Of Mice and Men

Rating:
Summary: George, Lenny, and some dead mice.
Review: This book was required reading in high school, and we all made fun of it. I guess it's an O.K. book but I don't recall it having much of an impact other than humor value. But I'm not a big Steinbeck fan. I guess we all have our prejudices.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: I should have read this book in the 9th grade, but like most of my fellow students, I ended up skimming the book and tossing it in the corner after the final exam. Steinbeck just was not relevant to me at that age. Actually, no literature was relevant. I firmly believe that for some teenagers, a lack of life experience makes the reading of literature an exercise in futility. Of course, this doesn't stop its being assigned, much to the consternation of millions of kids (many of whom are more suited to rap videos and other mind-numbing pap). Literature is a capricious thing; you will either learn to love it, and approach it on your own terms, or hate it and ignore it for life.

That being said, this is a book I wished I had read years ago. One of the things I am learning to appreciate about Steinbeck is his ability to convey multi-dimensional messages with prose that is the height of simplicity. There is no fat on his literary bones. "Of Mice and Men" is such a book. Themes of friendship, oppression, and duty jockey for position in this simple tale about two itinerant laborers (one a simpleton; the other his caretaker) drifting through California looking for their slice of the American dream. I don't think it is necessary to go into further detail about the story. Many have read it, and those who have not won't benefit from a detailed description. Heck, the book is short enough that any details thrown out in this review might spoil it for the uninitiated.

The introduction to the edition I read made one good point (the rest of the introduction was cutesy-wootsy to the point of nausea) that I had not noticed about the book: "Of Mice and Men" was an attempt by Steinbeck to see if he could craft a novel that closely resembled a play. When read with this in mind the story does resemble a work made for the stage; there are few set pieces in the story, but an enormous amount of dialogue. It is no wonder there are several stage and film versions of this book floating around.

Finally, this book is depressing. There is no happy ending here, as death and danger stalk the pages of the story. I would be lying if I said I was not affected by some of the events in the book. I did not burst out crying, but I did feel gloomy and a little cranky after I finished reading. If you are attempting Steinbeck, you will have to visit this little novella at some point.

Rating:
Summary: Unbelievably good!!!!
Review: The book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is about two guys named Lennie and George. Lennie and George are the best of friends and have been for years now. George and Lennie are looking for a job and have found one but they have to walk there because the bus driver dropped them off saying that where they want to go is only a couple of miles down the road. It ends up being ten miles that George and Lennie have to walk and so the end up having to spend the night outside because they need to rest. After walking all of this way the two men are starving but all they have to eat is beans because it is the great depression and not many people can afford much else.
George and Lennie are the best of friends because they look out for one another. Well it's mostly George looking out for Lennie because Lennie is a little slower than most and doesn't always understand things the first time around. So George and Lennie go from one place to another looking for work because most people don't respond very positively to Lennie because of the way that he is. Lennie just likes to touch soft things and that is what makes him happy and feel warm inside. Since Lennie is so big and he doesn't know his strength and ends up killing the little animals that he loves to pet so dearly. So that is how George and Lennie ended up on the farm, and there is where everything came to an end.
George and Lennie got there to work, and while there Lennie fell in love with some puppies that were barely born. Lennie couldn't stand to be away from those puppies when he didn't have to. While spending time with the puppies Curley's wife went into the barn to talk to Lennie and she found out that he liked to touch soft things and had him touch her hair. Lennie liked it's softness so much that he didn't want to let go and got scared and accidentally killed Curley's wife. This was a very bad thing and he knew it so he went to hide in the brush like George told him to do if he ever did a bad thing. When they found the body everyone knew that Lennie was the man responsible so they all went looking for him to kill him. George knew that the only way that Lennie would not be really punished for what he did was if George killed him himself. That is exactly what George did and it was the only thing that could have been done to really save Lennie. The book was very serious and stayed that way throughout the novel.
This book talked about very serious subjects and didn't change throughout the book. George and Lennie just want their own farm and the ability to do whatever they please from the beginning and that doesn't change throughout the book. In the beginning of the book George expresses that he is tired of having to always worry about Lennie and that George would be much better off by himself. Throughout the novel George doesn't change and while he does take Lennie with him everywhere he goes he still feels the same, and he knows that even though at the end when he has to kill Lennie it is the best for everyone because if he wouldn't have done it Lennie never would have been able to live a truly happy life with no worries.
During the end of the book when George knew that he had to kill Lennie and just let Lennie keep talking about his dreams of the rabbit farm and George killed him was the most moving seen for me because there is nothing worse than killing someone you love not because you want to but because you have to. I think that the author was trying to give everyone who read this book a feel for what it is that people who are like Lennie have to go through. The author I think was trying to make everyone realize that they are people too and they really don't know some of the things that they should and it isn't their fault. I learned that you should always give people chances no matter who they are or what battles they may be facing in their lives at that time. This novel didn't really remind me of anything it just showed me that everyone deserves a chance and the ability to express themselves in any way they chose and no one should judge them for that.
I felt that this book was very well written and overall just a great book. It shows you how judgmental and naive some people can be and why you shouldn't be like that. This gives you a perspective of how people like Lennie feel and what obstacles they have to go through because people won't give them the chance to get to know them. I learned that know matter who you are you are no better than the people you think are, they in fact are better than you because they unlike you are willing to give you the chance that everyone deserves.

