Of Mice and Men takes us into the lives of George and Lennie, two farm workers set out to find their way to a new life. In true Steinbeck form, this short novel explores both loyalty and the transient nature of mankind.
Paperback, 107 pages
Published
September 1st 1993
by Penguin Books
(first published 1937)
"Guy don't need no sense to be a nice fella. Seems to me sometimes it jus' works the other way around. Take a real smart guy and he ain't hardly ever a nice fella." - Of Mice And Men
I really think I love John Steinbeck, which is surprising to me, because I never would have thought of myself as a Steinbeck reader. There's just something about the way he writes that cuts through all the bullshit and pretense and just tells it like it is, and I find that really refreshing. Som...more"Guy don't need no sense to be a nice fella. Seems to me sometimes it jus' works the other way around. Take a real smart guy and he ain't hardly ever a nice fella." - Of Mice And Men
I really think I love John Steinbeck, which is surprising to me, because I never would have thought of myself as a Steinbeck reader. There's just something about the way he writes that cuts through all the bullshit and pretense and just tells it like it is, and I find that really refreshing. Sometimes they aren't easy, and sometimes they hurt, but it's the kind of hurt that, hopefully, makes us want to be better. At least it makes me feel that way.
I know it'll be hard for those of you reading this to believe, but I can sometimes be a bit of a bitch. I can be demanding, irrational, impatient and moody, and sometimes my annoyance and irritation is taken out on unsuspecting innocents, or at least people who don't really deserve the hell I serve up on a platter. So, this book resonated with me. George resonated with me, and I felt myself willing him to be patient, to just try to understand Lennie's perspective, all while my face is flushing red from the knowledge that I don't always practice what I was preaching. I'm a damn hypocrite.
I really felt this book, as seems to be the case with the Steinbeck books I've read lately. I could identify with all of the characters in some way, and I love that. In such a short book, it's easy to get the characters very wrong... either they are caricatures, or they are cliches or they just plain stink and are boring. I really felt like I understood these characters, even if I didn't like them. At the end of the book, when Lennie asks George to yell at him, isn't he going to hit him, isn't he going to tell him he'd be better off without him, I found that just heartbreaking... that Lennie's sense of normalcy stems from George's frustration with him. I felt for George too. He only wants to take care of Lennie, but sometimes it's so hard. He can't be everywhere at once, and has had to make so many sacrifices in order to keep Lennie out of the kind of trouble that just comes from not knowing any better.
This story is just a smidge over 100 pages long, so it won't take you long to read at all, and I highly recommend it. Or you could take about 3 1/2 hours and let Gary Sinise read it to you, which is what I did. I wasn't sure about Gary at first, but he grew on me really quickly. I've never seen the movie, so I didn't know that he'd starred in the remake. Gary Sinise has a very recognizable voice, at least I think so, and it's kinda the opposite of my "preferred reader", but I thought he did a wonderful job reading this. The voices and the characters were all just right, and I'm not normally a "voice" fan when it comes to audio... I want the story to speak for itself.
This one definitely did that. This is the kind of story that will stick with me for a long time. As I was listening, I kept writing notes about thoughts that struck me, feelings that I had, concepts and themes in the book, and all sorts of interesting stuff that I don't really know how to express without spoiling this wonderful little story.
"The best laid schemes of mice and men oft' go astray." -- Robert Burns(less)
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; st...moreIt'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)
"A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. It don't make no difference who the guy is, long as he's with ya'. I tell ya', a guy gets too lonely, and he gets sick." I first read Of Mice and Men at an age when I was learning to read. Not phonetically, but critically. This novel taught me what good literature could be, and it is one of a handful of novels that I measure all other novels by. As a result, I have turned into someone who can read five to ten nonfiction books in a month but read...more"A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. It don't make no difference who the guy is, long as he's with ya'. I tell ya', a guy gets too lonely, and he gets sick." I first read Of Mice and Men at an age when I was learning to read. Not phonetically, but critically. This novel taught me what good literature could be, and it is one of a handful of novels that I measure all other novels by. As a result, I have turned into someone who can read five to ten nonfiction books in a month but read only one or two fiction books in any given year. This is what good literature should be. The essence of the story - loneliness and man's desperate need for friendship - is a story that never ages, never tires, and only seems trite to those too self-centered to ever realize how lonely they really are. Yes, it is sad and almost dooming in places. But it is also touching, true and timeless. The quote at the start of this review is as potent now as it was then; and its sentiment is timeless enough that it even showed up in 2006 on TV's Lost, word-for-word, as part of banter between two essential characters. "Don't you read?" Ben asked Sawyer. Even on an Island in the middle of nowhere, with others out to kidnap you and magic monsters made of trees and nightmares trying to kill you, reading Of Mice and Men is still important in a functional society.
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 could have s...moreUsually 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 could have said the same for myself. I didn’t let up enough to ever consider his side. We both just sort of took this cocky and aggressive tone, he was just better at playing it out…he still is, I suppose it has to do with the difference in age. No matter how thoughtful an argument might have been, or a question, or a thought, anything I posed to question him that he in turn could give no answer to, he’d settle simply by saying I didn’t have the experience or age to understand.
I haven’t yet come to terms with the fact that I’ll never be able to catch up, and that somehow I’ll never stop being a child in his eyes…hell I can’t stop being a child in my own eyes. It’s different with him though, someday I’d like to be right by his standards.
Any way, while I was reading Of Mice and Men I couldn’t stop thinking of an argument my father and I had when I was very young. We were talking about the bible and my decision whether or not to read it. He didn’t try to lead me in any direction but he wanted me to understand one thing. Reading the bible he said was like a “double edged sword”. His theory (not his exclusively, obviously) was that if one read the bible and understood it then the standards for getting into heaven were harder. I think the equation went something like this:
1. ignorance = innocence
2. innocence always gets into heaven, because you can forgive innocence.
I asked if that meant people who’ve never read the bible got into heaven. My father answered that they did, because it wasn’t their fault they had never been ‘shown’ the way. But that only meant there was more pressure for the people who had ‘seen’ the way because then they made a conscience choice to walk down that path, or take another way. The weight of this whole idea was ignored for a long time on my part; I remember scoffing at my father. It seemed ridiculous, the possibility of bad people getting into heaven just because they never knew better. This was back when I was a far more judgmental person. Though I can’t really deny that in my heart, the idea of God being so forgiving was a relief. I liked the view my father held, but I didn’t want to agree with it.
Reading Of Mice and Men sort of brought that argument back to my mind.
My father’s theory has evolved into a belief all on its own changed completely but with the same genuine heart. People aren’t bad; people are products of events, of situations. I wouldn’t say people are a 100% of their past, because in the living instant an individual has the ability to choose and has true undeniable free will over memories and expectations of the future. But if a person lives a very hard life, the possibilities of that individual repeating past mistakes is higher.
Regardless…that was sort of off the subject.
I think Lennie is the incarnation of everything wonderful and painful that makes up innocence. And not the sweet sort of innocence that people seem to wish to portray as a good quality. It’s the sort of innocence that’s rooted in ignorance. Lennie’s innocence is rooted in a mental disorder however, but it doesn’t really change the perspective for me. Mentally he’s a child, and children are innocent.
