Of Mice and Men

Rating:
Summary: On the Way to Their Dream
Review: I read the novel Of Mice and Men, which was recommended to me by my cousin. He told me the book wasn't that long and the story was really nice. So I went to the library and checked it out. When I first started to read the book it seemed kind of boring because the two main characters where just talking back and forth, but after the first two chapters I couldn't put the book down. It was a wonderful book and I had a great time reading it. While I was reading this book it made me think about me and my friends and what friendship really is.

Of Mice and Men is a story about a relationship between two friends who travel around California, working on farms. Lennie is a big, giant, strong man with the mind of a small child traveling with George, a short, smart guy who not only looks after himself but also has to look after his job and take care of his mentally retarded friend, Lennie. George is like Lennie's older brother who watches out for him all the time. Lennie does unintelligent things like carry around dead mouse in this pocket and George always yells at Lennie and gets mad at him yet, George can't go on with his life without Lennie. They travel together working hard on farms and saving up money so their dream can come true. All they want is a place of their own with chicken, rabbits, horses, and other farm animals. On their way to their dream they stop at a farm to make some money where things go wrong because Lennie likes to touch, pet, and hold on to soft things. Their dream is ruined because of Lennie's habit. Lennie likes to touch all things that are soft, and I mean all things that are soft, even a woman's soft pretty dress, or her soft silky hair, which gets Lennie killed by his best friend. George decides that he can no longer protect Lennie from the horrible things that he hadn't intended to do. This was a really hard decision for George but he knew the outcome was going to be the best for both him and Lennie.

Of Mice and Men takes you through life changing events, problems, and dreams of two poor laborers who just want a place of their own, which is just like many people in the world. Many families and friends work together so their dreams can come true. This book also made think of friendship and how we treat our friends and others in the world who are different, and less intelligent then us. People treat others bad, and put them down just because they are different. Even though the ending of this novel seems sad, and heart breaking, I think George did the right thing; he didn't want his friend to live the hard harsh life, in this unkind world. After reading this book, it made me realize that John Steinbeck is a wonderful author and I loved his writing style. It simple, easy to understand, relates to life, teaches you something and leaves you with something to think about. I am a person who doesn't like to read much but when I am assigned to read for a class I tend to find books that interest me. In the future I plan to read this book again and I also want read more of John Steinbeck's novels.

Rating:
Summary: HORRIBLE
Review: WHat a Bad book NO one READ IT!

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable piece of literature
Review: I picked up Of Mice and Men because it was short and I figured that I could read a good book in a small amount of time. The book turned out to be as expected if not better. I think that it is possible to get as much if not more sometimes out of a short book like this one. The book kept me involved in the plot all the way till the end. The ending made the book very good, but you will have to read it for yourself to get that satisfaction!

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I thought that this book was great. When I first opened the book and read the first page, I thought that I was in for a boring book. I being the type that hates adventures, thought that the book was well written. The book starts off with a discription of a place that is by a lake and is surrounded with bushes. As I continued to read I began to like the characters. One being smart and the other being incredibly stupid. As the story goes on many events happen that make you continue to read. John Steinbeck keeps you intersested throughout the entire story. You must read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Author, Mediocre Novel.....
Review: Let me make a declaration: John Steinbeck was a genius and a brilliant writer; however, with "Of Mice and Men" he simply fell short. Although it was extremely well-written in Steinbeck's signature simple style, the novel was just too brief for the plot resolve itself. The resolution seemed forced and rushed. Despite this, Steinbeck did fit in an amazing amount of character development in just over one-hundred pages. I would recommend "The Grapes of Wrath" over "Of Mice and Men." I would also strongly urge readers to shy away from "The Red Pony" and "The Pearl," also by John Steinbeck. READ "THE GRAPES OF WRATH" INSTEAD!

Rating:
Summary: An 'Ernst' attempt
Review: This book is one of the best books i have read. John Ernst Steinbeck must have been very proud of his book. This book charts the story of two itinerant farm labourers, named George & Lennie. The way this book is constructed is excellent, and a guideline for any aspiring writer. The characters in this book are trapped in unfair circumstances, but still manage to remain heroic and sympathetic (if defeated). As they do this, they also manage to keep a sort of quiet dignity about themselves. It is an amazing study of lonliness and discrimination, and how this discrimination leads to lonliness for some of the characters. A true American classic.

Rating:
Summary: A Timeless Novel
Review: I instantly fell in love with the book within the first ten pages. The characters that Steinbeck created were so vivid that they appeared to be real to the reader. It was easy to identify with George's anger and frustration at Lennie for getting the two of them fired from every job they had ever had. Even though Lennie could not control his actions, it was pure human nature to become angry or feel somewhat burdened by this aloof companion. If one is looking for an uplifting book, this should definitely not be their first choice. It was depressing to look into the bleak lives of these characters living in a barren desert-like ranch with hopes and aspirations that were never expected to come true. George even admitted on page 92, "I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we'd never do her." This was in reference to them buying a farm of their own in the future. The only thing George and Lennie ever wanted was their own property that would give them the complete freedom they always dreamt of. With other farmers always telling them that it would never happen on top of George's own doubt, it was clear that their whole life would be spent doing meaningless work which would never amount to anything. Yet, the power of friendship in this novel makes it all the worthwhile to read. Even if a tear or two is shed at the end.

Rating:
Summary: The impact is enormous!
Review: This book was magnificent. I started it knowing how it would end, yet I was still close to tears when I put down this wonderful book. A wonderful book for someone who wants to read an amazing classic, yet doesn't want to have to spend four or five months reading it.

Rating:
Summary: A tale of two men
Review: Time after time steinbeck has been able to tell a story and capture my attention with great words which flow off the pages. Mice and men is a great story of two men and their lot in life. You'll laugh and cry as you read this tale. And it will challenge you to ask questions you never though were there to ask.

Rating:
Summary: The Annals of a Tome
Review: Steinbeck, what more needs to be said. This is one of the best books (and movies) about United States history that has been written. Yes, this is a hisory book! But don't be discouraged. This is like no other history book ever written. It tells the story of the U.S. at one of her most vulnerable times. It has been seventy-four years since the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, and still blacks are treated as slaves. The only thing that counts to the vast majority of this era is wealth and power. People who do not conform to what is considered the social norm are outcast and treated as second class. This is the setting of John Steinbecks classic novel of the american experience. This is a must read, and most of you who attended U.S. schools must have read it already. Like THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA this book can be read over and again.