Book Review: Of Mice & Men

Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009

Book Review: Of Mice & Men

Author: John Steinbeck

Publisher: Originally, The Viking Press

Review Version: Penguin

Website: www.penguinbooks.com

Type: Fiction

ISBN: 0-14-20.0067-1

Pages: 103 (Paperback)

Purchase: $10.40 @ Amazon.Com (HERE)

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The Story Line

Lennie and his traveling companion, George, are on the road in the Salinas, California area looking for work. Lennie has an intellectual/mental impairment that renders him child-like and unaware of his own strength and size. By today’s standards, he may be considered a “Gentle Giant.” George, on the other end of the “structure spectrum” is clever, however short tempered. What George does possess is a strong devotion to care for Lennie to the best of his ability. However, due to Lennie’s size and impairment, he unintentionally creates mistakes and issues wherever they tend to travel. So, they are unable to ever stay in one place for too long.

Their dream, to one day have enough money to purchase a small farm of their own. They will maintain the farm and “live off the land” with their crops and animals. In this dream, they will live in peace with nobody to mess with Lennie.

The Review

st-post I recall reading this book in high school and feeling very sadden by it. The story is a tragedy. Our protagonist, Lennie, doesn’t have a place in his world with so much judgment, misunderstanding and hatred surrounding him. The hatred stemming form the ignorance of the men who surround him and the females who encounter him.

Lennie’s fascination is with petting soft things. When introduced to Lennie, he has carried a dead mouse in his pocket during his travels with George. Lennie explains that he didn’t mean to pet the mouse with such force and hadn’t intended on hurting it. Lennie dreams of the day when he is on his farm with George and can raise and pet rabbits because they are sturdier than mice.

Lenny and George take their work permits to a farm that should’ve had the right means for them to earn enough money to start their dream. This farm assignment coming on the heels of a minor incident in another town when Lennie was falsely accused of rape for holding onto a girl’s dress for too long and not letting go. This obviously scared her and the story enlarged. George takes best efforts to keep Lennie away from the woman at the farm they arrive to work at as he senses that she is “up to no good.”

The workers at the farm are very rich characters and the reader is able to envision them all with ease. At the farm, a dog has a litter of pups and Lennie is promised one. As the new litter is introduced into the farm, the old, blind, and feeble mutt who lived in the barn was put down via a pistol. This becomes a foreshadowing parallel to what lies ahead for the men at the farm.

On the Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale:”

This book is a classic! I am sure that there are not many of you out there who haven’t read this story. Steinbeck is an American Classic… arguably one of the greatest American writers of all time. I really enjoyed re-reading this story and viewing it from the eyes of an (gulp)almost-40-year old woman versus my young, inexperienced high school ones. I believe it does us well to re-visit the classics to give us a new perspective on the new works of today.

For the genre Fiction:American Classic, I am giving this book a 10 out of 10. It’s a story with so much depth that you could discuss it forever!

14 Comments

| Posted in Books Books Books

14 Responses

Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit)

February 18th, 2009 at 5:20 am

This is one of my favorite classics, though it may because my brother is out of place most of the time because of his impairments. I think this story just hits home for me. I have not re-read it in a long time, but maybe I should.

Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit)’s last blog post..City Above the Sea and Other Poems by Stephen Alan Saft
Anna

February 18th, 2009 at 5:34 am

This is one of those books I’ve always meant to read but haven’t yet. Thanks for the great review!

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Jo-Jo

February 18th, 2009 at 6:21 am

I have also been wanting to read this one…looks like I will have to bump it up on my list! Thanks for the review.

Jo-Jo’s last blog post..Teaser Tuesday-Feb. 17
Alyce

February 18th, 2009 at 9:22 am

Ok, if you asked me what my least favorite classic is of all time I probably would have said A Tale of Two Cities, followed closely by Of Mice & Men. A Tale of Two Cities always puts me to sleep – I haven’t once made it through, and Of Mice & Men is so very sad.

Then I got to thinking about what you said about re-reading books as adults, and I think it makes a lot of sense. I read Of Mice & Men in high school, and the tragedy was almost more than I could handle at that point in my life. I hated the book for how sad it made me. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get over that knee-jerk reaction, but maybe someday I will give Steinbeck another chance.

Thanks for writing such a great review though, it made me rethink my stance.

Alyce’s last blog post..Book Giveaway Carnival
Darlene

February 18th, 2009 at 11:31 am

I reread Of Mice and Men last year and I enjoyed it. It was much different for me than when I had read it when I was younger. This is one of my favorites of Steinbeck’s.

Darlene’s last blog post..Book Review: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
Ladytink_534

February 18th, 2009 at 2:11 pm

I generally love classics but I’ve never read anything by Steinbeck before.
jenne

February 18th, 2009 at 2:55 pm

Great review! I just recently read this book myself. I was surprised by the shortness of the tale and how much feeling was conveyed in those few pages.

jenne’s last blog post..The Arrival by Shaun Tan
angie

February 18th, 2009 at 3:45 pm

I always love and appreciate your book reviews.

I haven’t read this one, but have always meant to.

angie’s last blog post..Wordful Wednesday- From The *HEART* Baking
Shana @ Literarily

February 18th, 2009 at 6:20 pm

Wow – you’re just the reading queen, Sher! I’ve never read this classic. It sounds wonderful though!

Shana @ Literarily’s last blog post..Tuesday Thingers
Stephanie S.

February 22nd, 2009 at 7:57 am

I had to read this in high school. I was my one of my favorites. I think it’s time to read it again!

Stephanie S.’s last blog post..Pictures of puppy without a name…..
Josh W.

March 23rd, 2009 at 8:34 pm

Great review, I’m a senior in highschool and we’re doing this play this year.

Our highschool has a fantastic drama program and an exceptional drama teacher.

I’m very excited, as I’m playing the role of Lennie in this play and it’s a chance for me to extrude emotions of inferiority, selflessness, and above all, humbleness.
Angel

September 14th, 2009 at 7:19 pm

Too much use of the Lord’s name in vain…. doesn’t that upset anyone???????????
Mark

December 4th, 2009 at 11:49 pm

this book really hit me hard. Steinbeck really did a good job making the reader fall in love with the characters. My brother is mentally handicapped so when Lennie was…mercy killed…I almost broke into tears. The thought of having to kill my best friend (brother) so that he wouldn’t have to suffer is more that I can bear. However upon the second reading of the book and the numerous reviews, I came to accept that it was the best thing that George could have done.
I really enjoyed this book and I would recomend it to anyone I met.
Phil

May 25th, 2010 at 4:20 pm

I hate the ending. The whole book is wonderful than the guy just shoots his friend. Please explain why this a good ending to the story.