When Lennie died I thought about that a lot. Though this book didn’t in any way deal with the question of religion or god, or anything close to it, I couldn’t help but know that Lennie would go to heaven. Really it was an odd thing to think about after reading such a powerful and emotional piece.
My favorite character however would have to be Curley’s Wife. All the characters in this story had such an important roll, meaningful and diving deep into their psyche. All but Curley’s Wife, whose soul purpose in this story was to die, and prove that lust in the end undoes itself. Curley’s wife, who in my opinion represented nothing but lustfulness in a pool of odd but incredibly deep characters, is the most honest reflection of reality found in this book.
“Curley’s wife lay with a half-covering of yellow hay. And the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young.” (93)
It’s those little pearls of awareness thrown in her direction that made me love her. “the ache for attention”, who doesn’t know that feeling? And the idea that the only way to get rid of that ache, or the discontent and the meanness (sometimes done purposely sometimes done in ignorance) can only be beat with death. And having this representation of lust (passion for life) being killed by the representation of innocence (who generally is not at all that different from lust, or passion, the difference being only in the ‘plannings’) is painful. Where a passion for life called for planning and deliberation, for learning how to use the body and the mind…for a pure and simple ache to be known and seen was ended so quickly by innocence who just took what it wanted.
And on a completely different note that’s borderline ranting…I really enjoyed the story, and I am glad I decided to read the book again since I didn’t have much of a recollection from high school, but Jesus Christ what is up with the huge bunny at the end? I understand that it was a manifestation of Lennies mind, but GOD…a giant bunny? It seemed so cartoonish here at the climax of this emotional story.
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So, a lot of Goodreads readers gave this five stars. And a lot of other Goodreads readers said aargh someone took a copy of the Grapes of Wrath/ East of Eden/ Tortilla Flat (delete as applicable) and then tried to jam it, raw and unseasoned, sideways down their throats while they were in high school. This is the unfortunate effect that formalised analysis of actually pretty quality literature can have on people. Luckily, I escaped a Steinbeck-flavoured literary force feeding as a youth, which le...moreSo, a lot of Goodreads readers gave this five stars. And a lot of other Goodreads readers said aargh someone took a copy of the Grapes of Wrath/ East of Eden/ Tortilla Flat (delete as applicable) and then tried to jam it, raw and unseasoned, sideways down their throats while they were in high school. This is the unfortunate effect that formalised analysis of actually pretty quality literature can have on people. Luckily, I escaped a Steinbeck-flavoured literary force feeding as a youth, which leaves me to happily snack on his tasty literary morsels as an adult.
However, I was tortured using the much duller implement that is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Now I know this is traditionally regarded as an off-the-scale literary achievement of sublime amazingness (at least my mother thinks so) but as I still have a few pages and possibly a bit of the cover jammed between my molars from the way in which it was forced down my throat I would beg to differ. When asked to comment on "Jane Austens witty use of irony" I would frequently comment that what I found most ironic about the book was the fact that the Industrial Revolution, the most significant technological event since man created fire was occurring at the time she was writing and she failed to make mention of it even once. Big mistake Jane. Big.
Anyhoo, back to Of Mice and Men. I liked it. It was a light literary snackette (with the dusty bitter after taste of Depression era 1920s America) which I read in my car while waiting for some builders to spring to life and dig the holes they were supposed to be digging. Somehow reading Steinbeck while builders are outside scratching their arses and looking at the pictures in the News of the World makes me feel like an oober genius. Thanks Steiny, you made my day!
On a more random note I also took some time out today to visit the steam tender The Daniel Adamson (thats a boat for those of you who are lily-livered land lubbers) which is currently moored in the Sandon Half-Tide Dock. This is a precious part of Merseyside Maritime Heritage. To find out more about this restoration project please visit http://www.danieladamson.co.uk/ and if you can donate expertise, money, materials or moral support then please do.Thanks!(less)
I enjoyed this book just as much when re-reading as I did the first time around. I flew through the book and wish it had gone on longer. Steinbecks description is so vivid I just wanted to become lost in the story and didn't want it to end. I really need to read more of his work.
**Original Review**
We read this book for GSCE English Lit, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it was helped due to the fact that my English Teacher was amazing an...more**Re-read 24/09/09**
I enjoyed this book just as much when re-reading as I did the first time around. I flew through the book and wish it had gone on longer. Steinbecks description is so vivid I just wanted to become lost in the story and didn't want it to end. I really need to read more of his work.
**Original Review**
We read this book for GSCE English Lit, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it was helped due to the fact that my English Teacher was amazing and loved what she did - she had accents for all the characters too!!
Anyway, this book gripped me the whole way through. I cared about Lennie from the very beginning of the book, and was rooting for him throughout. The relationship between him and George is written very well and is intriguing. Steinbeck also has a way with words when describing a scene... he describes it in such vivid detail that you almost feel like you're there.
The book has plenty of sad moments, especially towards the end, but there are some laugh out loud moments too. The ending of the book was very moving.
A fantastic read that should be read by more young people. It has a stigma because its required reading in a lot of schools, but this stigma is undeserved.(less)
Some facts about the book, author and the movies..
Of Mice and Men was adapted for the screen three times, the first in 1939, two years after the publication of the novel. This adaptation of Of Mice and Men stars Lon Chaney Jr. as Lennie, Burgess Meredith as George, and was directed by Lewis Milestone.It was nominated for four Oscars.[16]
In 1981 it was made into a TV movie, starring Randy Quaid as Lennie, and Robert Blake as George...moreOustanding short heart warming story
Some facts about the book, author and the movies..
Of Mice and Men was adapted for the screen three times, the first in 1939, two years after the publication of the novel. This adaptation of Of Mice and Men stars Lon Chaney Jr. as Lennie, Burgess Meredith as George, and was directed by Lewis Milestone.It was nominated for four Oscars.[16]
In 1981 it was made into a TV movie, starring Randy Quaid as Lennie, and Robert Blake as George, and was directed by Reza Badiyi.
Another theatrical film version was made in 1992, directed by Gary Sinise, who was nominated for the Palme d'Or at Cannes. Sinise also played George in the film, and the role of Lennie was played by John Malkovich. For this adaptation, both men reprised their roles from the 1980 Steppenwolf Theatre Company production.
John Steinbeck loved the movie and said that Henry Fonda as Tom Joad made him "believe my own words".
Prior to filming, producer Darryl F. Zanuck sent undercover investigators out to the migrant camps to see if John Steinbeck had been exaggerating about the squalor and unfair treatment meted out there. He was horrified to discover that, if anything, Steinbeck had actually downplayed what went on in the camps.
The novel's original ending was far too controversial to be even considered for a film in 1940. It involved Rose-of-Sharon Rivers (Dorris Bowdon) giving birth to a stillborn baby and then offering her milk-filled breasts to a starving man, dying in a barn.
Darryl F. Zanuck paid $100,000 for the rights to John Steinbeck's novel - a staggering amount of money at the time. Steinbeck only allowed the rights to be sold under the proviso that the filmmakers should show the material due reverence and treat the project responsibly.