Rating:
Summary: Of Mice and Men
Review: The Setting for this story is Salinas, California during the 1930's. On the Salinas River, George and Lennie are camping out before they get to the ranch where they're going to work.

The Main conflict of the book is that George thinks that Lennie is going to say or do something to get them fired from their job just like the job that they had before. This problem was easily solved by George telling Lennie not to talk to the boss and that if he did he would not be able to tend the rabbits when they get their own farm.

The tone of this novel is kind of slow at first, but it eventually changes. When you are reading, you are thinking something is going to happen something different and more suspensful happens.

Lennie Really doesn't change that much from the beginning to end. George, however, changes a lot. George starts off as a pretty good friend to Lennie, but eventually turns his back on him.

To me the most moving scene in the novel was when Lennie was hiding in the brush and he invisions his Aunt Clara and a rabbit telling Lennie how he betrayed George by what he did to Curleys wife.

I feel that John Steinbeck's purpose in the book is to show that even your closest friends can turn their backs on you.

I learned, from this novel, that human nature is hard to deal with when you lose a close friend by backstabbing and betrayal.

This novel reminds me of the time I lost a close friend from arugments, backstabbing and arugments.

My overall feelings for this book are that, it is a great book to read. Even though it is kind of short, you get a lot out of it. You mainly learn about good and bad friendship. I strongly reccomend this book to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: An awesome book... must read!!!
Review: After being chased from one job, George and Lennie find themselves alongside the road walking to their next job. Day after day George takes care of his friend Lennie who is a monstrous man with a mental illness. Lennie can hardly remember but one thing and that is the rabbits he hopes to tend.

The hard times that George and Lennie have earning the little bit they can is hard enough, let alone this novel is during the Great Depression. The struggles they have can pull you into the novel. Would this novel be as good as it is if Lennie did not have a mental illness?

I feel that this novel would not be the novel it is without the illness Lennie has. when George and Lennie get to their next job there are all kinds of things that are waiting to get them in trouble. First they show up late to work because of the bus driver, then they meet a small man that has an attitude whose name is Curley. Then Curley's wife comes around. She is a big flirt that catches Lennie's eyes. Lennie has a problem keeping his hands off of pretty soft things. These two people alone cause George and Lennie the most trouble. On the other hand George is able to become friends and gain trust with another worker named Slim.

Being the way that Lennie is Curley finds some way to pick a fight with him. This creates some tension within the novel. Then when things seemed to be settled down Lennie finds himself in the barn talking to Curley's wife. If Lennie had enough sense he would not have gotten into a struggle with her. Because of this Lennie and George find themselves in the same situation they were in before. George finally realizes that this can't go on any longer and has to do something himself.

I find this to be a very excellent novel to read. The characters are very likable and you can become easily attached. Without Lennie being the way he is this novel would just be some novel about two guys that worked on a farm. Lennie's character makes this novel as memorable as it is.

Rating:
Summary: A heartfelt book
Review: Of Men and Mice is a story about the dreams and friendship between two men during The Great Depression. George, who is "small and quick," faces many problems trying to keep Lennie, who is a large man with the mind of a young child, out of trouble. George and Lennie share a dream to own land and raise animals. To keep this dream, George does what he can to keep Lennie's strength and obsession with soft things under control. The friendship George and Lennie had was a quality many men could not find at that time with anyone but was something that was needed in their times of loneliness.
Reading this book showed how life was during The Great Depression for those who cared for someone who was mentally challenged and had the responsibility for watching over their well being. It took patience and kindness on George's part to carry on the responsibility of care for Lennie. George had to take Lennie everywhere he went and constantly made decisions on his behalf in the best interest for him. In our days the challenged are taken care of, not only by family members but also by society. One does not have to worry about the responsibility for them as much as George did for Lennie. I can imagine how one's life was affected in those days when the responsibility was all on one.
I enjoyed reading this book because it made me realize the importance of friendship. Many characters in the book went through loneliness and expressed their need to have a companion. My favorite part of the story was anytime Lennie would talk about the rabbits and the reactions of those he told it. Being a big man with the brains of a child made his obsession with the rabbits as well as all soft things humorous as well as sensitive. Though the times in which they lived in were rough and depressing, Lennie brought a bright and funny twist to it that made the reader enjoy his character.
People who have friends and companions will like this book best. It will help them appreciate having someone around to share their good and bad times. In reading this book we feel the sorrow and jealousy of those who needed that friendship and that's something no one wants to experience.

