Goodreads | Of Mice and Men (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century)

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Curley's Wife	29	19 days ago, 06:24PM

Embraced_evils rated it:

(review of isbn 0142000671)

06/22/08

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: Yes

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Usually when my father and I actually have conversations, it tends to revolve around some sort of argument. At times, even if I agree with him, I’d pick up the opposite side of the given argument just for arguments sake. When we agree we fall silent, and our relationship is based for the most part on silence the chance to argue is usually too good to pass up. When I was younger I’d end up in tears, frustrated that he couldn’t look beyond his own view points…in retrospect I suppose I coul...more

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Anitta rated it:

05/09/08

Read in May, 2008

recommended to Anitta by: School Assignment
recommends it for: Junior/Senior status students

The role of man’s inhumanity towards man plays a significant role in today’s society. This role can be the discrimination between color, status, or mental capacities. John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, validates this belief and confirms the way men inhumanely treat their brothers. This fictional story expresses the loneliness, friendship, and American dreams sought by many in the Salinas Valley of California. The book depicts life in the 1930’s for an itinerant farmer with clear de...more The role of man’s inhumanity towards man plays a significant role in today’s society. This role can be the discrimination between color, status, or mental capacities. John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, validates this belief and confirms the way men inhumanely treat their brothers. This fictional story expresses the loneliness, friendship, and American dreams sought by many in the Salinas Valley of California. The book depicts life in the 1930’s for an itinerant farmer with clear detail and astounding reality.
George Milton can be described by several physical characteristics. Every part of him is defined from his strong features to his small stature and bony nose. His loyalties for his friend, Lennie, show his true demeanor. He serves as a protector for Lennie and dutifully fills the position of ‘big brother’. George’s behavior is motivated by his desire to eventually own farmland and raise rabbits with Lennie. Though it is George who often weaves the tale of a future farm, it is Lennie’s childlike faith that allows George to believe in the safe haven.
Lennie Small’s inability to fend for himself, because of his mental state, leaves him vulnerable to the outside world. His massive size and undefined features compliments the strength he retains. Many of the scenes involving Lennie foreshadow events to come. The character’s Lennie and George meet on their journey further proves the themes of the book. Because of Lennie’s childlike nature and faith in a better world, Steinbeck uses this character as the ultimate example of man’s inhumanity.
Slim is a skilled mule driver working on the ranch of which George and Lennie are meant to report to. He seems to be the only character actually in tune with himself. With his ability to understand human behavior, Slim often finds himself giving counsel to the other ranch hands. His best characteristics are caring, understanding, and being very respected. Slim’s respected position gives the reader the sense of a hero in this American tragedy. He cares for friends and enemies alike. Slim is the only person, besides George, who understands Lennie’s odd behavior.
The story of the George and Lennie begins with the two hiking. The two men have just left the town of Weed due to circumstances. Because of Lennie’s mental competency, George finds himself recalling the events that have taken place over the last few weeks. He eludes to a dream that he and Lennie share concerning a farm and raising rabbits. When finally arriving at their destination, the two farmers meet several characters. The book takes place over a single weekend, but is chocked full of interesting scenes, several surprises, and a moral to top it off.
One of the character’s George and Lennie runs into on their journey is a stable-hand named Crooks. Steinbeck uses Crooks as an example of man’s inhumanity towards man. Crooks is an African American man who has a slight curvature of his spine due to an animal accident several years earlier. Because of his race, Crooks is not allowed to sleep in the bunks with the other farm hands. Instead, he is sent to live in a room by himself. In some ways the isolated room is better off than the bunks, but Crooks need for companionship quickly changes his mind. Steinbeck uses the character’s sarcastic personality to demonstrate the effect of loneliness on a person. The point of man’s inhumanity is clearly defined by this character and many more.
Steinbeck attempts to analyze the inhumane treatment of man, as it existed in the 1930’s. He deals with the loneliness and frustration of the mentally challenged in a way that clearly expresses the struggles of these individuals. Steinbeck analyzes the human personality and expresses his ideas through his descriptive wording. His writing shows the habit of the strong in society to prey on those who suffer from ailments, whether physical, financial, or social. Whether intentionally or not, the author is able to strike a nerve within the reader.
“Guy’s 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 is they’re poundin’ their tail on some other ranch. They ain’t got nothing to look ahead to.”
There are many good points to the book. Steinbeck’s riveting characters show a glimpse into the life of those who lived through the time period. His use of words conveys the struggle to a deeper extent beyond printed words on paper.
The many good qualities of the book offset any minor flaws. Steinbeck wrote the book with a deeper meaning in mind and accomplishes his task.
Steinbeck takes a step away from tradition and dares to write in a time when brotherly love did not exist, a time of great depression, and economic turmoil. The two itinerant farmer’s, George and Lennie, struggle to find their own safe haven in this world. Because of all that has influenced his genius, Steinbeck’s take on this time shows through his writing, above and beyond meaningless words.
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Ximena rated it:

