Of Mice and Men

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Summary: Of Mice and Men
Review: George and Lenny are two men traveling while striving to support themselves and make a home together. The message that I gathered was that high hopes and dreams for a better future could make a miserable today more tolerable. The main characters are George and Lenny. They are best friends and watch over each other as they travel together. Lenny is unable to take care of himself because of his mental disabilities. George sees him for who he is and is his true friend regardless of the negative things Lenny does. Lenny is an extremely large man and does not understand his strength and the harm he is capable of causing. This leads him to the conflicts that occurred between Curley and his wife. This is the one thing that Lenny did that could not go unpunished for. It is George that did the right thing for his friend Lenny in the end.
I can really relate to this story from a personal experience of my own. My good friend from my childhood always had so much going for him. I don't think he even realized all that he was worth and capable of. Based on his actions it was plainly obvious that he did not see this. He started using drugs, then selling drugs, and then the last straw was when he put himself in the hospital by overdosing. His parents were blinded by what a good kid he was; they didn't understand what was happening. I knew he would be upset with me for telling on him, but it was the most loving thing I could do to save him from his destructive path. He is now clean and sober and has numerously thanked me for caring enough to bring the problem to the surface. So, like George, I looked past what I didn't want to do and did what was best for my friend.
I really enjoyed reading this book because Steinbeck was so descriptive with his choice of words in this novel. I could actually picture each event in the story like I was watching a movie, but better. I love books like this because they are the ones that I can't put down, which makes reading so enjoyable. My favorite parts of the book are every time George and Lenny talk about their dream of having their own farm with the rabbits. It seemed like such a beautiful dream. It made me wish that I had a farm of my own. I didn't like how the novel ended with George and Lenny because they were so close and I hoped that they would remain friends forever. I wouldn't change anything about this book because it was written by a great author and is a classic, even today. It ended just the way it was meant to because any other way would not have given the same message about friendship.
I think that everyone should read this book at least once in their life because it is an excellent work of literature. It is full of excitement and adventure that would keep anyone's mind occupied and entertained. This novel is not really directed to a certain type of person. Each character is different and unique. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.

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Summary: Of Mice and Men
Review: Lennie Small is too strong for his own good. He is not a very intelligent person (everyone says he's stupid), and understands very little of what goes on around him. If it weren't for his friend George, who travels with him, Lennie would have a very difficult time functioning in society. In fact, he has that problem already. His strength is a danger to him, because sometimes he harms things without understanding what he's doing. For example, he's always crushing mice to death, and he even does this with a puppy. Lennie is innocent and would never intentionally harm anyone, but his stupidity and his strength are a very potentially harmful combination.

This book raises an interesting question: what should be done with people who are dangerous through no fault of their own? Should people like Lennie, who unintentionally harm other people, be held responsible for what they do? Lennie is a very difficult case, because he does not deserve to be punished for what he inadvertently does, but he also cannot be left free to cause harm to other people. This is the central conflict of the novel.

Set in depression-era America, this novel by John Steinbeck is well-written and thought-provoking. The dialogue is fabulous, as is the narrative. This book is considered to be a classic of 20th-century American literature, and in fact it is a very good read. I would not give it the rank of classic, perhaps, but it is nevertheless a great (and highly recommended) novel.