Rating:
Summary: "CLASSIC"
Review: "Of Mice and Men" was about two friends George and Lennie, who are the main characters. Both were traveling in southern California looking for work. While traveling they would have quite an adventure. One of the major problems between the two is that Lennie is simple-minded and touching things, like women, and their clothes. Lennie had no control over what he did sometimes. He would do things like tell other people about George and his future plans about buying their own house. Of the two I liked George.
George is very short-tempered. He would yell at Lennie and hit him to make him remember and understand things he would tell Lennie. When they were at the river in the beginning George was scolding Lennie about not drinking water that wasn't running and when in trouble to come back by the river and hide in the bushes. Lennie was no smart man, but he tried to listen to George. I remember I would sometimes yell at my little brother because he would do things he had been told not to, but did anyway, like going outside without asking for permission. My little brother wasn't dumb but just wouldn't listen sometimes. I would yell at him not to be mean, but for his own good. Just like George is to Lennie.
After reading this book I thought it was good. Good because of how the author started and ended George and Lennie at the same place, which was unique. The two friends were in a forest with different types of animals and a river and at the end they came back because Lennie got into big trouble and went to go a hide. The most interesting part was when Curley and Lennie were fighting. At first, Lennie was getting beattened pretty badly and then all of a sudden Lennie let out his anger. Having a child-like mind Lennie was unaware of his powerful strength. The only part I didn't like of the book was of how Lennie talks about rabbits too many times. That is what I would change about the book if I were the author.
Since I like the book I would like others to read it as well. This kind of a book applies to all. It can also teach kids that they can be friends with anyone no matter what kind of a person they are.

Rating:
Summary: The Dream
Review: Of Mice And Men, by John Steinbeck was a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.

I reed this book in the 9th grade, and I enjoyed it but now 4 years later I read it again and I understudied it better, maybe because I am more mature, and I understand life better than before.

I recommend this book because of how the two men, George and Lenny lock out for each other, and how good friends they are, but also it is a sad book, it is sad because of the way things tern out. This book has the best ending a book can have, the thing that a person will do for a friend.

I recommend this book to anyone, especially to people that enjoy books that make you think about things through out the whole book, and I also recommended to people that think that life is beautiful, but it can't be all the time.

By, Victor Meza

Rating:
Summary: "I'm sorry George"
Review: Of Mice and Men is a story about two travelers that are trying to make their dream come true. The main charters in this book are, George Milton and Lennie Small. Both are the run because of an incident that happened in the town Weed. George and Lennie travel to get work so they can one day save up enough money to buy a piece of land and reach their goal. One thing that Lennie likes to do in this book is to pet soft things. He likes soft animals especially rabbits. Lennie is mentally retarded so he doesn't really know what is right and wrong. Lennie gets himself into lots of trouble throughout this book.

My favorite character in this book is George Milton because he gets Lennie out of trouble. George helps Lennie all the way through their adventure and that is a true friend by your side.

I could relate to George because when it comes to a good friend like he is with Lennie I'm there for my friends. George helps Lennie a lot through this book by sticking up for him and keeping him out of trouble. I have always saved my friends when they were trouble just like George does with Lennie. I help my friends when they need it the most. George helps Lennie when he gets in trouble in the town of Weed. I am just like George in a way because of how good of a friend he is to Lennie and how I am the same with my friends.

This is a great book, but it is sad near the end. You can foresee a lot of things while reading this novel. My favorite part in the book was when Lennie is getting punched in the face by Curly; George then tells Lennie to fight back. Lennie then grabs Curly's hand with one fist and crushes it. The part that I least liked in the book was when Carlson shot Candy's dog to put it out of it's misery because Carlson said the dog smelled. Carlson had no right to shoot Candy's dog even if he did wanted to put it out of it's misery. I would change the part where Lennie got involved with Curly's wife. This is when things leads to trouble.

I would recommend this book to others because it is a great book. This book has everything, drama, action and lots more. I think any type of person would read this novel mostly because of the story, characters and the qualities that it has. Over all this is the best novel that I have read in years and I suggest others should read this book and enjoy.

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Summary: Of Mice and Men is cool!!!
Review: Of Mice and Men is a good book. I don't want to give the book away so I won't say much about it. It is about two men named George and Lennie. Lennie is mentally impared. George looks after him after Lennies aunt died. Lennie gets in trouble and causes them to move to a different town. Other things happen there.
The author of this book is John Steinbeck. He is a great author. He wrote another book about a family in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl ...