'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck is a poignant tale about the friendship between two drifters, George and Lennie, during the Great Depression. The story follows their journey as they seek work on a ranch in California, highlighting the challenges they face due to Lennie's mental disability and their shared dream of owning a farm. Through vivid character portrayals and a dialogue-driven narrative, Steinbeck masterfully captures the essence of friendship, loyalty, and the harsh realities of life in the 1930s.
The novella delves into themes of friendship, loss, and the pursuit of dreams amidst a backdrop of sadness and violence. Through George and Lennie's endearing relationship, Steinbeck explores the complexities of human emotions and the inevitability of tragic outcomes. The book's concise yet impactful storytelling style, coupled with its profound character development, evokes deep emotions in readers and leaves a lasting impression of the struggles faced by individuals during a tumultuous era.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers may include discussions of mental disability, violence, death, racism, and themes of euthanasia.
From The Publisher:
This classic novel tells the tale of an unusual friendship between two very different men: the mentally challenged and sometimes violent Lennie, and his loyal yet reluctant caretaker George. Finding comfort in one another's company, George and Lennie travel from farm to farm looking for work in pre-Depression Salinas Valley, California.
While the powerlessness of the laboring class is a recurring theme in this classic work, Steinbeck narrows his focus, creating an intimate portrait of two men facing a world marked by petty tyranny, misunderstanding, jealousy, and callousness, and a parable about commitment, loneliness, hope, and loss.
Ratings (620)
Incredible (86) | |
Loved It (189) | |
Liked It (175) | |
It Was OK (104) | |
Did Not Like (50) | |
Hated It (16) |
Reader Stats (903):
Read It (657) | |
Currently Reading (2) | |
Want To Read (143) | |
Did Not Finish (8) | |
Not Interested (93) |
11 comment(s)
Short and intriguing
This book is like Lord of the Flies. It pulled me in, and although it is a shorter story, it had very heavy themes in it. Well written, relatable, and a very sad ending. I grew up with the 1939 movie, both complement each other well. I had to take a break after reading the book, though, as I felt emotionally drained.
I never expected that this story will leave a mark in my memory.
Story begins with two workers who are kicked out from their old job and who are in search of a new one.
George Milton, a normal person.
Lennie Small, a not-so-normal person.
Both are together, who fight, who reconcile, who stand for each other and who have same dream. A dream which will cause the reader the agony that is felt by George Milton at the end. A dream that will cause the reader the helpless innocence that is felt by Lennie Small at the end.
Wonderful story with a tragedy so cleverly infused from the beginning, which will make us dream and get hurt.
I read this book sometime in high school on my own. I decided to give Steinbeck a second chance after being forced to read
Grapes of Wrath in junior year and absolutely despising it. It was one of the few books that I ever read that I really disliked. This book, however, is one of my favorites! I never understood how Steinbeck could write so beautifully in such a short little book in this case and ramble on for hundreds of pages about nothing in Grapes of Wrath. This book seriously made me cry, which is very rare for me. I have a handicapped brother, so I think it hit close to home. A beautiful, short, wonderful read.
En este libro se describen cosas que se ven. No se explica como se sienten los personajes o lo que piensan. Si entiendes estas cosas es porque les ves haciendo algo.
Creo que funciona muy bien porque constantemente tienes que estar pensando en los sentimientos de los personajes, ya que el libro no te lo explica, como una obra de teatro pero con algo mas de narrativa. Eso yo creo que te acerca a los personajes y aunque nunca nos hemos metido en sus cabezas, sin duda sabemos lo que va a pasar por ejemplo unos dias despues del final, les hemos conocido en profundidad lo que es un gran logro para un libro tan pequeño.
Everything written by Steinbeck
I read this book for school and frankly didn't like it. It's a well written book but I simply didn't enjoy the story.
A sad tale with a predictable ending.
Powerful storytelling
Important messages
Dreams and aspirations
Fragility of dreams
Heartbreaking ending
Difficult choices
Memorable characters
Impactful despite length
Emotional resonance
This book, no matter how many times I reread it, makes me sob.
What can you read after
Of Mice and Men?
About the Author:
John Steinbeck, born in Salinas, California, in 1902, grew up in a fertile agricultural valley, about 25 miles from the Pacific Coast. Both the valley and the coast would serve as settings for some of his best fiction. In 1919…
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