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Summary: A great, but controversial novel
Review: Of Mice and Men is a great book that I enjoyed very much. Basically, it is about two friends named George and Lennie who try to live and work in a normal life. George is short, but very intelligent while Lennie is the opposite; he is tall and strong. However Lennie also had a mental disability that severely impacted his and George's goal. Due to the disability, George has to take extra care of Lennie and show him what's right and wrong. The only thing he couldn't stop was Lennie's love of petting soft things, like animals. This was a bad thing because Lennie always accidentally kills anything he pets. This aspect of the disability and the disability in general lead to many difficulties in George's life and many conflicts with the locals. Of Mice and Men is a book filled with suspense and action that will keep the reader flipping through the pages.
Despite the magnificence of this novel, it has been banned to due certain reasons that were very controversial. The constant swearing, violence, and the setting of bad moral to others lead to the banning of this novel. The swearing starts as early as page 3. "He [George] said angrily," ... 'Jes' a little stretch down the highway... God damn near four miles... Didn't wanta stop at the ranch gate, that's what. Too God damn lazy to pull up."" On this page, notice how the word "God damn" was used repeatedly. This word is especially offensive to people who love and respect God, such as devote Christians. The violence that occurs in Of Mice and Men also got it banned. The killing of many innocent animals due to Lennie's love of petting soft things is a good example. Using the theme of weakness of the human mind, Steinbeck sets a morally bad example for other people. Steinbeck sends a message to the reader saying anything (and I mean ANYTHING) in the world that gets in the way of living a nice, normal life should be eliminated.
Speaking of worlds, Of Mice and Men is both positive and negative to the literary world. It's negative because it sends the reader the bad message that was previously stated above. On the other hand, the novel is positive to the literary world because it clearly depicts how hard life is when living with a mentally retarded person that must be monitored constantly. The reader can actually feel the frustration and anger inside of him/her as he/she reads about Lennie doing something stupid again. I know I did when I read about Lennie continuing to pet a rat that he has already killed. A lot of respect and recognition should go to the people who have to deal with people such as Lennie. Also, the novel is positive to the literary world because it's a dang good book. Don't be fooled by the minute size of the book, it's definitely well worth the time to read. :)

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Summary: OF Mice and Men
Review: I am a tenth grade student and I recently read "Of Mice and Men" for a school project. I thought it was an excellent book. I felt that the author, John Steinbeck, did a first class job with this novel. It portrayed the relationship between George and Lennie in a way that made you become very attached to the characters. You wanted to read more to find out if they ever accomplished their goals and to see if their dreams became a reality. George and Lennie are complete opposites; George is a small, quick intelligent man, while Lennie is a man of huge dimensions but has the brain of a child. Throughout the story Lennie acts in ways that infuriate George, but George will always be there for his friend because he knows Lennie needs him to survive. Lennie can buck barley like no one else because of his pure strength, but would probably starve to death if he didn't have George to provide his daily meals. I think that has to do with why this book has been banned in the past by schools across the country. Some people may be offended by how the mentally challenged person is shown in this story. It seems as though the view being expressed is that people with mental problems can't do anything for themselves. They are also a constant threat to others because they cannot control themselves. Lennie didn't realize what he was doing was wrong until it had gone too far. These are stereotypes of mentally retarded people that some people may believe are reinforced by this novel. They are lead to believe that this book is discriminatory towards the mentally challenged. Parents whom believed this did not want their children reading this book because they did not want them to be exposed to these types of ideas. Also, Curly's wife does not fit the traditional mould. She is unhappy with her marriage and is not completely loyal to her husband like a conventional wife should be. She is always flirting with the men that work on the farm. Some adults believed that this was unacceptable behavior to expose to children. I don't think that a school today would even consider banning this book because cultural standards have changed greatly from when this book was first published in 1937. I also don't believe that this book should have ever been banned. It is a great book that takes you on an emotional roller coaster. Once you get started it is almost impossible to put down. The ending is also written to perfection. It is unpredictable and is incredibly moving. I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it anyone.

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Summary: A Great Read
Review: I am a 16 year old High School Student who read The book "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck as a school outside reading assignment. At first I resented this assignment but after I read the first 15 pages the last hundred flew by all in one sitting. This was a great book. It was a short read that keeps you entertained to the very last page; once you pick it up I doubt that you will ever put it down. One thing that I loved about this book was the relationship between George and Lenny. These were two totally different people. George was a short man with a strutured apperence while Lenny is a very large man with a round and unreconizable apperence. These two friend complete each other in that they compensate for each others errors. For example George is the intelligente one and Lenny is the really dumb one and George is always having to clean up after Lenny's mistakes. Even though sometimes George could be a little mean and unsimpathetic I believe that this was true friendship.
This novel takes place in southern California by a town called Weed. George and Lenny are ranch workers that go from ranch to ranch just looking for jobs. There are many very interesting charaters in this novel that add to the story. Curley is a character that adds alot of drama and action to the novel. Curley is the bosses son who was just married and feels that he must prove something to his new wife. He likes to pick on big guys becaues he is a good boxer and is a short man himself, so naturally he picks on Lenny. This fued that goes one way from Curley to Lenny and is very entertaining.
In many schools across the country this book was banned. I do not understand why this book was banned because it does not contribute negatively but without a doubt positively to society. It contributes positively because it provides the read with many lessons about friendship and trust. I would highly recommend this novel to everyone of all ages. If you are looking for a short but awesome read for a weekend, because that is all it will take, this is the book for you. Between Steinbeck's deep description and great talent in weaving a tale you'll be more than satisfied with his novel.
I rated this book with a five out of five stars.

