I had read Steinbeck in both high school and university-though to say I actually "read" him in high school would be a mistake. I had to read The Grapes of Wrath and write a paper about it. I found the book to be so boring that I couldn't even make it past the first few pages without falling asleep. When university came, I had to read Of Mice and Men for one of my courses. Feeling a little leery about reading more Steinbeck, I was reassured by its short length.

I picked it up recently because of its volume and portability. It was a quick read, but with so many messages within. In fact, it was quite a depressing read, but the way that Steinbeck puts his stories together, it's hard not to be taken with the beautiful descriptions and the flowing dialogue.

One of the themes of this book is most definitely innocence. We see it in Lenny and we see it in the old dog. With Lenny's innocence, it's easy to enjoy the banter and friendship between him and George. The imagery that Steinbeck conjures is so great that the whole story will stick with you. The comparison between Lenny and the old dog are both tragic and horrifying. Just like the old dog having to rely on his master to get through each day, Lenny has to rely on George. He can't be blamed for the crimes that he does, yet others just can't see it that way.

This really is a book that should be read more in schools-it's a real eye-opener. Touching, sad, and timeless, Of Mice and Men is a classic that should be read in every generation.

Was very intrigued by the story and felt for the characters.

I didn't think that I would become this attached to a novel for school. It was such a great, well-written story that was very intriguing. The characters are so interesting and well rounded, they aren't what they seem and you'll never know what they'll do next. It was defiantly a massive change going from reading Teen Fantasy novels, to a Brilliant Classic published in 1937. John Steinback is defiantly an author that no one should forget, he has created this fantastic story that keeps you interested right until the end. All 107 pages of it is pure greatness.

This story takes place in California, during the Great Depression. We are introduced to many characters but there are two that we follow; George Milton, a small, short, intelligent man who travels with Lennie Small--who isn't small at all. He is a big, burly fellow who is mentally disabled. Lennie causes George a lot of trouble, but he is like a giant teddy bear, he means no harm. They are heading to a ranch in Soledad, California. They hope to accomplish their dream of having a shack, owning land and having animals like cows and rabbits. Lennie can't wait to "tend the rabbits", Lennie loves to pet soft things; If it's a rabbit, a mouse, or even a girl's dress Lennie wants to touch it. That's what forced them to flee Weed, Lennie touched a girl's dress, she screamed, and he held on. This time, George has to make sure that Lennie doesn't cause trouble at the ranch, because they won't achieve their dream...
They arrive at the ranch and George can already sense trouble, he tells Lennie to stay away from certain people, but who's to say Lennie will do what he says. We meet a character with one hand, a crippled black ranch-hand, a greatly respected worker, a sneaky woman, and a self-absorbed, protective enemy. In the matter of only a couple of days, this story unravels. This is the story of two men who are doing everything they can to reach their dream. George knows that he would have a carefree life without Lennie, but he's his pal, and pratically his brother. I was attached to this book because of the strong companionship the two of them have, George gets angry at Lennie sometimes but he sticks by his side. It was quite an emotional book, and if my friends wouldn't have spoiled some parts I would have cried--for sure!
My heart went out to all the characters, and I only wish that this book was longer!


2010-017

John Steinbeck's novel:Of Mice and Men is an excellent book for people of all ages. It shows us how hard it was to live in the late 30's and it teaches us that friendship is one of the most important thing in life. When I first read this novel in high-school, I immediatly fell in love with it and had to read it a second time.
This book is a true MASTERPIECE!!!