scene with the woman? Would George have waited for justice to be meted out by a bunch of gun carrying migrant workers who were ready to shoot Lennie? To some readers true literary tragedy is distasteful. This may be one of the reasons that the novel was challenged by many parents if not banned?
  
  I thought Steinbeck experimented with novel structured like a play. He believed the writer's duty and served as watchdog of society. To satirize its silliness, to attack its injustices, to stigmatize its faults. He achieved this goal remarkably well in this novel. In fact the book was in the form of a play (1937) and ended as an opera (1970).
  
  In retrospect, throughout the novel there were words or vernaculars of improper conduct, vulgar language, presentation of low social class characters which can be objectionable to YA or their parents. I list some examples found from the six chapters including but not limited to:
  
  1.Live off the fatta the lan', 2. Bustin' a gut, 3. Cat house, 4. Health issues like pants rabbits, 5. Shove out of here, 6. What the hell's he got on his shoulder, 7. Crack and flop, 8. Goo-goos.
  
  The urge to control other's lives and restrict what they can read appears to be just below the surface. People may deny that they want to censor books and mouth platitudes about appropriate reading material, but the end results are challenges to books in schools and libraries.
  
  I would hesitate recommending this book at junior high or grade school. Outstanding novel like Of Mice and Men rises just above the safety threhold and basic functional reading to which some teachers or adults would restrict youth to read. As for YA a novel teaches much more than the mechanics of reading, the vernaculars used actually helps to stimulate critical thinking skills. As teenagers they are old enough to discuss and debate the meanings of the vulgar language as it applies today. For college age patrons, they are old enough to vote and fight for America they should be allowed to read as they please.
  
  
• try listening to a youth
  By A3PQUFWDU99GHF on 2004-12-06
  I happen to be a high school student and this book just happened to be required for my class. (please do not read this if you hate spoilers not that I encourage anyone to read this book anyway) To start off, this must be the most depressing most unbelieveably horrid books I have ever read in my entire life rivaling only Hemmingway in that matter. The entire book tells the story of two friends Lennie and George who have a dream to own a farm and basically to live the American dream and to live without cares. Well as the story goes on, lennie runs into the wife of the son of the owner of the farm (who is already hitting on everone else in the farm including Lennie now More on that later). Anyhow, they get a bunch of the hands on the farm together and are getting ready to own their farm and throughout the entire book you will just want them to get that farm but it doesn't happen. Lennie kills the lady and is forced to run and hide where George told him to go if ever he were in trouble and what doess George do? HE SHOOTS LENNIE! George goes on to become a drunk and the novella has a most depressing ending. Basically, this was an incredibly depressing book (like all Steinbacks) and is the last book I will ever want to read again. My teacher calls it realism I call it flat out pessimism. It is a glimpse into the mind of a man who knew how to take a lousy story and write it well enough to sell like so many "great" american novelists of the 20th century. This was the first book I ever felt like ripping to shreds and unless you yourself are depressed or wish to become so, DO NOT READ A STEINBACK NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE TELLS YOU!
  
  
• "To your own friend be true"
  By A2W8E91R4R9NF5 on 2003-01-13
  Inspired by Steinbeck's centennial celebrations last year, I picked up a copy of "Of Mice and Men" because I had read it was a thriller of sorts. As a mystery fan and writer, I am always interested in sudden apocalyptic dénouements. I read the book in a couple of hours and, let me tell you, I'm still thinking about it two days later.

  The story of George Milton and Lennie Small - who was, in every sense of the word, a "brute" - develops fast up to its high climax, and its end hits you like a thunderstorm. They are a couple of illiterate men who travel together, going from ranch to ranch in the Salinas valley at the time of the Great Depression, and "buck barley" for a living. They have no home or family, but they have each other, and they have a dream, which is repeated as an omen throughout the story: to save enough money to buy their own ranch and "live on the fatta the land." George, with a small physique, has assumed the role of caretaker of Lennie, who is mentally retarded but naturally (or unnaturally?) strong. This trait of his had cost them their last job, but no matter what, they continued to stick together, true to their dream and their promise of honest friendship. Two days later after they arrive at their new place of work, the picture is totally changed and - in order not to give away the ending - I'll say so is the dream.

  This is an excellently crafted novella, where every single character, event and word has been assigned a key role; and only a writer as talented as Steinbeck could have achieved it. It no only takes full manageability of the writing craft, but also an implicit trust on behalf of your readers in order to accept such a moralizing tale. Personally I like Steinbeck's omniscience, and anyone who knows about the context of his lifetime would understand why he thought a writer should always offer something for the betterment of mankind.

  "Of Mice and Men" offers a perspective into us. It is a rite of passage from dreams to reality and back, an understanding of the true nature of friendship and the shattering reality of its breakage, where the pieces can no longer be picked up because they are no longer important. A novel that will make you want to hug the people you consider your friends.
  
  

• Brilliant, thoughtful book
  By A2JC7C5NBA8ZRF on 1999-11-03
  Stienbeck's Of Mice and Men, was a great, disturbing read. You immeditaly love innocent Lennie and kind, hardworking George. But this book has a dark, sad message. People like Lennie and George truly never win, no matter how hard they try. And, for those who asked, the reason George killed Lennie was that Lennie couldn't function in society. George had tried to take care of him, but they always ended up on the run. If they got away this time, soon they would be on the run again. So George did the kindest thing possible. Rather than let Curley and the men kill Lennie while he was frightened and upset, George was with Lennie in his favoriter place, talking about their wonderful dream, their own private Eden. He made Lennie feel happy and safe. And then George, rather than letting Lennie suffer, took up his suffering and killed him quickly and painlessly. George cared for Lennie so much that he would rather suffer than have Lennie suffer. It is obvious that George loves Lennie, despite "giving him hell", and wants to protect him. When he can't, he makes sure no one will hurt Lennie. Sad, beautiful book is too great for a mere review to describe. Also, see the movie with Gary Sinise and John Malkovich, and you'll cry even harder - they perfectly capture their characters!
  
  
• gripping classic!
  By ALZJ7NZ1GOVG6 on 2000-12-07
  Imagine lying in the grass with your head facing the stars, a stream trickling by. You can hear the stream seem to lull you in, and you feel the pleasures of a hot, crackling fire, being managed by someone else. Sounds perfect, right? Well, for George, in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, it is anything but perfect. George is taking care of a man named Lennie, who is mentally ill, and dangerous at that. After grabbing a girl and not letting go, Lennie, under George's strict supervision, is helped to flee. They find a job at a farm in the country, and things are going well- at least, that's how it seems. This book combines distinguished writing with a remarkable plot, summing up to a great, touching ending.

  At the beginning of each chapter Steinbeck describes the setting of the chapter. This technique is fine for some, but bad for others. This style forces the reader who isn't interested yet to read about the place that is being described. If Steinbeck waited a while to explain these things, readers would really be interested in what they were reading (whereas in the beginning of the chapter this isn't so). However, some people disagree and like to have lots of description so they know exactly what they're reading about. A perfect example is the beginning of the second chapter. After explaining the setting of this room in great detail, Steinbeck pauses. Then he goes on to say, "The door opened and a tall, stoop-shouldered old man came in. He was dressed in blue jeans and he carried a big push-broom in his left hand. Behind him came George, and behind George, Lennie."

  But after the beginning of each chapter, description dwindles to a perfect amount. The book really flows with dialogue and description combined. The dialogue is used in such a critical way, and Steinbeck really took advantage of the fact that he could express whatever he wanted through dialogue. This writing style also makes the readers able to suspect things, rather than to be told things. Readers are left to figure it out for themselves, making it more believable as well. At the end of the book, it is hard to understand what is happening until you read the dialogue that followed the action. This was a great aspect of the book.

  Another clever thing Steinbeck established in the beginning of the book was a theme of a farm with rabbits, in which George and Lennie are to live off the fatta the lan'. It is shown very clearly (also through dialogue) that this is Lennie's dream, what he lives for. It also gives the reader hope, which makes people want to continue reading- they want to find out if this dream or wish ever happens. It is a sign of a good author that he can convey emotions so strongly. One of the most touching books, Of Mice and Men stands out. Steinbeck was gutsy in his choices as a writer, and because of that, the ending doesn't make the reader necessarily feel sad, the reader feels moved. Something Steinbeck does a good job of is making readers change their mind so many times about what they think of Lennie, and if they feel sorry for George, admire George, hope Lennie dies for George's sake... the list goes on.

  This was one of the best classic novels. It is a good book to read if you're looking for something that can draw you in in a short time, and it is hard to put down once you start. Of Mice and Men is definitely a classic worth reading- and re-reading. It is amazing that Steinbeck was able to write this story with such a compellng writing style, gripping plot, and high level of emotion in so few pages.
  
