Dear Mr Stienbeck,

It's 1 am, I'm sitting in my favorite reading chair, my cat, Boots, is lying next to me, The window is open and the sweet smell of the evening rain is blowing in, my tea sets on the window sill unfinished and cold, tears streak my cheeks, and your book, your beautiful book, Of Mice and Men, rests in my lap.

I went to bed early with the hopes of getting a good night's sleep, only to have those hopes dashed, like so many others in my life, as I was still awake around 11 pm. I decided a cup of chamomile and some reading might help me get to sleep finally. I put the kettle on and walked to the bookshelf, I made a mental note that the shelf is getting low on suitable reading material and to visit the library soon. I studied the few remaining books on the shelf, no, no, no, maybe, no, no, yes!!!! Steinbeck never disappoints!!! The kettle starts to whistle. I pour the tea and settle into my chair with Boots.

I never planned on reading the whole story in one sitting. I never meant for my wife to come out of the bedroom and see me crying like a baby. I never planned on staying up till 1 am, when I need to be up for work at 4 am. I never planned on my tea going cold, and undrunk. Like so many of my best-laid plans though, it all went wrong. Within the first few pages, I was hooked. The first tears were shed early when George took the dead mouse from Lenny. I quickly recovered and was overjoyed when Lenny stood up to that asshole Curley. My happiness peaked when Lenny got the puppy and I thought it would be smooth sailing to the end. Oh how wrong I was! The tears flowed pretty steadily after that. First the puppy, and then that tramp. I was full-on sobbing, nose running, gasping, crying like a baby when George pulled the trigger.

Thank you for all your wonderful writing, and the emotional whirlwind you took me on with this one.

Forever a fan,

Jesse

Of Mice and Men is set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in 1931 America and tells the tragic tale of 2 friends, Linnie and George, who struggle for a better life. Linnie is a big guy, but.. not so smart, while George is a small, clever, and capable man. After the death of Linnie's aunt, George takes on the responsibility of caring for Linnie, who often gets into trouble despite his innocent intentions. Linnie has a natural affinity for soft, beautiful things and enjoys their texture. This leads to trouble when he touches a girl's dress and later accidentally kills the farmer's daughter-in-law due to her teasing.

It is a small, thin volume filled with the misfortunes of its characters. Candy's silent sorrow over his dog, Crooks' bright childhood and forced gentleness, and Linnie's simple dreams of rabbits and land all paint a picture of unfulfilled lives. George's final act of killing Linnie is a heartbreaking moment of whispered dreams and the end of their shared hopes.

The courage required to end the life of a loved one is immense. George's trembling hands, vacant eyes, lowered hat brim, and falling tears all reflect the necessity of his actions. Slim's words ring true: it was the only thing George could do to preserve his friend's dignity and spare him from torment.

The story highlights the plight of the poor, a group often overlooked and struggling at the bottom of society. Their efforts can be easily undone by a small misstep, making their lives both pitiable and tragic. The precious dream of owning a small piece of land is a secret they inadvertently reveal, driven by a desire to boast about something they have never had and will likely never achieve. Linnie's reaction to soft things symbolizes this longing. Unlike most people who would let go when someone is frightened, Linnie holds on tightly to the things he loves, never wanting to lose them.

In this society, Linnie's innocent desires lead to his downfall. They have never triumphed in this world, their fate as fragile and powerless as that of mice.

“There is no real difference between men and mice.”

4.1 / 5 stars

Of Mice & Men, by the modern American author John Steinbeck, is a powerful and moving analysis of life during the Depression of the American era. It deals with the lives of two ranch farm hands, Lennie and George. Lennie is a simple, backward man who is tall and powerful but kind. George is the brains of the outfit, who organizes and arranges for them to get work on the ranches and farms as they travel and dream of getting their place, where they can make some money, have a home, and where Lennie can have lots of rabbits to play with and stroke.
The short novel is set out in acts as though it were a play and begins with the two men having to run away from the ranch they are working at, as Lennie has gotten too fond of one of the women on the farm who was kind to him. As he is pure and likes soft things, he stroked the lady's dress and accused her of trying to attack her. They run off and hide until the men stop searching, then move on to another ranch where they have work lined up.
The novel is about friendship, loneliness, plans, and broken dreams during the Depression. It hits America in the '50s—a must-read.

I think I've been avoiding John Steinbeck, consciously or subconsciously, ever since I was a horse-loving teenager and thought that The Red Pony would be a nice, pleasant book to read.

