Helpful Score: 3
Who doesn't love this book? If you actually got through high school without reading it, you should read it.
Helpful Score: 2
The American Library Association has consistently had to deal with the fact that this classic novel continues to rank among the top ten most frequently challenged books. The title, taken from Robert Burns famous line the best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley foreshadows the story of George and Lennie, two migrant workers who dream of someday owning their own little farm where they can settle down to live off the fatta the lan. Like all classic pieces of literature Of Mice and Men, which is set during the depression and deals with universal themes like friendship, isolation, cruelty, innocence, compassion, cowardliness, courage, and love reveals aspects of the human condition that are timeless. Another reason this book is a classic is that instead of simply telling a sad story about a child-like, developmentally disabled man and his friend who has taken on the responsibility of looking out for him, Steinbeck gives us a chance to get to know them. By the end of the book its hard not to feel moved and touched by what happens to characters we have come to understand and care about. On the other hand not everyone who reads the book ends up feeling that way. Apparently theres plenty there to offend all kinds of people -- animal rights people are upset because of what happens to Candys dog and Lennies puppy. Civil rights activists protest the character and treatment of Crooks, the black hired hand who sleeps in a separate bunk house from the other ranch workers. Feminists complain about the stereotypical treatment of Curlys wife and the notable absence of any strong female characters. Some people feel the portrayal of Lennie is demeaning to persons with disabilities. And of course, staunchly religious folks are outraged at the suggestion that mercy killing can be the form that love takes. Nevertheless this book remains a classic piece of American literature and having read it I have a pretty good reason why.
Helpful Score: 2
This classic novel tells the tragic tale of Lennie Small and George Milton. They are out of luck and out of work migrant workers roaming the highways of California during the 1920s. The depression is the backdrop for the story but that does not prevent Lennie and George from dreaming big. Steinbeck paints a masterful and brilliant portrait of a bygone era that still resonates today. Every time I read this book it reads differently. This is required reading for most high schools. Fifteen years after I originally read I still love it. However, the difference between reading it at 14 and 28 is amazing. Lennie and George are some of the best characters of 20th Century Literature. I highly reccommend picking this one up.
Helpful Score: 2
This is one of my favorite American classics. Sure it ends on a very sad note, but it is still a book that deserves its place in the halls of literature canon. I love sharing it with students too because their reactions are usually very strong. There are no passive readers of this story, just listeners who didn't care to listen or readers who didn't really read.
Helpful Score: 1
A classic from high school - very easy read
Helpful Score: 1
I've been a fan of Steinbecks books since high school....love reading them over and over!
Helpful Score: 1
Another John Steinbeck masterpiece!
Helpful Score: 1
I read this as a required novel in my English class, but still really enjoyed it.
Helpful Score: 1
From the back cover: "Traveling across America in search of who you are - now they do it on cycles, in cars, by bus or in the time-honored tradition of foot and thumb. The wanderers of today may wear their hair long and speak a different jargon, but their trip is one that men (and women) have taken for as long as this country has been pushing at its frontiers.
John Steinbeck writes of such a trip in Of Mice and Men: the desperate longing of men for some kind of home - roots that they can believe in, land that they can care for - and the painful search for self. This beautiful, timeless novel speaks of the love that men can feel for each other - one inarticulate, dumb, sometimes violent in his need; the other clever, hopeful, and tied to a responsibility he thinks he doesn't want."
Warning: This book includes violence, obsenities and profanity. Not recommended for children. At 118 pages and large print, it's a quick read.
John Steinbeck writes of such a trip in Of Mice and Men: the desperate longing of men for some kind of home - roots that they can believe in, land that they can care for - and the painful search for self. This beautiful, timeless novel speaks of the love that men can feel for each other - one inarticulate, dumb, sometimes violent in his need; the other clever, hopeful, and tied to a responsibility he thinks he doesn't want."
Warning: This book includes violence, obsenities and profanity. Not recommended for children. At 118 pages and large print, it's a quick read.
Helpful Score: 1
Heartwrenching classic.
Helpful Score: 1
Short enough to entice a reluctant reader to pick it up. This is one that you just have to read. Definitely recommend it for kids. If they can make it past the first few paragraphs they'll love it! Steinbeck is just awesome!
I found this book to be emotionaly guided with a corky standpoint as well as rounded with a Drmatic twist that brings it's readers tearing up if not crying. culturally, the writing changes as charectors come in and out of the picure giving everything and everone their own personalities. if your looking for a Classic Drama, with heart; feed your soul with this book, it'll fill you right up!
Wow! What a poignant and precise book. Despite this book's classic reputation, I never read this in school, and really had no idea what the book was about. I really enjoyed it - and was truly shocked by how sad it was. I felt terrible after reading the ending and was surprised at how such a short book could cover such huge themes like isolation, friendship, love, death and dreams. The number of dogs were surprising, too. I liked it more than _Cannery Row_.
It took long enough, but I finally read this book, and though it's good the one overwhelming thought in my head is DEPRESSING. I'm just glad it was so short. Lennie and George are two friends - George is a small man but smart, while Lennie is a huge and extremely strong but with the intelligence of a child. They have spent their lives dreaming of having a place of their own, living off "the fat of the land", but Lennie's lack of control over his brute strength have landed them in trouble several times and forced them to remain on the move. Steinbeck paints a bleak portrait of the hardship of the time, as well as the myriad characters in life, and an unusual friendship. Most people probably would not like the ending, but I felt it was fitting and I don't think he could have ended it any other way.