  

• Of Mice and Men
  By A2KGK9WZUHV504 on 2001-01-16
  Book Review How does the common man look at mentally disabled people? In reading Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men one could find out. Steinbeck wrote about two men traveling around California working on farms. The couple is a dynamic one. Lennie is a gigantic man that has the brain power of a small child. George is a small man that looks after Lennie and tries to protect him. "We kinda look after each other." Said George. "He ain't bright. Hell of a good worker, though. Hell of a nice fella, but he ain't bright. I've knew him for a long time(p.34)." This book does a great job showing how society doesn't understand the needs of mentally disabled people. I also believe that it shows that every man can have a role in society. This book is a must read. Almost everyone has come into contact with a mentally disabled person once in his or her life. Or, if not a mentally disabled person, a person that is just a little slow. One of the many great things about this book is that everyone can relate to it. The social significance is immense and I believe people enjoy reading meaningful books. Another thing I enjoyed about this book was George and Lennie's lingo. "I... ain't gonna say nothin'. jus' gonna stan' there(p.6)." Steinbeck was born and raised in California and many of his books take place there. Like Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck wrote other books about men that work on farms, such as Tortilla Flat and The Grapes of Wrath. George and Lennie find jobs on a farm in the Californian countryside. Lennie loves to pet things and that obsession always gets the couple into trouble. Lennie is a handful for George and is pain for everyone around the farm. A horrific crime is committed by Lennie. The men on the farm could not and did not want to deal with Lennie and his behaviors. "He ain't cuckoo, said George, he's just dumb as hell, but he ain't a crazy(p.39). Even thought Lennie's brain does not function at a high level he could still help others. There is a man on the farm named Crooks, Crooks is an african american that has a bad back. Crooks is mean and shields everyone away, but Lennie opens him up and brightens his day. "I did'n't care much, said Crooks. "Lennie's is a nice fella(p.82). Even thought Lennie is slow he still can befriend a person. People read to broaden here knowledge and understanding of the world. What this book taught me is that mentally disabled people have different needs than those of us that do not have an impaired brain. And that society needs to help them find a role in the community and in society because every man or woman has a purpose. If you want a great book to read Of Mice and Men should be at the top of your list.
  
  
• Ugly
  By A31NYJYPOHJQOA on 2003-06-20
  Wow, this book really [is bad]...But in M&M Steinbeck gets down-right nasty. This little gem of stink can be summarized, "Isn't it tragic that in this world there are just some people that we need shoot like the old stinky dogs that they are, but thankfully we have good friends who will love us enough to do the murdering."

  That's profound? There's nothing profound about that. It's silly, misguided and sentimental to be sure. It's also evil. But it's certainly not profound.

  Now it might be that Steinbeck hates the world and hates George and hates what George does and that M&M is an anguished cry against an unjust world. However, this secret message is unlikely to be discerned from the text and the average reader will come away thinking, "It's jus' too bad that sum folks is better off not bein' born'd." This is clearly the impression the book makes upon most Amazon reviewers. And even if the message of the book were "life [is bad]" instead of "murder the less fortunate" it would hardly salvage this vile little creation.

  ...It has its share of ham-fisted heart-string pulling and the occasional pastoral description of a shrubbery or a creek, but that's just not enough to make the painful few hours wasted upon its pages worthwhile...
  
  

• The REAL Of Mice and men
  By A2AYLLPI1DVLM3 on 2004-11-30
  Now, then:
  Of Mice and Men Is one of the worst books I have ever read. Let me count the ways:
  1) It has immeasuably two dimensional chacters. Steinbeck stays so close to the archetypal "strong man" "seedy guy" "angry little guy" "seductive wife" its disgusting. he even has a token black guy! Absurd.
  
  2) An equally two-dimensional plot. Steinbeck's unbearable heavy handedness in getting his all important "moral" across completely crushes out any vestige of meaningful charcterization or subtext.
  
  3) The ending. No, I'm not about to say "ew!" What i will say is that thats what he WANTS you to think. He wants you to put down this book and "realzie the impossibility the america dream, and the cutthroat nature of humans in general." The problem with this conclusion is the entire book is completely contrived! The most absurd confluence of cicumstances that could possible occur come togethr in this book. its all crap.
  
  There. Just in case you missed it...[...]
  
