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

Had to read this for school, but loved it anyway! One of many classic GOOD books!

WOWoooo!!!

Never heard about this John Steinbeck...but his book was sooo touching.

I fell in love with the characters, each one of them. It is worth reading because theses are real feelings of real people. This is real life!

you'll find yourself cryin' and smiling with them...

absolutly loved it

I love stories that make you contemplate them for days or weeks after you have finished them and even superior are stories that stay with you for a lifetime. "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck classifies as one of those books in my life.

The only problem with the book is that it is short, but maybe that is what makes it so appealing. It is a simple story with complex themes, which involve so many layers of characters and problems in society.

George and Lennie are travelling companions, with George being the leader who is slight in body build and Lennie being mentally handicapped and large in stature. George and Lennie travel from farm to farm looking for labour. Lennie is sworn into silence during the interviews because if the employer finds out Lennie is mentally handicapped they will not hire him. Lennie has to remain silent until they see how strong he is and how much work he can do, Lennie is able to work more then most men combined.

If this was all there was to George and Lennie the book would be done, but Lennie has a problem. Lennie loves soft things and cannot stop himself from stroking them. It is tolerable when he accidentally kills mice while stroking them and even the death of the puppy is forgivable though a greater crime, but when it comes to the death of a human the crime becomes too great even if not done in malice.

I often wondered throughout the book why George stuck with Lennie, and the book never explains why in a clear way that makes the reader say "Oh, that's why he stayed". Sometimes I thought it was out of kindness, other times I thought it was because Lennie was stronger physically and George needed him to get and keep employment, and other times I considered it may have been due to the need of human companionship.

"Of Mice and Men" is unquestionably a book I will read again and I am certain it will feel like welcoming an old friend.

I love stories that make you contemplate them for days or weeks after you have finished them and even superior are stories that stay with you for a lifetime. "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck classifies as one of those books in my life.

The only problem with the book is that it is short, but maybe that is what makes it so appealing. It is a simple story with complex themes, which involve so many layers of characters and problems in society.

George and Lennie are travelling companions, with George being the leader who is slight in body build and Lennie being mentally handicapped and large in stature. George and Lennie travel from farm to farm looking for labour. Lennie is sworn into silence during the interviews because if the employer finds out Lennie is mentally handicapped they will not hire him. Lennie has to remain silent until they see how strong he is and how much work he can do, Lennie is able to work more then most men combined.

If this was all there was to George and Lennie the book would be done, but Lennie has a problem. Lennie loves soft things and cannot stop himself from stroking them. It is tolerable when he accidentally kills mice while stroking them and even the death of the puppy is forgivable though a greater crime, but when it comes to the death of a human the crime becomes too great even if not done in malice.

I often wondered throughout the book why George stuck with Lennie, and the book never explains why in a clear way that makes the reader say "Oh, that's why he stayed". Sometimes I thought it was out of kindness, other times I thought it was because Lennie was stronger physically and George needed him to get and keep employment, and other times I considered it may have been due to the need of human companionship.

"Of Mice and Men" is unquestionably a book I will read again and I am certain it will feel like welcoming an old friend.

This is an enjoyable read. Steinbeck is such a great story teller and I have yet to be disappointed by one of his books. No matter what he is writing about, his words continuously hold the reader's attention and keeps them turning pages. You can turn to this book to look for deeper meanings or just for an enjoyable read.

A great story told by a great writer. I think I was maybe 14 or 15 years old when I first read this small powerhouse of a book about two drifters who dream of a place to call thier own. It was also the first time a book made me cry. I think the most lasting impact this story had on me was that through the relationship of George and the simple-minded giant Lenny, I first discovered the complexities, contradictions, and sacrifices of human love. What better lesson can a book offer ? Definately one of my all- time favorite books.

this was one of the worst books i have ever read... i was glad that it was short though.