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Summary: Emerging Controversial Themes
Review: Of Mice and Men is about two friends, George and Lennie. "George is small and quick and dark of face", while Lennie is " a man of tremendous size and has the mind of a young child." Lennie has a mental disability, although his devotion to George is very strong. George returns this loyalty and obedience to Lennie. However, Lennie often gets himself into trouble, sometimes harmless and shameless, but other times very serious.
This novel exhibits many controversial themes from a moral and social standpoint. One of these themes is that women corrupt and cause evil in society. George, repeatedly through out the book, tells Lennie to keep away from their boss', Curley, wife. George is convinced that she, along with the rest of the women in the world, will cause trouble and are evil. However, Steinbeck portrays her as a helpless character who hates her husband and her life. Although Steinbeck may want her to seem innocent, she is not and her flirtatious actions towards Lennie, virtually, cause her death, as well as his.
Another controversial theme exhibited in this novel, is racial segregation. One of the main characters, Crooks, is isolated from the rest of the men on the ranch because he is black. Steinbeck depicts him as a lonely and miserable man. He lives in a room separate from the other men, next to the barn, and is denied the basic rights that the other men have, including playing a simple card game with them. However, Lennie does not understand the problem with skin color and insists on spending time with Crooks. Lennie often gets scolded by George for his actions, but Crooks is left with most of the blame, simply because he is black.
Although, this book is controversial, I believe it positively contributes to the literary world. This book is thought provoking and teaches the reader to be thankful for their friends, while accepting others, no matter what race they may be. I would suggest this book to anyone who understands what friendship is and how powerful it can truly be.

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Summary: A Banned/Challenged Book Worth Reading
Review: Although many people view Of Mice and Men as a classic, there are some who disagree. The novel was banned and challenged in many schools throughout the country because of explicit language and profanity. After finishing the book myself, I strongly disagree. The language used in Of Mice and Men is nothing new, and most definitely not something that teenagers have not already heard before. One of the characters, Crooks, who happens to be an African American, is quite often referred to in the novel as inferior and is treated much differently than the other characters in the novel. That is perhaps another reason why people may have challenged the novel. Personally, I feel that Of Mice and Men positively contributes to the literary world because of its status. Many critics feel that it is a classic and I feel it should be treated as such. The idea of companionship is demonstrated throughout the book, and I feel that is a positive force. As shown in the novel, everyone needs someone to talk to, one cannot go throughout life without friends to confide in and have fun with. Overall, Of Mice and Men is a classic novel that everyone should read.

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Summary: An Illegal Book
Review: Judging by its short 106-page length and relatively large font, John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men would seem to be the "perfect" read for an average high school slacker. However, most high schoolers are not allowed to take advantage of the short novel because Of Mice and Men has been banned from many schools for being controversial. This may seem strange as the plot is centered around two friends, George and Lennie, who travel from place to place looking for work. However, George and Lennie aren't like most other manual laborers. They work because they have the goal of eventually buying and managing their own piece of land. Steinbeck focuses the novel mainly on their arduous journey toward achieving that goal. However, during George and Lennie's journey, Steinbeck incorporates different themes that are morally and socially controversial and ultimately result in Of Mice and Men being banned.
Ironically, Steinbeck's philosophical themes that cause controversy stem from a relatively simple plot. The plot surrounds the main characters, George and Lennie, who are looking for a place to work and who eventually settle on a ranch in California. They develop many friends at this ranch and some of their fellow workers actually join Lennie and George in their quest to own land. However, it isn't long before that Lennie accidentally murders the boss's daughter in law and is forced to flee the ranch to avoid being punished. With a search party looking for Lennie, it is ironic that George, Lennie's long-time companion, is the one that kills Lennie. The novel then comes to a conclusion after Lennie is killed and the two never get to own their own land. With this plot the murder alone being controversial enough for the book to be banned, it is obvious that the reasons for the banishment are due to other themes within the book.
One of the major themes of the novel that may have caused moral controversy is the relationship between George and Lennie. George and Lennie have been long-time companions and have always been there for each other. This friendship may not seem controversial on the surface but the way the two treat each other can be considered socially offensive. George, who is naturally much smarter than Lennie, often insults and chastises Lennie for being dumb. For example, one time after Lennie wanted a dead mouse as a pet, George reacted, " "'You crazy fool...'" He heard Lennie's whimpering cry and wheeled about. "'Blubberin'" like a baby! Jesus Christ!'" " Quotes like this are riddled throughout the book as George and other characters continue to insult Lennie for not being smart. This aspect of the novel will offend many readers as it is not proper in society to offend people who are not smart. These unwarranted attacks are reason why Of Mice and Men may have been banned.
The novel also may have been banned because the novel negatively portrays women. The insulting description of women is a theme in the novel that can be seen through the character of Curley's wife. She is the only female character in the book and negatively represents women as she is constantly portrayed s very annoying. She is constantly nagging all the workers on the ranch and soon gains the disliking of all the workers. The workers personify her with words like "tramp" and "tart" as they think she is whorish. Morally, this portrayal is controversial because Steinbeck uses Curley's wife as a symbol for all women. It is offensive for all women to be characterized as annoying and whorish. As a result, many women may have been upset by Of Mice and Men and called for the book to be banned.
Although the novel became banned in many schools, I think Of Mice and Men positively contributed to the literary world because Steinbeck had a powerful message in his book. Although controversial, Steinbeck conveyed something through his writing and that is very important. Steinbeck made people think and argue as he pointed out pieces of society that might seem offensive. Through his book, he made people take action to improve society. I think that authors should always strive for an emotional response from their readers. As a result, because Of Mice and Men sends a powerful message, the novel should not be banned and students should read it.

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Summary: Controversial Themes in Of Mice and Men
Review: This book is the powerful story of two young men, George and Lennie, trying to fulfill their longtime dream of owning their own land. In the meantime, they work at a small ranch to try to gain enough money to buy their own land...
A major theme that has caused controversy among many schools throughout the country is its bad language. According to Christopher Moore ... there are over 122 curse words in the book and is thought to be an "unChristian mindset" for children. Some other controversial themes that have caused the book to be banned in many schools are its "...moral statement(s), treatment of the retarded, and the violent ending."
... Personally, I thought that this was a very good book that showed true frienship, through "thick and thin" and I don't think that it should be banned in schools.

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Summary: "Of Mice and Men" Thoughts
Review: First off, I thought that the novel, "Of Mice and Men" was a pretty good one. Usually I can't and don't really like reading novels but I did like this one. This book has been banned before in schools and I just think that that's ridiculous. Why ban this novel? I could understand the banning if this book had themes of sex, violence, etc. but it doesn't. All the banning does is hinder a children from reading a book that is commonly referred to as a legend.

I have researched on the internet as to why this book had been banned in schools across America and some of the reasons I found were because the book had parts with obscene language and violent scenes, such as the ending.

I suppose that these schools do not seem to realize that the book is more than just that. The story is about a friendship between two men named George and Lennie. Some might ask the question : "How can they be friends after George shoots Lennie in the end?" Well, to answer a popular question, George did it for Lennie. He peacefully killed Lennie before Curly and his men could get to him. He saved Lennie from the torture that undoubtedly would have occurred had they found him first.

Like I said before, I consider this book, as many others do, as a "legend". If schools want to ban the book because some of these "controversial themes" then the least they could do, is allow the children to read the book at an older age. They're just taking away one of the best books from them by having it banned.