A touching, classic story
I read this as a high-school english EXP book, and wasn't expecting much from it. Truthfully, it is a WONDERFUL, sad, and touching story about isolation, strength, and friendship. I would recommend it to anyone, but make sure you have a box of tissues on hand. Steinbeck has a great way of describing places and it really lets you see the world that the characters live in.
Powerful story, and it isn't drawn out into a long novel. Loved the writing style. It really made the characters come to life, and it was easy to feel drawn into the story. This one really tugged at my heart...great book.
Just finished reading and decoding every small aspect of this book for a literature class and I'm currently torn between adoring it, and being ready to throw it across the room.
Three things are for certain: it's a novella you won't want to put down until it's over, the ending will get you every time, and you will fall absolutely in love with the characters.
Steinbeck was a genius.
Three things are for certain: it's a novella you won't want to put down until it's over, the ending will get you every time, and you will fall absolutely in love with the characters.
Steinbeck was a genius.
A thriller, a gripping tale ...a classic.
This story is not to be missed. Don't let it's lack of length decieve you into thinking there isn't enough space to develop good characters and an excellent plot. READ THIS ONE.
Great book!
Haven't read this since high school. Saw it very differently. Steinbeck is a master.
THis is a superb little classic and heartbreaking in its simplicity. Steinbeck is a master at creating such vivid characters in such a limited number of pages.
This book contains a great deal of swearing! Other than that, I really like this book! The themes are great! The story is so very intriguing. What a picture of life during the Great Depression. The ending took me completely by surprise! It gives you a lot to think about.
This is such a beautifully sad book about George and Lennie. George the protector, Lennie the gentle man that is too strong for his own good. I really like George even though he was tough on Lennie sometimes. I trusted that he would always take of Lennie and that he was the only one who really understood him. I enjoyed hearing about their dream as much as Lennie did. There was an feeling throughout the book that something bad was going to happen. It starts with Lennie killing the mice because he is too strong. Then they reach their new work place and there is trouble with the foreman's son and his new wife. Again, Lennie is too strong and his confusion and tenderness is marked with anger when people or animals do not behave as he expects them. This escalates out of control to lead to the final conclusion when George is Lennie's final protector. Heart wrenching.
Wonderfully written classic.
I remember reading this book in middle school. A wonderful read!
Of Mice and Men is the THEE most rewarding book to teach. The students easily understand Setting, as each chapter begins with a couple paragraphs of it. Static and dynamic characters are clear and obvious. It's a fantastic example of truly sympathizing with the antagonist. It's a great way to personify the Great Depression and just how hard men had to work to scrape by. Most of my students don't like Curly's wife because Steinbeck did such an excellent job of making her a villain; when I begin to explain how it might feel to be her: nameless, powerless, unloved, bullied...they begin to appreciate how the "have nots" feel. Follow this book with the Gary Sinise/Jon Malkovich movie and your students will remember their lessons for ever.
Never head this book, but of course, it's a "classic". I decided to read all of the classics I could, now that I'm older. Found the book very small for being so famous. It was interesting and it took me a long time to equate the title with the characters. I'm sure it is true to life, as the world was back then. Men going from ranch to ranch, looking for any type of work. It's a good, short read.
Not much of a Steinbeck fan...I saw the movie first, thought it was alright, so read the book because I picked it up one day for a cheap price.
Saddest ending to a book ever. Poor George.
Short and relatively to the point.
Saddest ending to a book ever. Poor George.
Short and relatively to the point.
An excellent read by one of my favorite authors.
I loved this book, another great read!
The classic!
I thought this was an overall pretty good book. It had a sad ending but very enjoyable.
I had to read it for an English class, but it has a very interesting moral. A very thought provoking book.
I loved this book about the human condition. One brother takes care of the other until he kills for love in order to save him.
A classic!!!
A sad, yet mesmerizing tale about friendship.
I hated this book. I found it physically painful to read. I appreciate and respect what Steinbeck was trying to do with the dialogue. Not being able to finish writing a book myself, I try to be very respectful of accomplished writers, especially writers of classics, but this was not my cup of tea at all and I feel it is incredibly over rated. I've referred to it as 'garbage' and meant it.
I actually like the movie version better. The one with John Malkovich. I really didn't "get" the book.
Great reading!
I do NOT understand how this book is a "classic", it's just horrible!
I understand that Steinbeck is touted as one of our 20th century genius writers. However, I find his books to lack a certain integrity. If he is such a great writer, why does he resort to such profane language? Aren't his characters either grotesque enough? Desperate enough? If Steinbeck is so great a writer, might he just draw from his 'literary genius' and choose a vocabulary less base to formulate his characters? I find it lazy of Steinbeck to use profanity. It takes away from my ability to give him any decent rating. It would be a compromise.
2 friends facing the world .
I personally did not like this book, it was too short and had a very dull plot.
Weird, just plain weird.
it's so sad. In the end Lenny is shot dead since he accidentally killed a woman and since he was mentally wrong you have to have empathy for him. Him dying in the end all because he killed a woman by accident is just so sad. but still it does teach a few lessons and is still a good book. there are two reasons for the foul language one is to make you hate the antagonists and two to fit with the times
Required reading for my DS in midle school.