Of Mice and Men

This one of those books that makes you just wonder what the author was really thinking and what message they really wanted to convey. This books grabs you from the beginning and never lets go just when you think it is ok to take a breath Steinbeck gives you something else to choke on. The plot of this book goes as follows in the beginning we find two men running from the law, one slower one named Lennie and the brains of the operations George. George was asked by Lennie aunt Clara to watch over him when she dies. After getting in trouble the two find themselves on a new ranch working.
Right as they stood foot and the ranch they were already outcastes by the boss's son Curley. Lennie was for warned to stay away from him but when day they was not the case and it resulted in Curley getting a broken hand. Now that things have died down a bit the two settle in for a long while and makes friends with a lot of people. They meet this old swamper named Candy and they hatch a plan to one day open their own farm and live of the fat of the land. Lennie is given a puppy and he goes and starts to pet it, Lennie dose not know his own strength. Lennie snaps the dogs a neck and tries to hide it from people. That only last until Curleys wife finds the dead puppy beside Lennie and tries to worn the others. Now we see a bit of the beginning but this time only Lennie is being chased by the law and the farmers. To conclude the plat summery on their dream....well your just going to have a read it for yourself.

Some of the major issues in this novel our that Lennie is very slow and George has to tend to him hand and foot this give us the excitement of the book. Other issues were that Lennie was a lot stronger then he looks and that everything that he touched seemed to die or get very injured. This why is the beginning of the book they find themselves running from the law and trying not to get caught and getting hung. Most messages in this book are very strong and clear with direct remarks to racism and other discrimination in the older days of this book. Other messages in this book I see are just because the person is different that dose not mean they cant get the job done right and on time.

I really enjoyed this book and the way the author wrote this book. He use very interesting point of view and ways to pass them on. The strong point of this book are definitely the way the writing is each chapter wants you to just keep reading little bit more and more. Other strong points in this book are the character traits and the way that every character had a distinctive way of personalizing themselves. Some weak points are maybe he could have gone a little longer book to fit in a little more detail and add more to each scene and there climax.

The novel had a little affect on me more towards the fact that the way people and workers were treated after all they were the ones that kept every farm running and the money coming in. The novel makes you open your eyes especially being the younger crowd that racism was a big deal and really was an upfront issue back in those day. I would read this book again some day down in the future.

My final thoughts on this book are that it was a very good book and I would recommend this book to any body who wanted a good old fashion novel. I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars and would say that all people should read Steinbeck novel or any other novel that he has written for that matter. I would say that this book would be good for all ages and any skill level.

Of mice and men is about two main characters; Lennie and George. It starts off with these two starting off in weed where Lennie caused a problem with touching a women's soft dress. They moved to another work place trying to succeed their dream. One other person got added to their dream, Candy. They worked all day and played all games at night.

Some major issues in this story were that Lennie had a problem with his self-control. He couldn't control his actions and his fetish with soft things got him into serious trouble. He touched a women's dress once because of his obsession and she cried rape. Friendship plays a major role in this novel. The farm hands all seem to be sympathetic to one another's situations and predicaments. Of course, George and Lennie form the centerpiece of the importance of friendship in the story.

The author's style was very outgoing. He made sure to explain everything. He made every chapter ending suspense; it makes you not want to stop reading. The books strong points are mostly with the description of all the characters and how they all play their roles. A couple other strong points are; characters personalities, the problems that happen and the stories theme. The weak points are the way the story ends as well as how everything is basically the same thing everyday.

This novel had an amazing effect on me. How because the way the story was written. It made me realize how life can really work and the way it was written it made me want to read it all over again. Every character has an amazing personality and some how in some way they can all connect to you in some way or as you may call it in a strange way.

This book I would recommend for someone who loves adventure and a lot of suspense. This is an amazing book for someone into adventure to read. This is a book that I would have to say deserves five stars. Why because of the way it was put together and all the mysteries that happen in the book. It's a book that drags you in and you just don't want to stop reading it. It just has an amazing peel to it.

Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is a story of two poor men full of hope, the hardships the experience, and their adventure to make their dream come true. After an incident with a previous employer, George and Lennie are sent to find new work on a ranch in California. The two men are bound to each other for life. Lennie (a strong, loving man, who is slow, and unaware of his great strength) and George (a smart and kind man) are working to make their dream come true. When they arrive on the Ranch, they meet many different characters like C urley, their boss's son who is an arrogant ex-boxer, and dislikes larger men, Candy, who is an old man with one hand, and a heart of gold, and Slim, who is the dominant worker of the ranch.

A major issue in this novel is Lennie's subconscious strength. He does not realize his true strength, and it creates some conflict for him and his caretaker George. George (no matter how much trouble he gets him in) cannot leave Lennie. Neither men have noone else, and they stick together through everything. A key issue in this novel is the importance of friendship which is illustrated through the constant guidance of Lennie from George, and is consistent until the end.

After researching Steinbeck, and learning about his past employment experience, it is neat to see how he approached this piece. This book was in my opinion well written. Steinbeck used very effective language, and style of writing. I found in more than one area of this novel, I just did not want to put it down.

This novel was very exciting. It kept me emotionally tied to a few of the characters. There is no way that you can read this novel, and not get emotionally attached. Every character is very different from the next, which makes for a very great story. Though it is a great story, the poor grammar of the men eventually starts to get to you when you read this novel.

Other than that, there isn't anything that would motivate me to give this novel anything but a great review. I would have to give Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, four out of five stars. I recommend this novel to anyone looking for a great read, that can put up with the poor speech of the men.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a heart warming novel that takes you through the adventures of two men, George and Lennie, in hopes to find the American Dream. Lennie's Aunt Clara took care of Lennie because he is disabled. When Aunt Clara died, George ( a friend of Aunt Clara ) took over the responsibility of tending to Lennie. Lennie always caused trouble for George and constantly needed to be cared for as Lennie could not do anything responsible on his own. George and Lennie found a job in Weed, where Lennie accidentally screwed up, and the two men had to run away. Soon after, George and Lennie found a job South of Soledad, California near the Salinas River where they bucked barley for Boss. George made a lot of friends there, however Lennie had some troubles.
This tragic novel displays the corrupting power of female sexuality. The two jobs Lennie and George had together were the only two jobs they got run out of, because of pretty women. It also displays loneliness and companionship. George and Lennie travel everywhere together as they're dependant on each other, which turns out to be a heart warming friendship. Lennie, Crooks, Candy and Curley's wife display loneliness throughout this novel. Lennie is an outcast because he has a disability, Crooks isn't welcome in most situations because he's black, Candy is the old man who has no use, and Curley's wife was supposed to be a star in Hollywood who is now settled to live on a ranch where she doesn't belong. Most of the novel, however, is based on strengths and weakness. Lennie's weakness is soft things and intimidation, his strength was power. George's strength is putting up wit George.

The authors style of writing was well presented leaving the reader knowing Steinbeck wanted his novel to be sentimental, tragic and pessimistic. All in all it was a very fulfilling novel. The novel had some very noticeable strong points throughout, such as the meaning behind friendship and. Loneliness and companionship are two key components in this novel. At one point or another, most of the characters within this novel admit to being lonely in attempt to reach out for a feeling of equality.

Companionship is also a strong point. A lot of the novel, Of Mice and Men, is based on the companionship between Lennie and George and the decisions they make based on their friendship. There was one weak point in the novel, Lennie's character. Lennie's lack of personality, mildly brought down the book due to too much repetition in Lennie's character.

This novel by John Steinbeck was very fulfilling and enjoyable. It reminded me of the importance of friendship. George and Lennie are dependant upon one another, however after being around each other all the time, they became good friends.

In conclusion, Of Mice and Men was a very inspiring piece of literature which will leave you thinking about the important things in life. This novel will leave you thinking about the sacrifices you'd be willing to make for others and the strength of the friendships you have around you. It is a very well written novel that will make you think about the lives of those less fortunate. Because of Lennie's character and Georges endless efforts to be there for George, this novel teaches the importance of having someone to talk to regardless the situation. It was a very well written, and well thought out novel, which I enjoyed.