(review of isbn 0142000671)

05/09/08

Read in April, 2008

John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, tells the story of two men, George and Lennie; set in the Salinas River, a few miles south of Soledad, during the Great Depression in 1930. In those times it was not unusual that two men traveled together trying to look for a job, because most people were very poor, but it was very unusual that two men traveled together like George and Lennie did. It is a dramatic story of friendship with a very simple writing style and developed by the author from his ...more John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, tells the story of two men, George and Lennie; set in the Salinas River, a few miles south of Soledad, during the Great Depression in 1930. In those times it was not unusual that two men traveled together trying to look for a job, because most people were very poor, but it was very unusual that two men traveled together like George and Lennie did. It is a dramatic story of friendship with a very simple writing style and developed by the author from his own experiences throughout his life.

George Milton is a small, smart and quick man with a dark face and sharp features; Lennie small, on the other side, has an ironic name for a man of his size, for he is a big man with great strength, but is also mentally retarded and his body features are round and undefined. They arrive to a ranch near Soledad looking for a job, because they need money to fulfill their dream of having one day their own piece of land where they can have a ranch with soft rabbits and chickens.

George protects Lennie because he is always getting in all kinds of trouble, like in Weed. They have to leave the town because a girl accused Lennie of rape. George is always telling Lennie that if he gets in trouble he would not have the rabbits, so Lennie is trying not to get in trouble.

At the ranch, the dream of having their ranch was moving closer to reality. Candy, an old man offers Lennie and George to buy the ranch with them, and he could work for them, and they can buy it easily and faster. But the dream crashes when Lennie does something bad.

I found this book very interesting because it talks about two friends that help each other when they are in troubles and it also talks about the dream of two friends that do anything they can to achieve it. The book tells about the hopes and dreams of working classes of America. I actually enjoyed reading this book because it is very entertaining, dramatic but funny. I really love this book because it is a great combination between dramatism and irony, which makes it a very funny and entertaining piece to read and a must for your personal library.

La novela de John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, cuenta la historia de dos hombres George y Lennie. La trama se sitúa en el Río Salinas, a unas millas al sur de Soledad, durante la Gran Depresión en 1930. En esos tiempos no era muy inusual que dos hombres viajaran para buscar trabajo, porque en esos tiempos la gente era muy pobre, pero lo que si era inusual era que dos hombres viajaran juntos como George y Lennie. Es una historia dramática de amistad con un estilo de escritura muy simple y desarrollada por el autor de sus propias experiencias durante su vida.

George Milton, un hombre pequeño, listo y con rasgos fuertes; Lennie Small, un nombre irónico para su tamaño, es grande y fuerte, retrasado mental y sus rasgos son indefinidos. Ellos llegan a un rancho cerca de Soledad buscando trabajo, porque necesitan dinero para realizar su sueño de tener un día su propio rancho con suaves conejos y pollos.

George protege a Lennie porque él siempre se esta metiendo en todo tipo de problemas, como en Weed. Tuvieron que irse del pueblo porque a Lennie lo acusaron de que había violado a una señora y tuvieron que esconderse hasta la noche y después huir. George siempre le esta diciendo a Lennie que si se mete en problemas no podrá tener sus conejos, entonces Lennie está tratando de no meterse en problemas.

En el rancho, su sueño de tener el rancho cada vez se veía mas cerca. Candy, un hombre viejo le ofreció a Lennie y a Geroge que el podía comprar el rancho con ellos y que el trabajaría para ellos y así la podrían comprar mas rápido y fácilmente. Pero el sueño se deshizo cuando Lennie hace algo mal.

Este libro me pareció muy interesante porque habla de dos amigos que se ayudan mutuamente cuando están en problemas, también habla del sueño que tienen dos amigos que hacen todo lo que pueden para hacerlo realidad. El libro cuenta sobre las esperanzas y los sueños de las clases obreras de Estados Unidos. De verdad disfruté leer el libro porque es muy divertido, dramático, pero chistoso. En realidad disfrute leer este libro ya que es una gran combinación de dramatismo e ironía, lo que lo hace una muy divertida y entretenida pieza que no puede faltar en tu biblioteca personal.