  

I didn't read any Steinbeck books for years.

But I was in the local library, puttering around in the general fiction shelves, and happened to pull this one out and noticed how short it was--only 107 pages. I had just finished reading Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which was a 127-page overdose of cheesy 70's inspiration, and it occurred to me that by reading this book to offset JLS I could restore the cosmic balance in my life, or something like that.

Lennie and George are a unique pair of friends: George is restless, intelligent and often short-tempered; Lennie is huge and incredibly strong, although mentally damaged. He has a childlike sweetness but is easily confused and frightened, and that combined with his strength makes him threatening to others. Somehow, despite their differences, the two have formed a friendship. George tries to protect Lennie from the world . . . and the world from Lennie. It's a difficult task. But they have their dreams and plans of a place of their own, where they can tend a garden and raise animals. And Lennie can take care of the rabbits. It's the most heavenly thing he can imagine.

George and Lennie are hired as field hands at a ranch in California, and the foreshadowings of disaster start to come thick and fast. An old sheepdog whose usefulness has passed is unceremoniously shot. The owner's son Curley comes around to their bunkhouse, spoiling for a fight. Curley's young, bored wife comes around even more often, looking for a different kind of trouble. The hands are sure that they only need a month or two of wages to achieve their plans of a place of their own, but the best-laid schemes of mice and men gang oft agley.

I was expecting to read about shattered dreams, but I was surprised and touched by the strength of the theme of true friendship--not just the friendship between George and Lennie, but also the friendship and understanding offered by Slim, the ranch foreman. With all of the loneliness and cruelty and loss and disappointment that life can bring, it's this one message of hope that I choose to take away from this short but powerful book.

"Yet each man kills the thing he loves..."

Oscar Wilde's prison poem came to mind not only for its literal truth in the context of Lenny and George, but also because it evokes the brutal isolation of the whole cast of characters, each one of them stuck in their separate reality and unable to connect with each other. The young lonely wife has nobody to confide in, and keeps looking for trouble out of sheer isolation. The black man is so utterly alone that he is almost insane, and the barrier of his skin colour is even more impenetrable than the woman's gender. George's loneliness is connected to his responsibility for Lenny, and Lenny himself is in the brutal prison of his intellectual inferiority and herculean strength. Even the boss' son is in a no man's land between privilege and torture.

The dream of sharing a future together keeps the men's spirits alive for a while, and it is contagious. Breaking out of the isolation, enjoying freedom and partnership - those are powerful ideas.

"Yet each man kills the thing he loves..."

The domino effect of Lenny's inability to control his strength or his craving for softness and love makes all dreamers wake up to a nightmare without end. The only solace is finding another human being who understands enough of the pain of killing what one loves to offer a sign of support or friendship in the misery of reality.

Lenny broke my heart, and yet I had to smile at his limited vision over and over again. When I first read this novel, I was a busy teenager, bored and frustrated that school picked my reading materials for me, not willing to enter into the confused minds of men with whom I had seemingly nothing in common. With hindsight, I see myself in a cloud of ignorance, not fully grasping what happened around me, missing a masterpiece in the process - I was very much like Lenny myself, unaware of the bigger picture of what was going on around me. Reading Of Mice and Men now, to prepare a teaching unit for a new generation of fifteen-year-olds, I find myself more in the role of George, gently coaxing, carefully repeating the information I consider crucial, avoiding too much detail out of fear to completely lose the attention of my students. Lenny and George live a life of their own in my head now, and they have transcended their bitter story and become part of mine.

Just what one expects of a great classic!

«Άνθρωποι και ποντίκια,
Τι κι αν σχέδια καταστρώνουν.
Ως και τα πιο καλά, συχνά στραβώνουν»
Ρόμπερτ Μπερνς.

«Άνθρωποι και ποντίκια»,
ένα ολιγοσέλιδο, μεγάλο αφιέρωμα στην λογοτεχνία.
Ανάγνωσμα που Δεν αφήνει κανένα αναγνωστικό απορριπτικό δικαίωμα.

Λεπτομερής, περίπλοκη, αξέχαστη ιστορία,
γραμμένη απο την αμόλυντη πένα του Στάινμπεκ.

Η επαρχία της Αμερικής του 1930 που θέλει να ζήσει,
να επιζήσει, να συνεχίσει να υπάρχει,
έστω και μέσα στην μεγάλη κατάθλιψη της εποχής
και την προκλητική αναδόμηση της κοινωνίας.