John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is a touching story of two men that rely on each other's company, and companionship throughout their life. Lennie who is a loving, yet slow minded man, and George, who holds everything together, travel the countryside looking for work. Lennie and George move often because Lennie seems to always get himself into trouble, and George, being the faithful friend he is, goes with him. In this story, the two man are on a ranch south of Soledad, and run into plenty of troubles, including problems with Curley, who is the boss's son, and his wife. Even though Lennie and George have their fair share of problems, they always seem to make it by. In this story, Lennie loves it when George talks about their future, and every chance Lennie gets, Lennie asks George to retell it to him, with perfect detail. Near the end of the book, the biggest test of Lennie and Georges friendship comes into play, it's an ending you don't want to miss.
In this novel Lennie is oblivious to how much strength he actually has, which results in a lot of problems for him. Also, as time progresses, then men begin to make friends as well as enemies, and this results in conflict after conflict. This novel was based on friendship and loyalty towards people you love, and I believe the author did a marvellous job in presenting that with his story. This point proves most powerful towards the end of the book, when Lennie needs George the most, he is there with him.
The author's style in this book is old fashioned, yet good for an older and younger reader. Some of the book's strong points would be when George and Lennie are alone and talking about their future, as well as when characters have to go through hard times, such as Candy, George, Curley, and Lennie. The author knew how to draw the reader in and not let them go. Although the author had a lot of strong points, some of his weak points would be that it didn't explain anything at the end of the book, and it just ended. I would have liked to see more added on to the end to see what happens between everyone.
The novel left a lasting impression on me, and that was to treat family and friends as well as you can, because no matter what you do they will always be there for you. Most of the characters were characters that you could relate to, which made it easy for me to love or hate them. When bad things happened to them, I found myself crying, that's how much of a hold these characters have on the reader.
For me to rate this novel, I would give it a strong 4 out of 5, because it was an awesome novel, but it could have improved on some areas. I would recommend this book to any audience who wants to read about friendship and loyalty. I think if anyone has the chance to read this novel they should, its an awesome time.

ok this is a very good book..its a classic. You have to pay very close attention to the way the story is written and how each and every character is portrayed and created in such a successful way by the author. There is much sybolism that one must understand because if you don't you'll just be lost.

The dialogue in this book was a little disengaging at first. You know how in soap operas the actors sometimes give life histories in the middle of everyday conversations? Such was the case here. In both scenarios it comes across as phoney. It's not that real people don't ever talk about their past, but usually it's not all revealed at once. A reader (or viewer) needs to know the characters' histories of course, but it could be done in way that doesn't distract from authenticity. That said, the story was so great and the characters were so flawlessly written, Steinbeck rescued the tale. A sad tale, it follows the ambitious-but-lower-working-class duo of Lennie and George as they come (at least in their own imaginations) closer to their dream. These two characters are immensely compelling (not to mention the minor characters who lead their own intriguing lives). At first I was drawn to George; a very human character. He uses Lennie to help him reach his goal, but you don't hate him for it. It is obvious that despite this, the relationship is symbiotic. Lennie needs George to care for him and help him reach his goal as well. And it is obvious the two love each other either because or despite of this. As the book progressed though, it was Lennie's character that drew me in. Lennie is a simpleton, to be sure, but he was the best representation of the American Dream (a poor term- aren't most of us in the Western industrialized world living the same dream to some extent?). All of our fancy toys are Lennie's furry friends. We want them and are naive about the consequences; dead puppies or sweatshops. Despite the unbelievable dialogue early in the book, the characters are still believable in themselves. Evil is rarely black and white and Steinbeck didn't forget this for one second.

It was such a good novel I've ever read.
I like the authors ideas so much.
The author used similies widely, and the characters are well organized.

Pure American vulgarism and detail. John Steinbeck has touched the many with this wonderful peice of work. A classic story that will want you to keep reading this again and again.

I would have to congratulate the author for creating such an interesting plot in a short novel. The author wrote the right amount of detail you would need to understand the next situation. It's a wonderful book and should be read (it doesn't take much of your time).