  
• Of Mice And Men
  By A3N53PXVYX1CI1 on 2000-02-25
  I feel Of Mice And Men is an excellent book. It is also a great movie! My favorite character was Lennie. I felt sorry for him because he was slow. George is the kind of big brother I would love to have, he watches out for him, gets him a job, and does not take advantage of him even though he could. Slim is a guy that everyone looked up to, I would respect a man of his degree. But Curly.. I would of took his stupid boxing trophy and stuck it right up his....well you know what I mean. I liked Candy, he was a good old man, but everyone bossed him around because they knew he would not do anything. I would prefer this book to whoever likes a mellow, old time book.
  
  
• The universal statement made in Of Mice and Men
  By A1Q8TNHJ1IHI27 on 2000-01-20
  This novel makes a strong universal statement about loneliness. It portrays two men who have no family, no place to call home and no plan or goal in their lives. They work and work and then they have nothing to show for it. You get this idea in novel when George says to Lennie, " Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place. They come to a ranch an' work up a stake and then they go inta town and blow their stake, and the first thing you know they're poundin' their tail on some other ranch. They ain't got nothing to look ahead to." (Steinbeck 15) Also, many other characters demonstrate loneliness. For example, Curley's wife. She claims that she is always alone while her husband is out watching over the workers and that a girl her age cannot handle being locked up in the house all day. Another character is the slave that also works on the farm. He is forced to stay in his own room and is very segregated from the rest of workers. This is a result of the discrimination during the time in which the novel is set. Also, the other workers experience loneliness because they, of course, live the same life that Lennie and Georger live. The author John Steinbeck chose to set the novel a few miles south of Soledad, which is Spanish for solitude and means anger and loneliness. He describes in detail the life of many men who worked on ranches.
  
  
• One star or Five
  By A33L207DZYX2LA on 1999-04-19
  I'm torn between giving this book one star for making me depressed and giving the book five stars for how well written and how honest the book is. All in all, the book deserves the classic status it has attained, but do to how the story made me feel, I had to throw my copy away. I am not a reader that will say a simple "this book sucks" but this book made me feel bad. The truth behind the tale disturbed me. That was probably the point trying to be made, but even so, I cannot get by how it made me view the world at the end.
  
  
• Of Mice and Men is a book about two ranchworkers in the 1930
  By on 1999-03-05
  John Steinbeck's novel "Of Mice and Men" is a great book to read for anyone who wants to read a book that won't take hours to read.

  The setting is in the Salinas Valley in the 1930's. The main characters, Lennie and George, are running from the ranch they had previously worked on. They must now find another job to work at. They do find a job on another ranch and everything is going great, but when Lennie, a man without many brains, kills the bosses wife, everything goes terribly wrong. The two workers who are saving up their money to buy some land of their own, must now find jobs elsewhere. In their trek to find another job George decides that Lennie and his temper are becoming too much of a hassle to their plans, and he must kill George in order to live a somewhat normal life.

  The book is somewhat difficult to follow, but in the end all of the pieces that were unknown come together to form a complete story line.

  The plot of the book was very interesting. It was an adventurous, yet it was still suspenseful. Steinbeck had the character's perfect for the setting in the ranches of the Salinas Valley. Lennie and George were both portrayed as migrant workers and they were on a mission to save up money and buy a ranch of their own.

  The overall quality of the book is tremendous. It has plot twists and things that nobody would expect to happen that happen regularly. It is very much a mysterious ending and until I read that George shot Lennie I was convinced that they were going to get away with both of the murders that happened at the two different ranches. Although it was a great book, it shouldn't be read by young children because of the fowl language. Jason Hegstrom
  
  

• Stunning and Powerful! One of My New Favorites!
  By A2ZLROGIL2V7GV on 2002-08-29
  I'm starting to read some of the classics now, being in college. Mainly because there are really no new authors out there that have caught my interest lately. I also want to expand my horizons, and read things I might've never given the time and day when I was in junior high and high school. "Of Mice and Men" appealed to me pretty quickly, from reading the back of the book and seeing how long it was. I wanted to give it a shot. Boy, am I ever glad that I did. This is an AMAZING book.

  Written by John Steinbeck, "Of Mice and Men" tells the tale of two men who travel together all the time, hoping to own an acre of land and a nice home they can call their own. George is a smart man who always seems to have things figured out. Lennie is a giant with a mind of a young child. George looks after him, but it is not easy. Lennie always seems to get himself in some kind of trouble, and George is always the one who has to help him out. And when they find jobs on a ranch, George finds out just exactly how fast the best laid out plans can vanish into thin air. The ending is unforgettable and shocking.