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Jennifer rated it:

(review of isbn 0142000671)

06/22/08

Read in June, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

My first thought after reading this book was that this is the best love story I have ever read. The love that George (mentally healthy) and Lennie (mentally retarded ) have for each other isn't possible between two adults on the same mental page. Their love was of the kind that is only possible between a mother/father and child, and even that love loses its strength when the child gets older and becomes more independent and less ignorant and innocent. Lennie, however, will always be ignorant ...more My first thought after reading this book was that this is the best love story I have ever read. The love that George (mentally healthy) and Lennie (mentally retarded ) have for each other isn't possible between two adults on the same mental page. Their love was of the kind that is only possible between a mother/father and child, and even that love loses its strength when the child gets older and becomes more independent and less ignorant and innocent. Lennie, however, will always be ignorant and innocent. He will always rely on George for survival. He looks up to George the way an innocent child looks up to his parents. And George needs Lennie so he can feel needed and be the protector of an innocent, weaker person. He needs to love and be loved. Even Lennie wants to take care of creatures weaker than he is - mice, puppies, rabbits. We all need to love and be loved. The most painful feeling in the world is lonliness, which I believe is what this book is really about. It's about lonliness and the desperate measures people take to combat this suffocating feeling. The most desperate measure being George keeping Lennie in the public knowing that the chances of him innocently killing someone were high. Lennie is incapable of understanding his own strength and innocently kills weaker creatures when he gets scared. He clings to them and doesn't let go, crushing them. At one point, he clung to a girl's skirt and wouldn't let go. George and Lennie had to flee because the girl accused Lennie of rape. In the end Lennie does innocently kill a girl, but George is really responsible. George kills both the girl and Lennie because he wanted Lennie around to fill the void of lonliness, knowing that it could result in the death of another human being. He didn't supervise Lennie enough. He knew there was a pretty girl running around for attention that Lennie could accidently kill. But as much as we desire companionship, we also desire freedom and George simply couldn't take care of Lennie 24/7. Lennie ends up unsupervised in the barn and kills the girl. Then George kills Lennie before the girl's husband can, so Lennie can die painlessy and with dignity. So is George a hero for killing Lennie himself and commiting the ultimate act of unselfish love? Or is he a weak, selfish boy who chose to live in denial about what Lennie could do to another human being because he didn't want to be alone, and thus causing two deaths?

Most people simply don't understand or don't care about the effects their fear of lonliness have on others or even themselves. Candy did not want to do the right thing and kill his old, suffering dog for fear of lonliness. There are so many people nowadays who do the same thing. The fact that their dogs are in pain is not as important as their fear of lonliness. The ways people handled lonliness in the book still apply to today. However, some coping mechanisms change with time and in this rich, fast food nation people are now eating like pigs to combat lonliness and don't care what they are doing to their bodies or how they are raising health care costs for others. Then there are wise people, like Slim, who understand the lonliness in themselves and others and cope with it in a rational manner by listening to others and sharing words of wisdom with them. They are thus needed by others and others need them, which lessens the degree of lonliness the wise and unwise feel. The wise control their lonliness rather than the lonliness controlling them. Seems like a lot of people nowadays surround themselves with shallow, meaningless friendships to suppress their feelings of lonliness as well. If people would just spend time getting to know themselves, they would always have a meaningful friend in themselves and feel much less alone. I think Slim is the true hero in this book. And maybe it is still the best love story I've ever read - the deep love and understanding Slim has for himself and others. One final thought - I think this book shows how most humans do the right thing for themselves, rather than the right thing.
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Charniece rated it:

(review of isbn 0142000671)

06/09/08

Of Mice and Men was a book written in the past that can relate to the present, and future. Published in 1937 in the United States of America, Of Mice and Men is a story that could have taken place abroad. John Steinbeck was the creator of this story. In the book I loved the use of the literary tool of foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is used all through-out Of Mice and Men. The time period in which the book takes place is during the 1930's. The 1930's was a significant time in America and using t...more Of Mice and Men was a book written in the past that can relate to the present, and future. Published in 1937 in the United States of America, Of Mice and Men is a story that could have taken place abroad. John Steinbeck was the creator of this story. In the book I loved the use of the literary tool of foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is used all through-out Of Mice and Men. The time period in which the book takes place is during the 1930's. The 1930's was a significant time in America and using this time period created a certain type of mood to the story. The 1930's time period also allowed for extensive character developement and opened our eyes to many of America's many hidden evils and discrimination. Last, I liked Of Mice and Men because of the overall plot and the many messages the book delivered.