LouThanks was more info than a review, will review properly some time.
Nov 24, 2011 11:48am
Alex GillespieHEY EVERYBODY LOOK AT MEEE I HAVE SOME THING TO SAAYAYAAAY!!!!!!!! LOOK AT ME!!!!! LOOK AT MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...moreHEY EVERYBODY LOOK AT MEEE I HAVE SOME THING TO SAAYAYAAAY!!!!!!!! LOOK AT ME!!!!! LOOK AT MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE(less)
Nov 24, 2011 07:42pm
[Reading other goodreads reviews of this brings home to me that I really was in the classes for kids they'd given up on. I never read Of Mice and Men as required reading assignment.]
Tell us how it's gonna be...
I've never wanted a book to spontaneously change endings so badly. I yearn for that little place as much as they do. I wanted them to have it desperately. Proof the incredibly sad ending isn't hopeless is that on a reread I could still hope it would end differently....more[Reading other goodreads reviews of this brings home to me that I really was in the classes for kids they'd given up on. I never read Of Mice and Men as required reading assignment.]
Tell us how it's gonna be...
I've never wanted a book to spontaneously change endings so badly. I yearn for that little place as much as they do. I wanted them to have it desperately. Proof the incredibly sad ending isn't hopeless is that on a reread I could still hope it would end differently. Oh, it does happen, loneliness and cruelty and mass mob hating mentality. The possibility that it won't, that people might come through, is still a chance. Otherwise why bother reading a book such as this one.
Lennie dying alone like a dog haunts me. The dying with honor issue I've read about in other stuff isn't an issue with me. Dignity, yes, because in this case the dying was robbing his life of dignity. Lennie had precious little of it as it was. I know that in those times that kind of thing was not unheard of (or much later than that). Still, depressing as shit. Maybe those kinds of hateful things make some kind of a stain on the atmosphere, like a ghost. (If ghosts exist, I imagine they'd come out of something like that. Why are ghosts usually from like Colonial usa or Civil War times? Not the 1970s?) So the dying and the living are the same as both are long over. It should never have to be that way.
Curly's wife haunts me. I related her to Lennie in their inability to think and mourning what happens without any possibility of understanding why. I see in her other abused women and find it heartbreaking and frustrating and reminding.
Of Mice and Men touched on a lot for such a little story. I find that I think of it for comparions when thinking about things like what we owe other people, and expectations of ourselves and others. George's exhaustion of taking care of Lennie, and how everybody else let him down. It's awful to be completely alone, and awful to have to carry so much yourself. Burdens can also make you feel weighted to something. I don't know, I just think about George sometimes. I catch myself being suspicious of what people want, want, want from everybody and those expectations and then I remember George and how it wasn't all bad having someone else to think about like he did for Lennie. It's scary to rely on anyone else. I get why George wanted his little place.
Read this the first time in a middle school science class by holding the book under the desk and ever so slightly ducking my head to read my lap. (Probably as subtle as kids today text messaging.) I had a hard time keeping it together. (Any time they talked about their little place with Candy made me squirm in my seat in excitement.) (I stopped reading books under the desk after that. Did it all the time in elementary school, but for lighter fare like Ramona Quimby series and Dr. Suess.) [I read it on the sly. The smart kids were forced to read it. Maybe those kids were sneaking in The Outsiders inside their textbooks?]
P.s. John Malkovich is amazing in the movie directed by Gary Sinise.(less)
This is my 2nd novel by John Steinbeck and I am not disappointed. I normally first read the said known masterpiece of an certain author before reading his or her other works. I got disappointed twice already: Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse which I enjoyed tremendously but when I read her Mrs. Dalloway, it was just not the same. Few years back, that also happened with Sebastian Faulks and his Birdsong. His other novels are just not at par with his masterpiece.
With Mr. Steinbeck, O...moreThis is my 2nd novel by John Steinbeck and I am not disappointed. I normally first read the said known masterpiece of an certain author before reading his or her other works. I got disappointed twice already: Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse which I enjoyed tremendously but when I read her Mrs. Dalloway, it was just not the same. Few years back, that also happened with Sebastian Faulks and his Birdsong. His other novels are just not at par with his masterpiece.
With Mr. Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men is definitely at par with The Grapes of Wrath. What makes this interesting is that this was written a couple of years ahead than Grapes, but it has the same strengths: gripping, poignant and sad. The setting is still the same: the Great Depression in California during the 1920's. The characters are also poor and marginalized. The only new character, which provides the difference here, is the nutty Lennie Small. But oh boy, what a big impact this dude brought to the plot.
I am not sure about who among the two main characters, Lennie Small and George Milton, is mouse and man. The descriptions at the start of the novel do not perfectly fit into the physical characteristics of man and mouse. Lennie is big (man) but with paws (mouse) but George is small (mouse) but strong hands (man). If Wikipedia is correct, the original title of the novel was Something That Happened until Mr. Steinbeck read a Burns poem.
I also did not see the series of killings that Lennie did would eventually result to killing a human being. He killed a mouse, then a puppy. He had not killed a rabbit yet when he accidentally killed a human being.
I did not like the talking rabbit towards the end of the story. Those dialogues could just have been mouthed by Lennie's Aunt Clara.
But the killing scene in the end is just brilliant. It is one of the most sad scenes in any modern classic novels I've read so far. It is disturbing but beautifully written. One that will stay in my mind for a long, long time.
Kudos to Mr. Steinbeck for another brilliant novel. Mr. Steinbeck, I am your big, big fan! (less)
s.penkevichBut the killing scene in the end is just brilliant. It is one of the most sad scenes in any modern classic novels I've read so far. We read this for a...moreBut the killing scene in the end is just brilliant. It is one of the most sad scenes in any modern classic novels I've read so far. We read this for a class in middle school and I read the ending hiding my book under the table of my math class. I had to "use the bathroom" because I was afraid I might get teary infront of my peers haha. Steinbeck is amazing, he always drives home with a bittersweet finale.(less)
Dec 05, 2011 08:36am
K.D.Funny! :) I am glad you liked this book, s.penkevich. This is one of my favorites by him.
Dec 05, 2011 04:08pm
A piece of jewelery. Set in sunny California - Salinas, during the Great Depression, "Of Mice and Men" is a story of friendship, dreams and loneliness. I have a long history with it. First I saw the film (excellent, btw), more than 10 years ago, then, a few years later, while writing an essay on Burns, I discovered the connection between "To a Mouse" and "Of Mice...". I was determined to write my final paper based on this, but I eventually gave up.
I felt...moreA piece of jewelery. Set in sunny California - Salinas, during the Great Depression, "Of Mice and Men" is a story of friendship, dreams and loneliness. I have a long history with it. First I saw the film (excellent, btw), more than 10 years ago, then, a few years later, while writing an essay on Burns, I discovered the connection between "To a Mouse" and "Of Mice...". I was determined to write my final paper based on this, but I eventually gave up.
I felt like re-reading it yesterday and I feel anything but sorry about that. As I said, the strongest feeling I've got while reading it was the utmost admiration for the characters' friendship. There's no reason whatsoever for George to be Lennie's friend, take care of him and get him out of trouble all the time. Because Lennie is mentally disabled and has a weird tendency of petting soft things. He's getting in George's way and somehow prevents him from having a better life. Yet, he sticks to Lennie till the end. They both dream of a better life, George wants to be independent and get to be somebody. Lennie dreams to live on the fatta the lan together with George and tend the rabbits they're going to have.
Despite their optimism and dreams, there's a feeling of loneliness throughout the novella. George and Lennie are friends because they're lonely. Candy's lonely since his dog is shot and Crooks is lonely because he's black. He has this line that says everything: "A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you."
Highly recommend it.
***
Interesting fact: in the 90's the book was banned in some US schools because of "profane language, moral statement, treatment of the retarded, and the violent ending."
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There are few books which reduce me to emotional breakdown, but this is one of them. Revealing the darker side of compassion, Steinbeck tells the story of two friends and what happens when one of them "does a bad thing."
Has this novel become over-taught in high schools? Definitely - and people's perception of the novel suffers because of it. People have to want to read this book because nobody wants such a harsh, violent story placed upon them as an obligation to read....moreThere are few books which reduce me to emotional breakdown, but this is one of them. Revealing the darker side of compassion, Steinbeck tells the story of two friends and what happens when one of them "does a bad thing."
Has this novel become over-taught in high schools? Definitely - and people's perception of the novel suffers because of it. People have to want to read this book because nobody wants such a harsh, violent story placed upon them as an obligation to read.
This is a very different "American Dream" story than what most people think of (which is usually "The Great Gatsby"). It is about turn-of-the-century working men, who live week-to-week and month-to-month, always building better lives in their heads than can ever be built by their work. It about trying to get ahead, but always having a handicap - brutality (Lennie), being crippled (Candy), being unwanted (Crooks), or having to take care of someone else (George). It is about young men and their dreams, and old men and their dogs, and the dream that all Americans carry of running away and living off the fat of the land.(less)
Recommends it for: just about anyone, but with a warning of the terrible message
Recommended to Douglas by:
Frank Bass
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.You won't get any complaint from me that this book is skillfully written, in it's vivid descriptions of settings, detailed descriptions of characters, and realistic dialogue.
However, I believe this book has a bad message, and the bad message is about how it's ok to put the weak, infirm and dependent to death. It started with the discussion of Candy's aged dog. The book gave the impression that the dog's age made him no good to even himself, the "quality of life" argument t...moreYou won't get any complaint from me that this book is skillfully written, in it's vivid descriptions of settings, detailed descriptions of characters, and realistic dialogue.
However, I believe this book has a bad message, and the bad message is about how it's ok to put the weak, infirm and dependent to death. It started with the discussion of Candy's aged dog. The book gave the impression that the dog's age made him no good to even himself, the "quality of life" argument that has been advanced to support euthanizing the elderly, weak and infirm.
After discussing Candy's dog, the argument proceded to Candy himself, where he longs to be euthanized when he can no longer work.
Finally, we come to George's murder of the retarded Lennie, which is completely justified by Slim, the voice of the one sympathetic character in the book. I believe that George was looking for an opportunity to divest himself of Lennie, and that opportunity presented itself when Lennie killed Curley's wife. It was also mentioned that if Lennie was institutionalized, it would be worse than death. I realized there are conflicting opinions about the moral nature of George, but I don't believe he was a good character.
As I was writing this review, I recalled Proverbs 31:8-9 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Of Mice And Men describes a world where the advocates for euthanizing the weak and infirm prevail. (less)
Luke SciclunaLennie wasn't put to death because he was 'weak, infirm and dependent'. George killed him because he was his friend, and he would rather kill him hims...moreLennie wasn't put to death because he was 'weak, infirm and dependent'. George killed him because he was his friend, and he would rather kill him himself than have Curley or Carlson kill him, just like Candy'd rather have killed his dog (and best friend) himself, rather than have someone else do it.(less)
Sep 09, 2011 02:09pm
Recommends it for: people who haven't read it already
This is one of my favorites. It's not my favorite, because I had completely forgotten about it until I saw someone else had put it in their list, but it's definitely in my top five. Wait. Top ten; I haven't read it in nearly ten years. But I assume I still like it as much as I did.
Everybody knows the story by now, so I won't recap it. But I will say that the best part of the book is when you find out that the glove Curley wears all the time is filled with vaseline to "keep [his]...moreThis is one of my favorites. It's not my favorite, because I had completely forgotten about it until I saw someone else had put it in their list, but it's definitely in my top five. Wait. Top ten; I haven't read it in nearly ten years. But I assume I still like it as much as I did.
Everybody knows the story by now, so I won't recap it. But I will say that the best part of the book is when you find out that the glove Curley wears all the time is filled with vaseline to "keep [his] hand soft" for his wife! Isn't that the nastiest shit?! That's been a running joke with my more literary friends since we read it. Oh my god, that's the most horrifying thing. And it's not even that it's nasty itself (unless, of course, you think a glove full of vaseline is nasty) but it keeps making me think of Burt Reynolds in Striptease, where he's walking around with vaseline in his boots because he likes how it feels squishing between his toes. Which is definitely nasty.
Anyway, fun fact: Apparently there was a tv movie version of Of Mice and Men, and Ted Neeley played Curley. Ted Neeley, of course, is my *boyfriend* and most well-known for playing Jesus in the 1973 film version of Jesus Christ Superstar. He kept that hand soft for *me*. I just saw him live the other day, and the man is 64 and hits those fucking high notes like he's eating Cheerios. A-plus.
This review stopped being about the book a long time ago, didn't it?(less)
I know...classic, movies, been around for years, greatly respected author, etc., etc., etc. But, nihilism leaves me cold...
Enjoy if it's you...but (and I've used this quote before) this book typifies "life is hard and then you die". Who cares how well the story is written that gets you there.
The very quality of the writing here made the experience worse for me. It has been brought to my attention of late that Steinbeck was a gifted writer. It's true he was, and ...moreI know...classic, movies, been around for years, greatly respected author, etc., etc., etc. But, nihilism leaves me cold...
Enjoy if it's you...but (and I've used this quote before) this book typifies "life is hard and then you die". Who cares how well the story is written that gets you there.
The very quality of the writing here made the experience worse for me. It has been brought to my attention of late that Steinbeck was a gifted writer. It's true he was, and the message in the story he relates here carries that much more weight. I suppose the bottom line is, I live in the world where pain happens, a lot. I don't really need it here. So, I leave my rating as it is because my experience here remains a 1 star experience. So, as I said for you who love this book, and I know some...I'm happy for you, I don't and I can't really recommend it. (less)
Mike (the Paladin)To be fair Luke, he did say "sometimes". That's "a" great thing about books, they can be so many things.
Sep 10, 2011 05:53pm
NathanaelLuke wrote: "How dare you call reading 'light entertainment', sir."
I didn't call reading light entertainment. I said sometimes peo...moreLuke wrote: "How dare you call reading 'light entertainment', sir."