Τα πλάσματα της στερημένης ελπίδας χάνονται απολαυστικά μέσα σε μεθυστικά όνειρα κατασκευασμένα απο παραπλανητικές χίμαιρες και ατομικές ουτοπίες.

Πως αλλιώς να το χαρακτηρίσω εκτός απο ένα απλό, λιτό, απέριττο αριστούργημα.

Κάθε πρόταση, κάθε χαρακτήρας, κάθε λυρική περιγραφή της φύσης, δημιουργεί ένα πεζογράφημα λαϊκής ποίησης, ελεγείας, θεατρικής πιστότητας
και αρχαίας τραγωδίας με εξελιγμένες μεθόδους
ύβρις, άτις, νέμεσις και τίσις.

Οι διάλογοι μεταξύ των ηρώων,οι εκφράσεις τους, οι προτάσεις που συντακτικά και χρηστικά δομημένα περιχύνουν με απλούστευση κάθε έννοια, κρύβουν βαθύτερη, βαθύτατη σημασία.

Αμερικάνικο όνειρο, ρατσισμός, σεξισμός, προκαταλήψεις, αμάθεια, αναπηρικές επάρκειες,
υλικές ανεπάρκειες, αδίστακτες αδικίες,
ένδεια κάθε είδους
και πλασματικές διεκδικήσεις με μη αναστρέψιμες αποτυχίες.

Ένα αγρόκτημα στην Καλιφόρνια φιλοξενεί όλα τα είδη της ανθρώπινης φυλής, εχθρικά συμφιλιωμένα τόσο μεταξύ τους όσο και απέναντι στο φυτικό και ζωικό βασίλειο.

Όταν δεν ονειρεύονται απολυτρωτικές διεξόδους, προκαλούν μια μόνιμη κατάρα αφοσίωσης, ευπάθειας, κριμάτων, θλίψης, οργής, κατωτερότητας, απομόνωσης και αθώων, αγνών εγκλημάτων.

I read Of Mice and Men decades ago when it was required reading in high school. During that time period, several U.S. states banned the book.

I listened to it on audiobook and it's narrated phenomenally by Gary Sinise. The plot focuses on two men who stick together while working and looking for migrant work during the Great Depression. George is a small, thin man and Lennie has learning disabilities. They have a shared dream to own a plot of land where they can grow their own food and be their own bosses. Lennie wants to tend rabbits because he likes petting things that are soft.

Of Mice and Men was published in 1937. The language in the book is indicative of the time that it was created and it is jarring and offensive.

Sometimes people can do awful things, sometimes they mean it, and sometimes they don't.

In this novel we learn the story of "George" and "Lennie". Two wandering day laborers traveling together; from work to work, from trouble to trouble. One small and cunning; the other giant, and retarded. Working from city to city, from field to field, but always protecting each other. A dream pushes them forward, work the fields until one day have enough to purchase a small farm of their own. A place where George can work the land, and Lennie tend the rabbits. But there are difficulties, Lennie in his brutish innocence tends to get himself into serious problems, and more often that not, both.

A short but very memorable read from the famed Pulitzer winner John Steinbeck. A little 100p novella about the unbreakable bonds of friendship, and the cruelties of a sometimes hostile rural world.

**** One of those very few exceptions where the movie may actually match the book. John Steinbeck creates two immortal characters, but the movie (1992) gives them a real palpable soul. Mainly due to the exceptional performance of John Malkovich, and a very remarkable Gary Sinise. Brilliant book-to-film adaptation.



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n  PERSONAL NOTEn:
[1937] [103p] [Fiction] [3.5] [Recommendable]
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★★★★☆  Of Mice and Men.  [3.5]
���★☆☆☆  Flight.

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A veces la gente puede hacer cosas terribles, a veces lo hacen a propósito, y a veces no.

En esta novela conocemos la historia de "George" y "Lennie". Dos jornaleros errantes viajando juntos; de trabajo en trabajo, de problema en problema. Uno pequeño y astuto, otro gigante y retardado. Trabajando de ciudad en ciudad, de campo en campo, pero siempre protegiéndose el uno al otro. Un sueño los motiva a seguir juntos, trabajar los campos hasta algún día tener lo suficiente para comprar una pequeña parcela propia. Un lugar donde George pueda trabajar la tierra, y Lennie cuidar de los conejos. Pero existen dificultades, Lennie en su bruta inocencia tiende a meterse en serios aprietos... y más que a menudo, a ambos.