Foreshadowing is used in written art and film to give hints about things to come in later plot developments. It can be very broad and easily understood, or it may be complex use of symbols, that are then connected to later turns in the plot. Steinbeck uses this literary tool a lot in Of Mice and Men. I liked the use of foreshadowing because it allows me to keep up with the story and go back and make connections to things I had previously read in the plot. The story Of Mice and Men also had a very dramatic and suspensful plot at times it was very helpful to have the foreshadowing (hints) to carry you to the end.

I loved the fact that the book was based in the 1930’s. The book greatly depicts events and emotions that were occuring and felt in the 1930's. For ex. The "Dust Bowl" occured in the 1930's.During the year of 1930 most farmers would get quite an amount of rain, and healthy crops. But, once the year changed so did the weather. The mud dried up and turned into dust, and that was the start of The Dust Bowl.I remember during the viewing of Of Mice and Men the last farm that Lennie and George were working on did not look so plentiful it looked very dusty and dry. A lot of racism and discrimination was going on in the 1930's. This book shows this through the African- American character crooks. Using this time period also allows for character developement. It added a character trait and emotion to every character in Of Mice and Men. One part that angered me from the story was when Lennie a retarded person could not remember his own aunts name but could not remember that crooks was suppose to be called a nigger. Even though Lennie was treated bad for his disability he still could find room to degrade someone else in a worse off position then him.

Of Mice of Men had an amazing plot with very good and inspiring characters. The characers could represent many different types of people. The characters helped push fourth the messages Of Mice and Men beared. The story startedoff slow but picked up very quicxkly and once it took off it didn't not even at the end did it slow down.

Of Mice and Men was a great book that I really enjoyed. I liked Of Mice and Men because it was a relatable book whether you read it during its publication in 1937 or today. I'm sure the book will still be relateable in the future because history repeats itself. I liked the literary tool of Forseshadowing. What I liked the most however was the time period in which the book was based because it set the mood of the book and allowed for many situations and character developements.
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Andy rated it:

02/10/08

Read in February, 2008

It's the way Steinbeck describes things that gets me.

"Crooks, the negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn. On one side of the little room there was a square four-paned window, and on the other, a narrow plank door leading into the barn. Crooks' bunk was a long box filled with straw, on which his blankets were flung. On the wall by the window there were pegs on which hung broken harness in process of being mended; strips of ...more It's the way Steinbeck describes things that gets me.

"Crooks, the negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn. On one side of the little room there was a square four-paned window, and on the other, a narrow plank door leading into the barn. Crooks' bunk was a long box filled with straw, on which his blankets were flung. On the wall by the window there were pegs on which hung broken harness in process of being mended; strips of new leather; and under the window itself a little bench for leather-working tools, curved knives and needles and balls of linen thread, and a small hand riveter. On pegs were also pieces of harness, a split collar with the horsehair stuffing sticking out, a broken hame, and a trace chain with its leather covering split. Crooks had his apple box over his bunk, and in it a range of medicine bottles, both for himself and for the horses. There were cans of saddle soap and a drippy can of tar with its paint brush sticking over the edge. And scattered about the floor were a number of personal possessions; for, being alone, Crooks could leave his things about, ad being a stable buck and a cripple, he was more permanent than the other men, and he had accumulated more possessions than he could carry on his back."

None of this is relevant to the story, and yet a middle chapter opens up with this vivid scene. Steinbeck succeeds because the characters he paints in your head are exact. The first time I saw the movie that was made out of this story, it was just as I had envisioned it. Though the story great itself, the reason I will come back to this book is for the little things, the very things that have made me love Steinbeck so much.

I first read Of Mice And Men my sophomore year of high school, when it was a required reading in Mrs. Beeler's class. I recall disliking almost all required school readings up to this point (though admittedly I had skipped out on the summer reading project of "The Grapes Of Wrath"). When this book was assigned, I knew it was different. I blew through it, reading it in a day or two, even though I wasn't supposed to. For once there was a school book that I enjoyed. And all the credit in the world to my teacher, who chose other good books the rest of the year. So it's been 6-7 years since I've read this, and now, reading it for the second time, it's just as memorable as I remember. The story sticks with you, the imagery sticks. The characters are among Steinbeck's best, painted in such a crystal clear vision of the time.

