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Of Mice and Men (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century)
by John Steinbeck

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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40698.Of_Mice_and_Men?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Of Mice and Men (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century)" border="0" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/photo.goodreads.com/books/1169446765m/40698.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40698.Of_Mice_and_Men?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Of Mice and Men</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/585.John_Steinbeck">John Steinbeck</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/21938479?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 3 of 5 stars 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.
 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/941606?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Anitta's review
rating:
recommended 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 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 fu...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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