Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (1963)

This book is the chronicling of Steinbeck’s reflections on a changing America that he formed as he circumnavigated the country with his wife’s dog Charley and a camper/trailer attached to his truck. Although much of this actual experience has been shown to be fabricated, his insights into America have mostly stood the tests of time. His writing, as always, is beautiful and thoughtful.

I love this man. He is by far my favorite author. To me he can not go wrong.

Cannery row
“it has always seemed strange to me,” said doc. “The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits that we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second”

You have to grab this collection. If you haven't read Steinbeck, he is amazing. John Steinbeck was able to capture a different time and the people who lived through some of the worst times our nation has ever faced. He captures the characters like no other author and takes readers on a journey they will never forget.

This was an AP English read in high school and I loved it. I kept it at the top of my list for years and as I got older, I wanted to reread to see if I still loved it as much. I loved it even more on the reread and found so many parallels between the Dust Bowl and inequities that still exist today. The in-between chapters of commentary are phenomenal.

Excellent collection. I would also add Once There Was a War and America and Americans to the list of Steinbeck books worth reading.

Steinbeck has long been recognized as one of America's finest writers and The Grapes of Wrath one of its finest novels.While not technically speaking a political writer, his Grapes of Wrath is a searing indictment of some aspects of Capitalism,(see his moving portrait of Muley Graves as he tries to find who to shoot for moving him off his farm, only to realize the "who" has become so entrenched in the Capitalist System as to be unrecognizable),a fact which has often led people to view him as a Socialist. Steinbeck was far from a Socialist. If you were rash enough to try to force him into any box, I think Humanist would be a much better fit.
Steinbeck cared about people;very often those who struggled to merely survive. His books are filled with such characters.Those who seldom win awards or warrant headlines, but are oftentimes heroic in the face of insurmountable odds.I know some critics have scoffed and pointed to Lennie in Of Mice and Men as a kind of character straight out of burlesque, but when I was teaching secondary school,that wonderful short epic novel was the only book I ever assigned that was cherished by every students regardless of level.
East of Eden still has a special meaning for me. It was recommended to me by a wonderful old psychology teacher during my junior year in college when I was struggling over whether to follow my older brother into medical school and gain the parental approval that went with it,or follow my heart and chose a life in the Arts.The old professor knew I would recognize that story of the two brothers in East of Eden as my own.
Then there is Travels With Charley. I used to think it a strange book for a great writer like Steinbeck.It wasn't a novel or short story--- not even a play ,which Steinbeck tried once with only middling success in The Moon is Down.It was a kind of travelogue! A story of a trip the aging writer took with his dog,Charley, across the USA to rediscover an America which had become blurred to him over the years.What he found was an America that had changed. Changed not because he was older and unable to feel things as profoundly as he once had.That was Wordsworth's discovery,not his. America itself had changed. It had become homogenized. Everywhere he went looked the same. Mirror images.In a sense, the melting pot called America had been stirred in such a way that all the ingredients were now indistinguishable.Language,dress,ceremony.All become one.Boston become Biloxi.New York ,New Orleans.It was a change that bothered him a great deal. America had lost something.Something that had made it unique.Interesting. A place worth writing about.What had once been a country of vibrant color had overnight become a singular shade of gray.
I used to wonder why he wrote that book. I don't any more.

Have read them all - looooove Steinbeck. Most recently was of Mice and Men - wow.

Grapes of Wrath Review (8/12/12)
Gave 5 stars
The Grapes of Wrath is a poignant novel which follows the story of the Joad family. I loved the symbolism of the story and the deep meanings and themes. The ending is by no means a happy ending, but it ends on a positive and hopeful mood. This is definitely one of my favorite Steinbeck novels. Steinbeck is a genius when it comes to depicting the how the characters actually feel and the hardships that they have to face. Another great American classic by Steinbeck. I like this book even more than East of Eden.


Of Mice and Men Review (2/02/11)
Gave 4 stars
I recommend to all Steinbeck reader fans. The ending is extremely sad, but Of Mice and Men is a worthwhile read that cannot be ignored. The friendship between George and Lennie is extremely complex, and they have a genuine companionship that is not parasitic-but rather mutual-istic. Lennie needs George for intellectual and emotional support, but George leans on Lennie for enthusiasm and hope. Once their dreams of someday owning a rabbit farm are shattered, George has to man up in order to save Lennie from a painful torture and death.


East of Eden Review (8/31/10)
Gave 5 stars
I was astonished at how profound this book was. I loved how the symbolism of the biblical story between Cain and Abel was included. And despite this being the first time reading Steinbeck's work, I can totally see why he said that it was his best work. He transitioned the story so perfectly well (despite having so many characters). His meandering throughout the book necessarily added the effect of the story. The symbolism was creatively crafted into Cain and Abel. And, of course, East of Eden left an important message to its readers through a heartfelt, memorable story. *Timshel*

Although I admit being shocked when I first saw how inevitably long East of Eden was (I had to read it as a summer homework assignment), it was very entertaining as a matter of fact. It wasn't boring at all. I really didn't think of East of Eden as one huge, never-ending book anyways. East of Eden was really like a big collection of four books put together. Like a series of books. I totally recommend this to everyone.


The Pearl Review (8/30/12)
Gave 4 stars
The novella is widely entertaining with great plot and characters, still, I was just really hoping that the infant, Coyotito, could have gained something. I was anticipating a happy ending. I was not hoping for Kino and Juana to become rich after they found the pearl (that would go against Steinbeck's message), but I was disappointed when Coyotito was killed off like that! Once Kino and Juana found the pearl, I was rooting for them the whole time and sharing that same enthusiasm with Kino-hoping that Coyotito would get an education. My wishes for a different ending is probably silly though. Killing off Coyotito, unfortunately, is probably the only way for Kino to understand how corruptible the pearl became. Unlike Juana, Kino did not recognize the pearl's evil until very late (actually, too late) in the novel.

Either way, the techniques used to craft the novella were really clever. I liked Steinbeck's use of different characters and the balance between Kino's idealistic dreams and Juana's practicality. The story was focused primarily on the plot and characters, so it was not a dull read (not too much description on setting involved this time). The read is not too difficult or long, so I recommend to everyone! I read this in one sitting.


Cannery Row Review (8/29/12)
Gave 3 stars
This novel is not plot-driven, but the story focuses more on delineating the town and characters of Cannery Row. Cannery Row is a good book for a quick read. As he always does, Steinbeck implies important short lessons about life in his story about the struggling between the rich and the poor.


Travels With Charley in Search of America Review
Gave stars

I read this epic novel in high school and remember being a little overwhelmed by the story and Stenbeck's writing style. I would like to re-read this one, though it will be a while before I'm ready to takle the 464 pages again!

I love John Steinbeck, and think all of his work is awesome.