It's a near perfect short story, and one that I will surely revisit throughout my life....less

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Shawanda rated it:

(review of isbn 0142000671)

05/07/08

In the book Of Mice and Men was a great book to read, it thought me about people’s handicaps. Not the handicap that you can see out side but the inside handicap. It also talks about the power of brother hood.

The book Of Mice and Men was about different men and there different handicap. In the beginning of the story they start off with a man name Lennie and a man name George, who is going to another farm to work. When you first open the book you can tell what Lennie's handicap is, he is me...more In the book Of Mice and Men was a great book to read, it thought me about people’s handicaps. Not the handicap that you can see out side but the inside handicap. It also talks about the power of brother hood.

The book Of Mice and Men was about different men and there different handicap. In the beginning of the story they start off with a man name Lennie and a man name George, who is going to another farm to work. When you first open the book you can tell what Lennie's handicap is, he is mentally retired. Lennie likes to pet soft things with his hands but he always end up killing it. George handicap is that he is short and not as big as all the other guys, and he has to take care of Lennie so that he wont get in to any trouble.

In the middle of the book they bring in six more people Candy, Curley, Curley’s wife, Slim, Crooks and Carlson.
Candy only has one arm and is an old man, Curley is the son of the owner of the farm. He is the smallest man on the farm so he try’s to pick on the biggest man who is Lennie so that people can fare him even though he is small. His mean weakness is his wife because she lives on the farm with all them strong men around her all the time and she is a big flirt. Slim is like the leader of the group what he says goes and everyone always looks at him the last word. Crooks is a black men in the 1930’s how works on a farm with all white men. He has a hump back because when he was young a horse kicked him.

In this book they really teach you about the power of brother hood and how they all stick together because they have formed a small family. When Carlson wants to kill Candy’s dog because he is old and smells bad everyone in the barn teams up and votes that the dog should be killed. Then they all turn to see what Slim will say so they can now if they can kill the dog our let the dog stay until tomorrow. When Slim says that the dog should be killed that night the dog is shot. Another time is when Candy fines Curley’s wife is dead and Lennie is the one who killed her. So he goes and tells George and the other guys and they team up to see what they should do with him. Then they come up with the idea that Lennie should be killed.

If you would like to read and learn about the power of brother hood and about people’s handicaps that you cannot see and how they deal with them this is a great book to pick up and read. I my self would love to read this book over again this will be my second time reading this book because every time I read this book I learn new things.

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James rated it:

(review of isbn 0142000671)

05/01/08

At 16, I was not able to appreciate the unmistakable harshness of what really is the average human's life. That is to say, I knew people starved to death half way across the world, I knew there were dictators, and so on. But these are the extremes.

I did not recognize small silent suffering. For I didn’t know the man who spends his whole life toiling to no tangible end – working to work. I did not recognize wretched solitude. For I did not know he who spends his existence hopelessly drift...more

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Porsha rated it:

05/16/08

Again in Constitution High School we read another book in english class.The book was called of mice and men which I thought was okay it wasn't pretty much what I expected but then it got a little good at the end.I wasn't that interested in the book but at the moddle and towards the end it started to get a little interesting.In this essay I will explain why I liked the book,why I didn't like the book and what I learned.
First lets talk about the things I liked in the book I like this book a li...more Again in Constitution High School we read another book in english class.The book was called of mice and men which I thought was okay it wasn't pretty much what I expected but then it got a little good at the end.I wasn't that interested in the book but at the moddle and towards the end it started to get a little interesting.In this essay I will explain why I liked the book,why I didn't like the book and what I learned.
First lets talk about the things I liked in the book I like this book a little but I really loved the movie.The book was okay I liked that it really kept you in content and never kept you drifting away that much.I also liked the way they sum the story up in a way that I can really relate to and picture what it looks like.That was all I liked about the book which isn't alot beacause as I sated the book was okay.
Next I'm going to talk about what I dislike about the book.To tell you the truth I hated the book not all of it but mostly all of it.I hated the language and the connection that each character had in the book.When I read this book I was so bored and lost which turns me striaght off a book I couldn't even get through the book in a day because it was so boring and a book with such little pages should have gotten done in a day or two compared to the other book I reads.On the other hand I really loved the movie it sum things up in the book that I couldn't understand because OI was so bored but I really loved the movie and I hope to watch it again.
Finally what I learned I really leraned alot from this book.I leraned to never take advantage of a person because of the weakness that person have because you never know if you need that person one day especially if it's your friend which you shouldn't do anyway because it's not nice to treat people that way because you wouldn't want to get treated like that.The other lesson I learned was to do things myself and not let people handle what I suppose to do like when candy regreted cartson killing the dog I think that candy should have did it hiself at least he wouldn't regret having someone else do that to him so I would want to handle things for myself instead of having people doing things for me and regret it.
Now that I talked about what I liked about the book,what I didn't learn,and what I learned.I address all of these things in the essay and you should read it and tell me what you think....less