I didn't call reading light entertainment. I said sometimes people have misconceptions about the value of light entertainment vs heavy 'life' stuff. It's not ambiguous is it? How could you make the conclusion I'm making an absurd blanket statement like 'reading is light entertainment.' I think you need to read things more thoroughly before you start firing 'how dare yous' around.(less)
Sep 10, 2011 11:05pm
This short novel is written by the 20th century author and is set during the Great Depression. It is about two men, George and Lennie who travel around looking for jobs because Lennie keeps getting them into trouble. Lennie has mental issues and behaves like a kid, while George has to be the adult and take care of the both of them.
This story gives you a feel for how women are taken for granted during that time and how men were always so lonely. It also gives you an insight on the vi...moreThis short novel is written by the 20th century author and is set during the Great Depression. It is about two men, George and Lennie who travel around looking for jobs because Lennie keeps getting them into trouble. Lennie has mental issues and behaves like a kid, while George has to be the adult and take care of the both of them.
This story gives you a feel for how women are taken for granted during that time and how men were always so lonely. It also gives you an insight on the violence of people and how many people had to survive during the Depression.
The story goes by fast as it has a very different and appealing plot and style. This is a great book and will leave you crying in the end.(less)
i hated this book.
steinbeck is crap.
children should not be forced to read it.
ok, i really just don't like steinbeck's aesthetic. i dislike the killing of innocent animals, the dehumanization of the mentally retarded--and don't try to tell me that lenny isn't marginalized here. the book is depressing and directionless, and not in the ironic waiting-for-godot sort of way. the descriptions are flat, emotionless, and dessicated.
however, curly's wife is awesome....morei hated this book.
steinbeck is crap.
children should not be forced to read it.
ok, i really just don't like steinbeck's aesthetic. i dislike the killing of innocent animals, the dehumanization of the mentally retarded--and don't try to tell me that lenny isn't marginalized here. the book is depressing and directionless, and not in the ironic waiting-for-godot sort of way. the descriptions are flat, emotionless, and dessicated.
however, curly's wife is awesome. she's just so bizarre and pathetic, so out of place. i love her.(less)
This is the first Classic that I have read that has such simple language that you don't have to read every line twice or read a non-classic to be able to come back to it. It is a book you finish in one go.
The characters are really well developed, as is seen in all Classics. I fell in love with Lenny, he is very cute, innocent and adorable. Except for the fact that he ends up killing mice and pups. ...moreFind my full review here- http://reviewingshelf.wordpress.com/2012...
This is the first Classic that I have read that has such simple language that you don't have to read every line twice or read a non-classic to be able to come back to it. It is a book you finish in one go.
The characters are really well developed, as is seen in all Classics. I fell in love with Lenny, he is very cute, innocent and adorable. Except for the fact that he ends up killing mice and pups. I don't like that, I love animals. But what can you say when he innocently replies "But I was just petting him"? He can't help it, he is a big man.
The story is short and ends up breaking my heart. Seriously, though I didn't cry but oh, it was difficult.
Despite it being a short novella, Steinbeck manages to give us a view into everyone's life and what holds them back.
The book is simply written yet it leaves you thinking a long time after you finish reading.
If you want a Classic to start with, this should be the one. Simply told.(less)
Must be my favorite book next to "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian". This book left me with amazing and intense read. When i was introduced to this book in 7th grade i did not realize how big of a deal this was. "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck made me feel like not any book i read has, since everything that i was expecting did not happen. At the end of the book something happens that you will never want to see or hear, but it leaves you with many thoughts a...moreMust be my favorite book next to "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian". This book left me with amazing and intense read. When i was introduced to this book in 7th grade i did not realize how big of a deal this was. "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck made me feel like not any book i read has, since everything that i was expecting did not happen. At the end of the book something happens that you will never want to see or hear, but it leaves you with many thoughts and questions. This is a must-read to anyone that wants to learn how good a book should be. This book also is part of my favorite books since it expresses all the feelings that exist throughout the book. You're going to notice how much a friendship can be worth and how serious some people might take it, how much they help each other and how much they love each other, and how much they are tired of each other. Words can't describe how great this book is, read it. NOW!(less)
Steinbeck is quickly becoming one my favorite authors and a large part of that has to do with his very intimate, honest and simple, yet thematically rich stories filled with such memorable characters. There is a reason George and Lennie are iconic American literary figures. By "simple" I do not mean to say his writing is prosaic. Steinbeck does not strive for pretentious stylistic flourishes a la Faulkner but rather employs economic prose that is accessible in its brevity without sacri...moreSteinbeck is quickly becoming one my favorite authors and a large part of that has to do with his very intimate, honest and simple, yet thematically rich stories filled with such memorable characters. There is a reason George and Lennie are iconic American literary figures. By "simple" I do not mean to say his writing is prosaic. Steinbeck does not strive for pretentious stylistic flourishes a la Faulkner but rather employs economic prose that is accessible in its brevity without sacrificing articulation or pathos . It's embarrassing to admit that I never actually read Of Mice and Men until now. For some reason, it was not a part of my high-school curriculum and nor did I ever possess any desire to seek it out at any particular time. Oh, what a poor fool I am for having neglected reading this masterpiece! I realize that this novel has been studied and analyzed to death so I'll be brief: An eloquently sincere story of friendship, the burdens of lower rural working class and the fallibility of the American Dream full of sadness, loneliness and despair but containing such rich humility that is deeply moving beyond almost everything I have ever read -- and that ending...wow. Inevitable but oh so tragic.(less)
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.I chose to read Of Mice and Men because I just finished reading East of Eden by Steinbeck and I really loved it. Steinbeck writes in a way that makes me feel like I was living in his book.
ELA IRP Raechel Mizrachi 6/7 Z
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck
This story takes place on a ranch in Salinas, CA. George and Lennie are looking for a place to stay. They ...moreI chose to read Of Mice and Men because I just finished reading East of Eden by Steinbeck and I really loved it. Steinbeck writes in a way that makes me feel like I was living in his book.
ELA IRP Raechel Mizrachi 6/7 Z
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck
This story takes place on a ranch in Salinas, CA. George and Lennie are looking for a place to stay. They find themselves near a riverbank. Lennie keeps fidgeting with something in his pocket. Lennie strokes the thing in his pocket constantly to keep calm. George soon discovers that Lennie is carrying a dead mouse because Georges asks Lennie what he has in his pocket. George takes the mouse from Lennie and throws it in the brush. Lennie goes to collect firewood and requests ketchup on his beans. George tells Lennie that they don’t have any ketchup. As soon as Lennie returns George sees that Lennie is again stroking something in his pocket. George asks Lennie about what’s in his pocket. At first Lennie says it is nothing but George knows it’s the dead mouse. Gorge takes the mouse and throws it a second time as far as possible. George tries to calm Lennie down. Lennie again asks for ketchup on his beans, George explodes. He yells and screams about how big of a baby Lennie is and they end up in silence. Lennie says he will just run away and he won’t bother George anymore. Gorge says he is sorry but Lennie is still not calm. Lennie wants to hear the story about how they are going to live in fatta land. George tells him that they will have a couple acres of land with a cow, pigs and rabbits. Soon they see some farmers nearby. They are hired to work on the land and bucking grain. George’s challenge is Lennie. Lennie always messes up. Lennie may seem like a man but he’s as little as a mouse. The result is tragic. Lennie kills takes two innocent lives and is eventually killed himself.