  The writing was very well done. Characters were very interesting and brought their own characteristics to life, leaving it very easy for you to tell them apart. I also liked the dialogue. Though the plot may not be the most complex one, books don't have to be complex. In fact, sometimes it's much more difficult to write the simplest book or story. Nothing fell short in this masterpiece.

  I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read. Sure, there's a chance that you may not like it. This is very true. But look at it like this: the book is only about 107 pages long. (Pending on which version you have.) How many books do you know that are that short? Which means that if you don't end up liking it, chances are that you didn't waste too much of your time on it. I was pretty sad to finish the book so quickly, but then again, it will be an easy one to re-read over and over again.

  "Of Mice and Men" is one of my new favorite novels. It's just a shame that Steinbeck is no longer here. All the good ones always seem to come and go very quickly. This is a book that I will read over and over again. I loved every word, every paragraph, and every page. Enjoy "Of Mice and Men." And if you don't, well at least it's a short read.
  
  

• A great book
  By A20LTXAARNC0L8 on 2003-11-08
  In College we saw the movie as part of American Literature class, I bought the book after. This is a short story that is good from the first to the last page, the fraternity beetween two men, traveling together looking for work, one of them is very big, but not very smart, so he is constantly getting in trouble, the other one, George, looks out for him. They have dreams, but times are hard, until they meet an old man that is willing to invest so the three of them buy a ranch. I dont want to go into the ending, but I can say it is sad and beautifull at the same time, I really recomend this book, for all ages. I have read some comments about people complaining about foul language, I dont agree, it is much worse on most movies today.
  
  
• Steinbeck's Truth
  By A57L74GHKJ1GE on 2000-07-08
  "Of Mice and Men" is perhaps the most poignant tragedy I've ever read. In my opinion it stands with Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" and Hemingway's "Sun Also Rises" as one of the best novels ever. While I normally try to avoid empty praise like this, a detailed account doing justice to Steinbeck's genius woud be longer than the book itself!

  In iceberg fashion, Steinbeck packs more emotion, characterization and eloquence into this novella than most books four times its length. The relationship between Lenny and George--portrayed almost entirely through dilouge, allowing the reader a freer (and richer) interpretation--is not only believable, it is TRUE. This relationship, the core of the novel, is beautifully highlighted and ornamented by the other characters and the reletively simplistic plot.

  Some critics may point out flaws in the work: lack of developed female characters, predictable outcome, cardboard supporting characters, etc. However, I disagree with many of these criticisms and would contend that even if they were true, they are a part of Steinbeck's pseudo-minimalism and serve to better illustrate that single, true, core relationship.

  When reading "Of Mice and Men," don't expect a complex web of character interactions as with a mystery or adventure. Don't expect Steinbeck to create a rich, tangible mood like Conrad. And don't expect Hemingway's bare, photo-realistic portrait of human emotion and experience. Instead, expect a simple novel, with seemingly simple characters and a simple, loving relationship ending in tragedy. All of it 100% true.

  P.S. This is the only novel which depressed me for an entire weekend. Read it on a Monday.
  
  

• Pretty good if you don't mind cussing.
  By AAUQIR9WIAT39 on 2000-07-07
  Of Mice and Men has an excellent plot - I didn't want to put it down once I got started. It is the story of two farmers in California in the 1930's, George and Lennie. Lennie doesn't know his own strength and consequently, it gets him a lot of trouble. The only problem I found with this book was the foul language. I was forced to read this book for school, and was shocked to discover the schooling system apparently encourages cussing, otherwise I would not have been forced to read it. A book containing murder, prositution, and extreme foul language such as that included in Of Mice and Men should, in my mind, not be a cumpulsory reading text for school. Once I learned to ignore the language problem, I found that I rather enjoyed the plot and the style in which it was written. George and Lennie's personalities are so well drawn out, it's hard to believe they are mere characters in a book of fiction. All bad content aside, Of Mice and Men was quite entertaining.
  