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Vondell aka VonBoogie rated it:

(review of isbn 0142000671)

06/09/08

The book Of Mice Of Men had great ways of expressing emotion. Many of the characters had a point in the story where the characters share their emotions. In this story there are a variety of motifs. Some are displayed broadly, while others are disguised.
Loneliness as well as the search for companionship was in the air in this story. Every character suffered from one of them in a part of this story. Some overcame it. While others couldn’t.
In this story there is an old man named C...more The book Of Mice Of Men had great ways of expressing emotion. Many of the characters had a point in the story where the characters share their emotions. In this story there are a variety of motifs. Some are displayed broadly, while others are disguised.
Loneliness as well as the search for companionship was in the air in this story. Every character suffered from one of them in a part of this story. Some overcame it. While others couldn’t.
In this story there is an old man named Candy. Pretty old looks to be in his early to mid 60’s. On the farm he is useless because he only has one arm. Instead of working on the farm like most of the men on the farm he stays at the bunks and sweeps the floor all day. Even in the circumstance he is in he seems to stay happy and in a good mood most of the time. That is because he has a dog that he has had for half the years he was on this earth. He had that dog since it was a little puppy.
The dog in the story was a symbol. It basically represented what was left of his earlier life and his dreams. The dog didn’t only represent his dreams, but it was the closest thing he had to a family. Without the dog by his side he would be all alone.
The dog had grown old right along with Candy. His fur was no longer soft as he was in his younger years. He no longer barked and walked slow with rumatism running throughout his body. He grew so old he began to stink and the workers began to notice it. The men in his bunker decided the best thing to do with the dog was to take out in the back and shoot it. Candy denied the decision but was not going to go against the guys decision. When he heard the gun shot from the distance he slowly lay down and faced the wall and cried.
This story seems like a regular story. But many small things that are unnoticed have a greater meaning. There are symbols left and right in this book. You just have to look closely to find them.
Lennie is a mentally ill man, who is unable to make choices for himself. So he counts on a man name George to make choices for him. So Lennie follows George around because, he looks up to him.All throughout this book, Lennie always seems to be a nuisance to everyone around him. George seems to feel as though Lennie is holding him back from living his life and doing what he wants to do. Lennie's problem is that he is mentally retarded/slow.

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Alfreda rated it:

(review of isbn 0142000671)

06/03/08

Of Mice and Men was just one of those books that you just can't put down, from the very beginning. It's different, but in a good way. It shows love, respect, dreams, and those are just a few things that the book represents.

Of Mice and Men shows love in a way that isn't really around today. Not many people would kill their loved ones in order to stop someone else from doing so. Lennie as many of us know is mentally impaired, he gets into a lot of trouble b...more Of Mice and Men was just one of those books that you just can't put down, from the very beginning. It's different, but in a good way. It shows love, respect, dreams, and those are just a few things that the book represents.

Of Mice and Men shows love in a way that isn't really around today. Not many people would kill their loved ones in order to stop someone else from doing so. Lennie as many of us know is mentally impaired, he gets into a lot of trouble because of this. For a long time George was able to get Lennie out of trouble, but the last mistake that Lennie made had to have consequences. George didn't want for these people to torture Lennie, so George decided to take matters into his own hands and kill Lennie quick and easy, and that to me shows love.

Lennie and George had many plans to one day own their ranch, but that dream had to quickly end when Lennie died. They planned to be the boss and Lennie was going to tend the rabbits as long as he didn't hurt them or anyone else anymore. Lennie tried his hardest to do so, but when it came down to it, he couldn't stick to his promise, and not because he didn't want to, that's just how the cards were supposed to be dealt, so to speak.

The book also shows the respect that Lennie and George had for one another. Not only do I think that by killing Lennie George showed love, I also think that he showed respect for him. I say this because he let Lennie die like a man. Instead of being tortured and probably taunted with for hours or dies he did it quick and easy. Lennie didn't die begging for his life and to me that was a respectable way to go. Lennie of course to me showed George respect every time that he listened to what George told him, because in the long run, George only did what he thought was best for Lennie, all the way to the very end.