I do not have a favorite character in this book however I do have a least-favorite character. Curley is my least-favorite character because he is very violent. Some people may think that the violence spices up the story but I believe what he does is plain wrong. For example, Curley beat up Lennie because he thought he was flirting with Curley’s wife. Curley also organized a gang to kill Lennie after Lennie accidentally killed his wife. This is why Curley is my least-favorite character.
The climax of the story happened when Lennie accidentally killed Curley’s wife. It was the climax because Lennie would soon be killed as well. At this point in the story, Lennie had just been beaten up by Curly because he thought Lennie was messing with Curley’s wife. Curley is a mouse, he hides behind his wife and that is why he needs her so badly.
I believe the author wanted to teach me that anyone can act like they are important and capable but in truth they may be as little as a mouse. I saw this in the book when I read the title Of Mice And Men. George was also a mouse who appeared to be in charge. George knew that Lennie didn’t mean to kill Curley’s wife yet he didn’t stand up for Lennie. George got sucked into the mob mentality. Curley is a mouse because he hid behind his wife. This is important because acting like a person who is capable doesn’t make you a person who is capable or someone you can trust.
I would recommend this book because of the details used by the author, how interesting it was and because it made me feel very sad. It was detailed because you always feel like your right there. It was interesting because it described the journey of two men and I do not know a lot about this subject. In my home we are three girls. I spend time with my Dad but he isn’t a big talker. It was very sad because Steinbeck wrote so vividly that I felt like I was in the story and it was so intense. Of Mice And Men is a spectacular book. It is the thrilling, sad, and vivid. Anyone would enjoy this book.
Rate it 1-10.
10. Just stunning.
This is what literature is really about. "Of Mice and Men" was kept short but bitter sweet. It a novella that would haunt you and make you think. Steinbeck slowly unfurled the story and would suddenly pull the rug under your feet. I can feel my heart beating faster after reading it not because it was thrilling and full of suspense (it's not an action novel!) but because of the different emotions evoked in me by the last 2 pages. It would not be a phenomenal novella with a different end...moreThis is what literature is really about. "Of Mice and Men" was kept short but bitter sweet. It a novella that would haunt you and make you think. Steinbeck slowly unfurled the story and would suddenly pull the rug under your feet. I can feel my heart beating faster after reading it not because it was thrilling and full of suspense (it's not an action novel!) but because of the different emotions evoked in me by the last 2 pages. It would not be a phenomenal novella with a different ending. EVERYBODY and I mean EVERYBODY should read this. Its a crime not to.(less)
This book could be disturbing, or brilliant, or trash.
The book is short at just 107 pages (Penguin edition). Steinbeck's writing style is very good but occasionally redundant: "He embraced his knees and laid his chin down on his knees." The dialogue was immensely frustrating whenever the same thing was said repeatedly with no point. You have pages of "We're gonna' buy us a farm, and tend the rabbits," and it isn't just between Lennie and George. That wouldn't be a...moreThis book could be disturbing, or brilliant, or trash.
The book is short at just 107 pages (Penguin edition). Steinbeck's writing style is very good but occasionally redundant: "He embraced his knees and laid his chin down on his knees." The dialogue was immensely frustrating whenever the same thing was said repeatedly with no point. You have pages of "We're gonna' buy us a farm, and tend the rabbits," and it isn't just between Lennie and George. That wouldn't be a problem if the conversations varied. (The one place this practice was spectacular was at the end of the book, to which it is vital. But it has been done better.)
The characters themselves often seemed to mindlessly bounce off of each other. It's as if there was no intelligence during the Great Depression. Whatever the case it was easier to find rabbits than wit, and there isn't much reason for it. Absolutely everybody is some kind of idiot.
Though very short, I wanted to throw it across the room by page 90. This shows a bit of failure and a bit of success on Steinbeck's part: failure in that he frustrated me outside the story, success in that he convinced me to care enough to be frustrated. Bravo, it's a good thing. If only it didn't have those fault-lines! The ground is beautiful but I won't for a moment dance upon it. I know it isn't safe.
The climax seems too forced. We know from the beginning that Lennie is going to 'do a bad thing,' but the way it happens is far-fetched in my mind. It's impossible to digress without spoiling the story, so I won't say anything more.
The plot itself is good, and the writing is good. The themes and the message are brutal, but outstanding.(less)
A fascinating thing about this which I hadn't been aware of from my previous exposure to it is that is was one of Steinbecks's format/genre experiments. In this work, Steinbeck created a new genre: the play/novelette.
'"The work I am doing now," he wrote to his agents in April 1936, "is neither a novel nor a play but it is a kind of playable novel. Written in novel form but so scened and set that it can be played as it stands. It wouldn't be like other plays since it does no...moreA fascinating thing about this which I hadn't been aware of from my previous exposure to it is that is was one of Steinbecks's format/genre experiments. In this work, Steinbeck created a new genre: the play/novelette.
'"The work I am doing now," he wrote to his agents in April 1936, "is neither a novel nor a play but it is a kind of playable novel. Written in novel form but so scened and set that it can be played as it stands. It wouldn't be like other plays since it does not follow the formal acts but uses the chapters for curtains. Descriptions can be used for stage directions... Plays are hard to read so this will make both a novel and play as it stands."
Anticipating postmodernists, Steinbeck was to declare wtih greater and greater frequency in the late 1930s and '40s that the novel was dead, whereas theater was "waking up," was fresh and challenging.'
And in fact, he sent it to his publishers in late summer of 1936; it was published on February 25, 1937 (for $2 per copy); was a Book-of-the-Month Club selection in March; was performed as written by Theater Union of San Francisco with an opening on May 21, 1937; then performed as a modified version at Music Box Theater in New York opening November 23, 1937; and released as a film in 1939.
It was very controversial, banned in Australia in 1940; one of the most frequently banned books by school board over the years.
'"The first few pages so nauseated me," wrote the reviewer for 'The Catholic World,' "That I couldn't bear to keep it in my room over night."' "Morbid and degenerate" content was why another showing of it was condemned.
And the reason for all the hoo-ha? The truth of it. The hopelessness and loneliness of the group of people Steinbeck gives life to - the landless white male agricultural workers of the 1930's. Also, he used actual dialect which was still new back then. Included in the dialect is racist language in use back then, as his characters would not have been honest without it. Probably some bannings were due simply to the use of the 'n' word, although most programs that use it now include context for that which is a response to it that contains the intended respect while also containing discussion that can be so useful to unlearning racism.
Another interesting content item about race is a momentary scene in which a white woman brings to the attention of a black man her ability to get him lynched. It's brutal, and then it's over and the action continues and it fades into unimportance - all of which serves as a reminder of our shared history festering with racism; and how far we as a country have come. (i'm adding that scene to quotes for this book).
