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Summary: Moving and True
Review: This is maybe the best book I ever read. Short and easy to read, it tells the story of George and Lennie, two dreamers, who one day hope to find a place of their own -- until life butts in and shatters their beautiful plans. This is a very moving and somehow realistic book that left me very touched. It's a great book. Other books I like: The Losers' Club by Richard Perez, Post Office by Charles Bukowski
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Summary: Of Men's Dreams Lost
Review: Set in Depression-era California, "Of Mice & Men" is perhaps the most cleanly and concisely written of the great American novels. Reading it, in fact, is more like reading a short story or, more precisely, a tragic play. (Note how Steinbeck begins almost every chapter with a description of the place in which the chapter's events unfold, almost like stage directions.) Steinbeck's creation of the man-child Lennie Small, his description and development of the dream shared by Lennie and his guardian-friend George Milton, and the foreshadowed, heart-wrenching conclusion are all sublime. A must-read and must-own. (And wonderful to read outside on a beautiful afternoon in September, with sunlight like California's all around. Feel free to call in sick ...)
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Summary: The Best Book I Was Ever Forced To Read...
Review: Twice, once in a Junior High English Class and again in High School I was required to read John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men." Each time I have read it since, I have enjoyed it more and more. It is a brief, easy-to-read but emotionally resonant novel about two migrant workers set in the California countryside. As with most of Steinbeck's classic work, the prose is very discriptive while not being clunky or overly verbose. The themes of friendship and brotherly love are apparent on every page and aren't as emotionally manipulative as many books that try to be today. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read. Unlike many alleged "classics" I've been forced to read in class its actually a great book and I had no problem reading it outside of class (I couldn't say as much for A Farewell To Arms, but oh well :-) ). I would recommend this book for anyone from a mature junior high reader up. The violence might be a little much for someone younger than that (and might be a reason why the book has been, unfortunately, banned so many times).
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Summary: Steinbecks trap
Review: This one's the most touching, in my view, of all Steinbeck's contributions to small joys in my life. The trap of human experience snaps shut too soon on two men you rapidly come to love.
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Summary: Steinbeck's masterpiece.
Review: This book is astonishingly emotional and it's writing style is clear and simple. This book will appeal to the older and younger readers alike. Great book for suggested family reading. Holds it's value and messages through time and will continue to. This edition is a bit pricey as this is a very short work and the publishing company did nothing to make this edition anything but typical. I say pick up a used one.
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Summary: Of Mice and Men review
Review: Of Mice and Men is the story of two men - George and Lennie. George is small and smart, and George is big and mentally challenged. George and Lennie are about to start working on a new farm; they had to leave a previous farm because Lennie got in "some trouble". Lennie has a preoccupation with things soft and pretty, which lands him in pretty big trouble. This book didn't immediately draw me in from the beginning. I thought the beginning was rather monotonous, but the pace quickly picks up when George and Lennie arrive on the farm. I found that this book is a beautiful portrayal of human compassion. George says that his life would be much better without Lennie, and perhaps it would be, but still you can tell that he cares very much for the gentle giant. George isn't the only example of "human compassion". You have Carlson who's probably on the extreme uncaring end. He's one of those people who feels that a life isn't valuable anymore once you're of no use. There's also Slim who's very kindhearted. He believes that you can tell if a person is good or not just from their manner of acting. Then, there's Crooks-the cynical stable hand-who likes to believe in the worse of men rather than the best. Also, Steinbeck did a very good job getting his point across using mostly dialogue. There is precious little description in this book, but that's okay because most of the emotion of the story is conveyed through dialogue.
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Summary: Of Mice and Men- a banned book?