Of Mice and Men was just an amazing book to read. At first you think this is not anything I would be interested in reading, but by the end you can't even believe that yo thought that way. The characters in this book had lots of love, respect, and had many dreams for one another. This book just shows the true reality of life, that you don't always get what you want and that life really isn't always this happy ending....less

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Iveryd rated it:

(review of isbn 0142000671)

05/15/08

Do you read books in you english class. Well the second book we read in my english class this year was John Steinbeck's "of mice and men". In my opinion, it was a pretty good book. I liked it because it was short, action filled, and interesting. Those are all most of the qualities that I look for when reading a book.

I liked the shortness of the book because it was right to the point. For example, when the author brought In a knew character. He briefly gave a short review of their p...more Do you read books in you english class. Well the second book we read in my english class this year was John Steinbeck's "of mice and men". In my opinion, it was a pretty good book. I liked it because it was short, action filled, and interesting. Those are all most of the qualities that I look for when reading a book.

I liked the shortness of the book because it was right to the point. For example, when the author brought In a knew character. He briefly gave a short review of their personality. But there are other reasons why i liked the shortness of 'of mice and men". Short books like of mice and men also made me want to read other books. Which is a really good thing because I don't like to read books.

The action in "of mice and men" was great. There were murders, fights, and guys who were hard working. The best action scene was when Curly tried to fight Lennie, and Lennie broke all of the bones in Curly's hand. So this is what happened, curley was feeling bad about himself, so he decided to take his anger out on lennie, because he knew Lennie was kind of slow. So Curley started punching on Lennie. Then Lennie starded crying and he asked george what he should do. George told Lennie to grab Curley. Well, Lennie did grab Curley and he didn't let go. By time he did let go, Curley's hand was filled with blood.

I also liked when Lennie killed Curley's wife. Now, i know it sounds mean that i like When Lennie kills Curley wife, But that part was very action filled. And the worst thing about it is that he killed her with his bare hands. This all Happened because she let Lennie rub her hair. He was rubbing her hair so hard that he started to mess it up. Curley's wife tried to tell Lennie to stop because he was messing her hair up, but Lennie did listen. He just started rubbing it even Harder. She tried to get away to go tell on him. As soon as Lennie knew she was trying to go tell on him. He started swinging her around tell her not to tell, and before you knew it. Her neck was broke.

"Of mice and men" was interesting because of Lennie. beings though that he was a little bit aliterate. He wasn't really aware of what was going so, you never knew what he was going to do next. Like when George told him he could'nt bring the puppies in the house Plus he was very loyal and would stand up for anything he loved.

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Michell'e rated it:

(review of isbn 0142000671)

05/30/08

Mice of men. When I first picked up this book I really didn't want to read it. It seemed as if I was juging the book by it's cover. This book wasn't as interesting in the begining (as no book really is). It was kind of dull in the middle until the wife came in. The three reason why I thought the book was ok was because, one it symbolized the fact that dreams didn't always come true. Two, it gave an example of how lonliness can change the way you act and think. Three the endding was shocking and...more Mice of men. When I first picked up this book I really didn't want to read it. It seemed as if I was juging the book by it's cover. This book wasn't as interesting in the begining (as no book really is). It was kind of dull in the middle until the wife came in. The three reason why I thought the book was ok was because, one it symbolized the fact that dreams didn't always come true. Two, it gave an example of how lonliness can change the way you act and think. Three the endding was shocking and unexpected for words to say.

First of all this book was good to me because of that fact that it was reality. It didn't have in the endding that they got the farm ad they lived off the fat of the lands cause thats what they wante to do. It was their dream and they showed us that dreams will never come true if you don't work hard at it and the thing that was holding George back was Lennie. Lennie was the one that was putting a hold on his dreams. He was the reason why the book was interesting to an extent.

Another reason why this book was ok is because of the fact that lonliness can change a person's action's and thought's. In the book Cruley's wife was so lonly that she would go to an retarted person and get attention. Lonliness can become a illness because of the state of mine that you would but in. It makes you want to go to every and anyone that comes your way and in a way you can say that her illness killed her. You can also compare it to a slow death because slowly she was negleted and that slowly lead to her death.

In many ways his book was a good book but the one I liked the most was the endding. Th e endding was so shocking, it killed the whole thing of a true America dream. The American dream was killed when Lennie died. The way he died it was so sad and so unexpected and it made the book even more sad.It also made the book more interesting to read and for me to tell other people my opinion on the book.

In conclusion I think that the book was ok for anyone who understands death. This book was interesting to me because one it symbolized the fact that dreams didn't always come true. Two, it gave an example of how lonliness can change the way you act and think. Three the endding was shocking and unexpected for words to say.