It's a very quick read for all that, and very enjoyable actually just for the intensity of description. This felt to me like one of those quick-action films, only the super-short scenes are ones you create in your own mind, as written by Steinbeck. Somehow he packs in vivid visual content and well-drawn characters in an almost poetically pithy writing style.
Highly recommend.(less)
I was cleaning my car a couple months ago, when I stumbled across a thin, yellowing copy of Of Mice and Men wedged between some jumper cables and roadside flares. It didn't belong to me, but I have to assume that a homeless person has been living in my car, reading the classics by light of my traffic flares.
Most everything I knew about Of Mice and Men came from my old friend Rob, who used to entertain us all with schoolyard impressions of Lennie and the rabbit: "I was just pet...moreI was cleaning my car a couple months ago, when I stumbled across a thin, yellowing copy of Of Mice and Men wedged between some jumper cables and roadside flares. It didn't belong to me, but I have to assume that a homeless person has been living in my car, reading the classics by light of my traffic flares.
Most everything I knew about Of Mice and Men came from my old friend Rob, who used to entertain us all with schoolyard impressions of Lennie and the rabbit: "I was just petting her!" (It is amazing how easy it is to creep out your loved ones with this simple line). I am always looking to better myself in the easiest, cheapest way possible. What better way to do that than to read a slim Steinbeck novel left in my car (possibly by a literary-minded homeless person).
To paraphrase The Squid and the Whale: it was minor Steinbeck.
Don't get me wrong: I like John Steinbeck. I think he's taken quite a few unfair hits from literary critics. I listened to an entire show on NPR devoted to slamming the Nobel Prize in literature; Exhibit A in the prosecution of the Nobel Prize was Steinbeck's receipt of said award in 1962.
I'm not sure where the criticism comes from. Sure, he wrote in simple allegory, but I haven't seen angry mobs chasing Paulo Cohelo lately. I actually have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of people just don't like his politics.
Me, I like the guy, and I don't blame him for being a left-wing radical in the early part of the 20th century. The early part of the 20th century almost required sucha stance.
Anyway, I love his writing style; accessible and detailed. I think his physical descriptions, especially of the Salinas Valley, are beautiful. And I like the myth-making - it serves its point.
For whatever reason, I didn't really like Of Mice and Men. Maybe it was too simple; maybe Steinbeck requires length, rather than brevity, to raise the simple into something profound. Or maybe it just made me sad. George and Lennie are two sad, lonely guys. Loneliness being operative; the theme. As Crooks says:
Books ain't no good. A guy needs somebody - to be near him...A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with ya...I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick.
George and Lennie are itinerant workers during the Depression (the Great One, not the one we are currently in). Lennie is a huge, powerful, retarded man, who tends to kill things unintentionally (such as rabbits). George is his buddy and caretaker, who tries to keep Lennie from petting things, and spins a vision of the future for Lennie that will never - can never - come to pass.
The story runs along a taut, lean arc. It doesn't take long for things to get where they are going. Without giving too much away, the end will hold something of a surprise for those of you who have, like me, remained woefully ignorant of Of Mice and Men. (I hope I haven't spoiled the surprise by telling you there's a surprise; I mean, you will still be surprised by what that suprise entails).
I like to get carried away by Steinbeck novels. The big ones, like East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath. I'm definitely grading Of Mice and Men on the curve set by those novels. Still, it's a good read, a certified classic, and it's short, which means you can inflate your ego with just a couple hours of dedicated reading. And really, isn't that what this whole exercise is all about? (less)
I have hated Steinbeck since the tender age of 15 when I was forced to choke down Grapes of Wrath. I was then forced to sit through the movie version of Grapes of Wrath, and was re-assigned to book to read by a crazy teacher I had at the age of 17. I liked it no better on the second go round, however at least by then I was able to pick out the "Christ Figure" that my teachers had always babbled about.
Because of this terrible set of experiences I had sworn off of Steinbeck...moreI have hated Steinbeck since the tender age of 15 when I was forced to choke down Grapes of Wrath. I was then forced to sit through the movie version of Grapes of Wrath, and was re-assigned to book to read by a crazy teacher I had at the age of 17. I liked it no better on the second go round, however at least by then I was able to pick out the "Christ Figure" that my teachers had always babbled about.
Because of this terrible set of experiences I had sworn off of Steinbeck for the rest of my life. If you see a copy of Grapes of Wrath on fire, you know that I'm probably near by. So when I started reading the list "1001 books to read before you die" I was glad that I could already check off Grapes of Wrath and not touch it again - but to my dismay, there were other books by Steinbeck on the list. I admit I panicked... there was no WAY I was going to torture myself like that again. Every word of that last attempt had been a struggle.
Then I noticed that one of the books was "Of Mice and Men." I had seen the play several times and the movie, and to be honest - they weren't that bad. So during a carride to ATL under questionable circumstances, I read this 107 page book from beginning to end.
Now I'm sure there was a Christ figure in there somewhere, and I know that there was a lot of "deep meaning" and "symbolism enough to choke a badger" but I happily ignored all of it. I am excited to say that I read through the book - found it didn't change me, my thought process, or my lifestyle, and was able to move on.
Short Summary - George and his retarded pal Lenny are day workers who travel from farm to farm trying to earn a living. Lenny is huge, with the mind of a child, and George is small and quick witted. George keeps Lenny entertained with stories about how one day they will of their own land and work it themselves. George has told the story enough that even he's starting to believe it. Things go bad at their current job when a trampy woman hits on Lenny. That's about it.
Lots of themes, racism, tragedy, the way men treat one another, the lifestyle of the migrant worker in the 30's, the treatment of the mentally handicapped, etc. In the end, Steinbeck does a better job of not bashing the reader over the skull with his themes, and he managed to contain his desire to describe every grain of sand. I figure most people can make it through 107 pages of Steinbeck.(less)
KristenI don't mind symbolism, metaphore etc... but I want a tale being told to me by a storyteller... I DONT like to have to dissect what I'm reading to be ...moreI don't mind symbolism, metaphore etc... but I want a tale being told to me by a storyteller... I DONT like to have to dissect what I'm reading to be able to "enjoy it." I don't mind dissecting enjoyable things - but they must be enjoyable in and of themselves before the dissection begins.(less)
Apr 15, 2009 05:26am
As part of my *Steinbeck Special* (which in turn is part of my 50 Novels in One Year reading challenge) I’ve finished reading Of Mice and Men and despite its short length, I’ve got to say it’s a monumental piece of literature, with a story as powerful as anything I have, or am probably ever likely to read.
The story centres around George Milton and Lennie Small, two migrant workers who are scouring the Californian countryside in search of work. Again, as was other Steinbeck novels, I ...moreAs part of my *Steinbeck Special* (which in turn is part of my 50 Novels in One Year reading challenge) I’ve finished reading Of Mice and Men and despite its short length, I’ve got to say it’s a monumental piece of literature, with a story as powerful as anything I have, or am probably ever likely to read.