  
• Of Mice and Men
  By AWN5ZBEUMDY2Z on 2001-01-11
  This book pulls you in and won't let you out until you have read through the last page. It captures your heart. It is the story of George Milton and Lennie Small. They struggle together to fight the realities of the American society. All they want is to own a farm of their own with horses, chickens, cows and rabbits. George is short tempered but always looks out for his friend Lenny. Lenny is mentally ill to a degree and thinks like a kid, but he has unbelievable strength. He is a giant man. When he is scared he pets anything soft. It may be a dead mouse that he always carries in his pocket, a dress or a woman's hair. This book is written in a poetic form. It truely shows the struggle of men looking for jobs what the jobs consist of when they get them. Their relationship is stronger than any other relationship. They are bonded together by the care they have for each other. Unfortunatley, there is a time when you have no control of your friend's fate...
  
  
• Steinbeck's Best
  By on 2000-03-24
  This is a book that I was recently "forced" to read in school. Traditionally, I am not a fan of having to read anything (especially something that was written fifty years before I was born). But this ended up being the best book I've ever read (okay, so maybe it's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest). The best thing about this book is that it's not too long (so that those who arn't crazy about reading won't feel like giving up), and it's not hard to understand, like some of Steinbeck's other stuff. If you want to read a book by him, this is a great first choice. Read it before you pick up anything else by Steinbeck. And the ending...un-freaking-believable!
  
  
• Sentimental Sarabande
  By A5BHJ4E6ELFLO on 2000-12-08
  Although not one of the lengthiest books to ever hit the shelves, Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is definitely a warhorse in the arena of American Literature. Illustrating the fierce love between two friends, Steinbeck takes the reader on a journey through the poverty stricken lands of the West. These two friends, George and Lennie, are the two main characters of the novel, and their journeys from job to job hold only one thing in common: they keep their dreams to one day own their own little patch of land. Because of Lennie's combination of mental retardation and incredible strength, he often gets into troublesome situations and ends up leaving town. George always goes with Lennie, but in the tragic end, George realizes that he cannot keep protecting Lennie from the world.

  There is much to this book, but it can easily be read as simply a sad story. I found it very readable, and I have always kept it close to my heart. There are some instances of foul language and inappropriate situations, but they in no way are distracting to the overall thematic content. Steinbeck's evocative language and beautiful descriptions are breathtaking. The story is not so complex or farfetched that it becomes unbelievable, and I highly recommend it to anyone that is considering reading it. I truly do love this book.
  
  

• Beautiful and tragic
  By A3MADEFLE1QN0 on 2007-07-27
  OF MICE AND MEN is one of those sadly rare, short, truly beautiful stories that stay with you forever, the sort of story that you can tell from the beginning -- if its reputation hasn't preceded it, that is -- will be terribly sad. The sort of story that depicts a cruel, unfair, appalling world in the most sensitive and loving way possible.
  
  In short, a classic.
  
  The story is of George, a small, sharp man, and his friend/protege Lennie, a huge, muscular gentle giant with dull wits, who wants nothing more than peace and quiet and little animals. His grandest dream is to someday own a farm with George, where they can have animals -- and Lennie can tend the rabbits. George and Lennie stick together, even after the unthinkable happens and Lennie's strength betrays them both. And when it does, George has to make the most difficult choice he has ever made, one that will haunt him forever -- a choice where there really is no "right" answer.
  
  This is a read-in-one-sitting kind of book, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's light reading. It's powerful, immensely so. It shows, all at once, the hopelessness of human hatred, the helplessness of those caught in it, and the strength that can come through even despite these things. The ending may leave you crying, but it will not leave you depressed, even though all the things that happened are tragic, even though there is no escape now from the spiral of monotony and pointlessness that rules the lives of the workers. Somehow, the author pulls it off.
  
  And for that, it is a classic.
  
  Rating: Masterpiece
  
  
• A novel that moves the heart and soul
  By AKTPQ30CT2GYF on 2007-08-04
  I will not spend a lot of time in detail here, but I have always loved this story although the ending is hearth wrenching. That just goes to show you how real it is, realistic, dramatic and gripping tale set in an America that was not so long ago. If you are a younger person wanting to expand the fictional horizons of your library this would be a good book to start with. I first saw the TV movie of it when I was in Junior High and never forgot it. Years later I bought this Centennial Edition and now have probably read it four times. It is just one of those stories that has so much power with the power of love, but also carries a world of pain. Don't read my review any more just go read this novel if you have not already!
  
  

• To Kill a Mockingbird
• The Catcher in the Rye
• The Great Gatsby
• Lord of the Flies (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century)
• The Grapes of Wrath (Centennial Edition)