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Portia rated it:

05/14/08

In this short paper I would like to talk about the novel I read. Which was Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck. I think that book was well written and it had so much meaning to it. In this paper I would like to talk about thoughts and symbols about this novel. The symbols in this novel was the main reason why really liked this novel.

When I first started reading this novel I did not like it. So I put the book down and never picked it back up. Until my English teacher made us read som...more In this short paper I would like to talk about the novel I read. Which was Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck. I think that book was well written and it had so much meaning to it. In this paper I would like to talk about thoughts and symbols about this novel. The symbols in this novel was the main reason why really liked this novel.

When I first started reading this novel I did not like it. So I put the book down and never picked it back up. Until my English teacher made us read some of the book as a class. When we read it as a class I still didn’t like the book. After we were done he started talking about the book, and really broke the book up. So we could see were the writer was coming from. He showed us that sometimes you have to really pay attention to the book to actually understand the meaning. When that class was over I went home and started reading the novel.

After that class I had in school I really started liking that book. I noticed so many things that I never really understood before when I read it. I noticed that Lennie’s puppy means so much. Lennie’s puppy symbolizes new beginnings. By that I mean a new clean slate, the person will be able to start over and change every thing and forget about the past. When people think of new beginning they might think their new beginning is moving, getting a new home and more. But the puppy in this book shows Lennie’s new beginning. It shows the new beginnings because Lennie is at a new place and he gets a new dog. Lennie enjoys spending time with the new puppy. The puppy shows that lennie can change now. He has a new life to start, just like the puppy. The new beginning in this book is the farm that Lennie , George and Candy would like to own. Were they could share home together and “live off the fat of the land.” Where they don’t have to worry about people canning them, because they own there own farm.

In conclusion I think this was a very good book. I’m glad that my teacher took time to make us read this and make us understand it. So I hope my readers would go back and actually understand this book, if they haven’t already.

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El Rey De Todo Esto rated it:

(review of isbn 0142000671)

05/27/08

Of mice and men, what do you think this book is about? Is it about mice or just men? Well it is actually about life, death, dreams, and faith. It's pretty farfetched huh? You wouldn't think that with that title that's what the book would be about. Well that is why the old phrase
"Don't judge a book by its cover". This book was filled with comedy and drama and worth the read.
This book was very funny even though it was filled with so much drama and emotion. Lennie was so funny. Lenni...more Of mice and men, what do you think this book is about? Is it about mice or just men? Well it is actually about life, death, dreams, and faith. It's pretty farfetched huh? You wouldn't think that with that title that's what the book would be about. Well that is why the old phrase
"Don't judge a book by its cover". This book was filled with comedy and drama and worth the read.
This book was very funny even though it was filled with so much drama and emotion. Lennie was so funny. Lennie has so many comments that made me chuckle and laugh out loud. This character was simple and a bit slow so he made very simple and obvious comments that were just silly or plain funny. There were also many other characters that were funny. George had his threats and insults against people. Crooks was just weird and funny. He hated everyone so he was kind of funny and weird at the same time. There was also the fight between Curley and Lennie and I thought that was so funny and ironic. All this comedy was nothing compared to the drama.
This book was mostly drama, the drama of man and his dreams. Many of the characters had big and luxurious dreams. Some wanted to grow old with a family. Slim wanted to just stay and enjoy his brotherhood and live happily. George and Lennie wanted to buy a farm and tend to the farm. George wanted to stop jumping from place to place and settle down in the farm. Lennie wanted to tend to the rabbits and live happily with George. Candy wanted to just move in with George and Lennie and just live out the rest of his life in peace. Everyone wanted their own things in life. They had their own ambitions and their own way to achieve them. This book is what represents man and his dreams and is a wonderful book to read.
This book was awesome and it was one of the greatest books I have ever read. I recommend this book to everyone. This book has a lot of drama in it. It had death, fighting, and crushed dreams. There was also a lot of comedy, there were many outrageous comments and out the ordinary jokes. it kept me laughing. So if you want a good book to read and to maybe learn a life lesson through a book read this book....less

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Charles rated it:

(review of isbn 0142000671)

05/07/08

Of Mice and Men, probably one of my least favorite books that I have read. Imagine a book that bores you so much and then a teacher gives you many assignments on this book. That is not really engaging is it! Well that is what happened to me. Only reason why I gave this book even a star was because the movie explained more of what was going on to me. As you know this review is not suppose to be about the movie it is based off the book. I disliked this book. For one it was too short and for two th...more

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