The story centres around George Milton and Lennie Small, two migrant workers who are scouring the Californian countryside in search of work. Again, as was other Steinbeck novels, I have been mesmerised by Mr. Steinbeck’s profound ability to create characters that are wholly ‘stick in the head’ memorable. Lennie, despite being a bit of a ‘man mountain’ and a ‘hell of a good worker’ suffers from a high level of mental disability. His only motivation seem to be that one day he’s going to own a farm with George, solely so he can care for a load of rabbits. Lennie loves to pet soft cuddly things, but as you’ll find out if you read Of Mice and Men, this passion ends up being quite detrimental to him at times.
George acts as a kind of mentor or carer for Lennie. It’s obvious he has a real affection for Lennie (and he apparently made a promise to Lennie’s aunt that he would care for him after she passed away), but one has to wonder to what extent George may be exploiting Lennie’s strength and ability to work. George like to proclaim to potential employers, the fact that Lennie can do the work of many hands, and this seems to be a good ‘bargaining chip’, provided Lennie can keep his mouth shut at the ‘interview stage’ for securing work.
George and Lennie may be the primary ‘players’ in Of Mice and Men but Mr. Steinbeck has also created a whole host of characters that are equally interesting. It would be giving way too much of the plot if I went into detail so suffice it to say that characters such as Candy, Slim, Crooks and Curly will remain unforgettable to the reader of this novel.
The story, although powerful is, as I’ve found with a number of Mr. Steinbeck’s books, fairly linear and not hugely plot-driven. I often see the plot and settings of Mr. Steinbeck’s novels to be more a stage for his characters rather than anything else, but that’s no bad thing, given that his characters are so well put together. However what Mr. Steinbeck does do well throughout this novel is to infuse suggestions of an ulterior motive for George and Lennie’s nomadic wanderings (it isn’t just to find work), which becomes clear near the end of the story.
Of Mice and Men is proclaimed by many as being one of the greatest works ever written, and after reading it I can see why. For anyone wishing an introduction into the novels of Steinbeck, this title is ideal. It’s short enough to complete in one or two days, and while the characters in Of Mice and Men are profoundly realised there are only a handful of them, and each is presented in an uncomplicated and straightforward way. I’m sure there aren’t too many people who haven’t read Of Mice and Men sometime in their life, but if you’re one of them then I highly recommend picking this book up. I know you’ll enjoy it.(less)
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I haven't read this since middle school. However, I just picked it up again today. Thanks for jogging the old memory.
Aug 18, 2008 04:44pm
Robert BurdockI hope you enjoy it....again
Aug 19, 2008 01:29pm
Tabathai havnt read it actually but i really wanna!! i heard its amazing!
Apr 13, 2009 03:18pm
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...moreIn 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.
IsaacIt is a book about handicaps and limits we place on ourselves and others, well said. I've read this book 3 times and it's still new and fresh to me.
Dec 17, 2008 05:06pm
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 d...moreAt 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 drifting through the mass of humanity unable to connect with another – living only for himself.
These experiences, being so far from the life of a middle class high school student enjoying himself and his youth, I first understood the story of Of Mice and Men as a comedy, albeit tragic at times.
Reading it a second time, however, a year after graduating from college, months after working in Child Inpatient Psychiatric Services, and hundreds of hours of studying international affairs, my perception of this book has notably changed.
This time, I also laughed. But instead of laughing at misery, I laughed at hope, that is, Lennie’s dogged hope to beat work and live off the fat of the land. For even after killing Curly’s wife with his bare hands, Lennie pressed George to tell him about how they were going to have their own piece of land where they would be their own bosses and where he could tend the rabbits. Such indefensible optimism tickled my funny bone. At 16, I appreciated such seemingly impervious positivity.
Ergo, it appears on the second go-around I understood Steinbeck’s work as a tragedy, though not without comedy.
So, at 16 I found misery amusing and hope serious, while at 23 I found misery serious and hope amusing – interesting.
Kafka said “A book must be an ice-axe to break the seas frozen inside our soul,” and I agree with this notion. But after a second read, years and years later, a book may become a mirror through which to observe and survey the ever-evolving nature of our thawing and unfrozen seas, illuminating the very reverberations of the axe’s stroke.
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This is one of my favorite character descriptions in Of Mice and Men (see if you can figure who it is):
“There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke...His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought.”
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...moreMice 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.
Ok, first of all, you're probably wondering how I made it through 12 years of good ol' American public school and 4+ years of college without reading this book. Let me explain...no there is too much, let me sum up. I signed up for AP English my senior year of high school. After a few classes I realized that my current case of senioritis would really not allow for such extensive reading and reporting as the AP curriculum required. So, I did the responsible thing, and promptly transferred out of A...moreOk, first of all, you're probably wondering how I made it through 12 years of good ol' American public school and 4+ years of college without reading this book. Let me explain...no there is too much, let me sum up. I signed up for AP English my senior year of high school. After a few classes I realized that my current case of senioritis would really not allow for such extensive reading and reporting as the AP curriculum required. So, I did the responsible thing, and promptly transferred out of AP and into regular English (also known as remedial English). Once there I sat back, relaxed and studied the good-looking soccer player 2 rows ahead and passed notes to my friend Jenny. We read a grand total of one (that's right, ONE...as in 1, uno, a single) book the entire year; To Kill a Mockingbird. It took a good semester to read the thing and then another one to watch the movie, of course. So, there you have it. Now I have to make up for lost time in order to feign intelligence within my various social circles.
A fabulously simple tale about friendship and brotherhood but also misunderstanding, jealousy and hatred. A classic, of course.
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John Steinbeck III was an American writer. He wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath, published in 1939 and the novella Of Mice and Men, published in 1937. In all, he wrote twenty-five books, including sixteen novels, six non-fiction books and several collections of short stories.
In 1962 Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Steinbeck grew u...moreJohn Steinbeck III was an American writer. He wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath, published in 1939 and the novella Of Mice and Men, published in 1937. In all, he wrote twenty-five books, including sixteen novels, six non-fiction books and several collections of short stories.
In 1962 Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Steinbeck grew up in the Salinas Valley region of California, a culturally diverse place of rich migratory and immigrant history. This upbringing imparted a regionalistic flavor to his writing, giving many of his works a distinct sense of place.
Steinbeck moved briefly to New York City, but soon returned home to California to begin his career as a writer. Most of his earlier work dealt with subjects familiar to him from his formative years. An exception was his first novel Cup of Gold which concerns the pirate Henry Morgan, whose adventures had captured Steinbeck's imagination as a child.
In his subsequent novels, Steinbeck found a more authentic voice by drawing upon direct memories of his life in California. Later he used real historical conditions and events in the first half of 20th century America, which he had experienced first-hand as a reporter.
Steinbeck often populated his stories with struggling characters; his works examined the lives of the working class and migrant workers during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. His later body of work reflected his wide range of interests, including marine biology, politics, religion, history, and mythology.
One of his last published works was Travels with Charley, a travelogue of a road trip he took in 1960 to rediscover America. He died in 1968 in New York of a heart attack and his ashes are interred in Salinas.
Seventeen of his works, including The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Cannery Row (1945), The Pearl (1947), and East of Eden (1952), went on to become Hollywood films, and Steinbeck also achieved success as a Hollywood writer, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Story in 1944 for Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat.(less)
“Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other.”
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“As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.”
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