Review: This popular high school or college required reading written by Steinbeck was one book I have never read. Neither have I watched the movie (1940) or newer versions (1981, 1992). What intrigues me is ALA has listed the novel as top sixth 100 banned books during 1990-1999. How can popular novels written by a famous author who earned a Presidential Metal of Freedom in 1964 received banned and challenged review years after initial publication? Perhaps it was a typo until I confirmed: ·"Of Mice and Men" was banned:
Syracuse, Indiana, 1974;
Oil City, Pennsylvania, 1977;
Grand Blanc, Michigan, 1979;
Continental, Ohio, 1980
Skyline High School, Scottsboro, Alabama, 1983. ·The book was challenged:
Greenville, South Carolina, 1977;
Vernon-Verona-Sherill, NY, School District, 1980;
St. David, Arizona, 1981;
Telly City, Indiana, 1982;
Knoxville, Tennessee, School Board, 1984 Steinbeck wrote the novel at his house in Los Gatos back in 1937. It was an era of depression; migrant workers and poverty persisted in the US. Steinbeck had dropped out of Stanford earlier to work on the Sprechels Sugar Ranch in this area as a farm hand. He observed the workers behavior and wrote about them. They represented low education and economically poorly people who would do anything to survive. He accurately described the way things were with no flowerily words. The plot of the novel was quite simple. George Mitton (witty, small) and Lennie Small (big man with small brain) both dreamed of acquiring a little land of their own someday. They also were in need of each other. This was in the middle of the depression years among many poor migrant workers searched for work. As low social class they got no respect in the society. Steinbeck showed his sympathy and concern for the down trodden the way we are concerned with homeless and jobless today. Paired with both accusations and past accidents these two went to work at a Ranch. It was there the readers were introduced to some interesting characters, all seemed to evolve around rancher's son Curley. Curley is the bully, always ready to pick on those weaker people, but was an insured failure in a big way. He failed to be a respected boss #2, husband, and a man. His wife (name never mentioned) knew what was missing in life. She tried to get Lannie's attention in taking her. It led to her accidental death. There in the barn among the dark, dank smell of hay the one event after another began to unravel. The end of the novel was worth contemplation and debate. Lennie Small hid in the brush and awaited his frightful punishment. George Mitton had to make a decision; he took matters into his own hands by ending Small's life. The tragic ending could have been averted. Some writers sometimes believe the ending of a novel to provide vicarious happy endings especially targeted for youth. Steinbeck ended it as a tragedy. Could in the novel George Mitton run away in the novel from the crime scene with the woman? Would George have waited for justice to be meted out by a bunch of gun carrying migrant workers who were ready to shoot Lennie? To some readers true literary tragedy is distasteful. This may be one of the reasons that the novel was challenged by many parents if not banned? I thought Steinbeck experimented with novel structured like a play. He believed the writer's duty and served as watchdog of society. To satirize its silliness, to attack its injustices, to stigmatize its faults. He achieved this goal remarkably well in this novel. In fact the book was in the form of a play (1937) and ended as an opera (1970). In retrospect, throughout the novel there were words or vernaculars of improper conduct, vulgar language, presentation of low social class characters which can be objectionable to YA or their parents. I list some examples found from the six chapters including but not limited to: 1.Live off the fatta the lan', 2. Bustin' a gut, 3. Cat house, 4. Health issues like pants rabbits, 5. Shove out of here, 6. What the hell's he got on his shoulder, 7. Crack and flop, 8. Goo-goos. The urge to control other's lives and restrict what they can read appears to be just below the surface. People may deny that they want to censor books and mouth platitudes about appropriate reading material, but the end results are challenges to books in schools and libraries. I would hesitate recommending this book at junior high or grade school. Outstanding novel like Of Mice and Men rises just above the safety threhold and basic functional reading to which some teachers or adults would restrict youth to read. As for YA a novel teaches much more than the mechanics of reading, the vernaculars used actually helps to stimulate critical thinking skills. As teenagers they are old enough to discuss and debate the meanings of the vulgar language as it applies today. For college age patrons, they are old enough to vote and fight for America they should be allowed to read as they please.
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Summary: Something That Happened
Review: Migrant workers George Milton and Lennie Small are the best of friends, though they are complete opposites. Lennie, the big man, provides companionship for George, while George, physically small, takes care of Lennie because Lennie is mentally weak. Sometimes, though, George can get really frustrated and angry at Lennie when he does something wrong, probably without meaning to. But Lennie is so loyal to George that George can't be mad at him for a long time. In the story, they find jobs at a farm, where they meet personalities such as Slim, the intelligent, repected leader, Candy, the old, disabled handyman, Crooks, the black, isolated stableworker, Carlson, an insensitive ranch hand, Curley, a mean little guy who is the owner's son, and Curley's wife, a "tart". Things at the farm seem to be going alright for awhile, until their spirits are uplifted for a moment and then brought crashing down in an inevitable chain of events. Many of the events in this book appear to be completely random, and Steinbeck even thought about titling it "Something That Happened" just to show that this world is unpredictable. The nature of dreams is a powerful theme in the novel. George and Lennie have always had a dream of one day owning their own farm, where they can be secure from the outside world and will not have to worry about Lennie's costly mistakes. The dream gives their lives meaning, a reason to keep going on. George never really believes they can do it, but Lennie embraces it with childlike enthusiasm and keeps it alive. Of course, Lennie wants the farm so that he can take care of the rabbits. But when Candy and Crooks offer their stakes to join in, George begins to see that this could be for real and starts to make tentative plans to start the next month. However, Lennie's human imperfection makes the dream ultimately impossible. Loneliness is also a big theme throughout the story. The migrant workers we meet travel alone, and their lives are just a set routine. George and Lennie are not very lonely, since they have each other, but pairs like them are not normal or common. Candy, Crooks and Curley's wife are all very lonely, and they try to fight their isolation whatever way they can. Curley's wife flirts with the ranchers against her husbands's demands. Near the ranch is a town called Soledad, which means "solitude" or "alone". All in all, this is a nice, short, thought-provoking read and my favorite Steinbeck book. Steinbeck does a great job in capturing the character's emotions, thoughts, and feelings. One memorable scene is when Curley picks a fight with Lennie and starts punching him hard. Lennie is scared stiff and takes the abuse until George yells at him to fight back. Lennie then crushes all the bones in Curley's hand. This is a very dark story of brutal inhumane experiences, sadness and obstacles. Enjoy.
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Summary: Enjoyable and Deep Story
Review: Of Mice and Men takes the same path that some of Steinbeck's other novels do, ending with a bitter-sweet taste and a mixed blessing. George and Lennie have a strange companionship, and the companionship is enhanced as you read the book. You can't help but feel sorry for both of them, for very different reasons. The decision made at the end may have been in the best interests of both of the protagonists. An immensely enjoyable but short read with a powerful storyline that atttracts the reader and keeps them hooked. Everyone should read this book. It is beautifully crafted and beautifully written.
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Summary: What Cartoon Hasn't Parodied this Novel?
Review: I've read quite a few high profile books lately, but it has been years since I have read anything that has affected me at an emotional level as much as Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. I don't like to go into deeper meaning in my reviews, but I do think that this book is a timeless parable about yearning for a better life and destroying our dreams for fear of losing them. The book centers on a few days in the life of longtime companions George and Lenny as they look for and find work in order to raise some money. Their goal is to finally have a place of their own where no one can throw them out. The narrative is written in Steinbeck's crystal clear style where the story and the caracters are the substance more than the way he uses his words. Thus, like all his books, Of Mice and Men is a book anyone can pick up and read without feeling in over their head. Steinbeck does not overcomplicate his work. He is interested in everyone understanding what he has to say and he does so more clearly than any other major modernist writer of his time. His characters are found, in part, in anyone. George and Lenny are well-drawn complex, sympathetic and as complete as they can be for a novel that is only 120 pages (in large type). I rarely say this, but Of Mice and Men is a novel I would recommend to anyone who is interested in a good story. As is typical of Steinbeck, there is something for everyone.
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