Una lectura corta pero muy memorable del afamado ganador del Pulitzer John Steinbeck. Una pequeña novella de 100p sobre los fuertes lazos de la amistad, y las crueldades en un mundo campestre a veces hostil.

*** Una de esas pequeñas excepciones donde la película tal vez supera la obra escrita. John Steinbeck crea dos personajes inmortales, pero la película (1992) les otorga un alma real. Principalmente gracias a las actuación excepcional de John Malkovich, y un muy destacado Gary Sinise. Brillante adaptación de cine.



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n  NOTA PERSONALn:
[1937] [103p] [Ficción] [3.5] [Recomendable]
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What can I say about Of Mice and Men that hasn't been said before? Probably nothing. But I can say that I'm glad I was not assigned this in high school like so many. I'm glad I waited to read this as an adult to not only better appreciate the technical aspects (the writing, descriptions, themes, characterizations) but also understand more deeply the themes it explores. It's deceptively simple and utterly profound, and it has convinced me that Steinbeck is definitely one of my favorite authors.

Devotion
Before finishing the first page you realise you’re reading an authentic poetic piece of literature. As with other John Steinbeck works, his recognition and homage to hard economic times in America, and the transient drifting workforce is so vividly portrayed.

Lennie and George are two immortal characters that live well beyond the pages of this book. It is a heartbreaking story of loyalty and love, of friendship and society, and of hope and despondency. Lennie is the main discussion point in the book and it is such a sad story about the impact of a serious personality disorder, and how it can have devastating consequences to the person living with it and those around them. I did, however, think a lot about George and how he had enabled the friendship to grow and how he tried to provide a protective shield around Lennie. He was constantly reciting statements with Lennie that he may need if ever challenged or actions to follow if confronted. They dreamed and chatted constantly about the smallholding they had been saving for. They would have different crops and animals (particularly rabbits for Lennie) and be masters of their own domain. Life can be cruel when hope and aspirations can be dashed with an unforeseen event and twist of fate.

The story does have a sexist feel to it in the sense that the woman (not given a name in the story) was the downfall of Lennie and was only ever referred to as Curley’s wife. There is an inference that she was Curley’s possession and perhaps her behaviour was to illustrate she did not want to be the possession of anyone but wanted the freedom to be with as many as she liked.

After the incident, George showed sincere and deep love for Lennie in resolving the issue in a way which was best for Lennie while leaving himself with remorse, guilt and loss. Not to mention the trouble he would have been in if the authorities found out what he had done.

Why oh why did it take me so long to read this book – don’t make the same mistake. I highly recommend reading this moving and literate masterpiece.

n  ”We are lonesome animals. We spend all our life trying to be less lonesome.”n
—John Steinbeck

Five mind-blown stars!

When I started Of Mice and Men, I wasn’t sure I’d chosen the right read. The dialogue really was not what I expected and Steinbeck’s straightforward prose cut straight to the core of the matter. However, I stuck with it and the reward blew my mind!

Set in 1930s California, the story follows two destitute men as they roam, taking work where it could be found. George and Lennie had grown up together, and when Lennie’s Aunt and caretaker died, George bore the responsibility of watching over him, a man fully grown and built like a bear, but with the innocent mind of a child. Lennie, due to his ineptness, unintentionally creates situations that lead to trouble, and it was up to George to keep them both from being lynched on many occasions. George, though often frustrated with Lennie, dearly loved his friend. All they had was each other and a fanciful dream of owning their own farm. Life on the road can be desperately lonely, and to have such a good companion was a precious commodity. I was filled with respect for George who did everything in his power to take care of his dear friend.

This is not an easy read by any stretch of the imagination. While it is graced with beautiful friendships and the milk of human kindness, the book also explores the darkest aspects of humanity, and the ugly racism in the book is really hard to stomach. Steinbeck writes with a raw realism that is admirable, but his honest depiction brings the cruelty that we all know exists in the world.

The story came together with such a crescendo that my heart nearly burst from my chest. I won’t spoil this for anyone who hasn’t read it, but the tale touched me so profoundly that I was left staring at the last page for ages before I could bring myself to close it.

موش ها و آدم ها حکایت انسانها ست ، حکایت آرزوهای آنها ، امید به آینده و فردایی داشتن ، امید به آرامش داشتن ، خانواده داشتن ، امید به آزادی و در بند ارباب نبودن ، رویایی داشتن ، امید به داشتن زمین و کاری از خود ، در جایی ریشه داشتن ، امید به همدم و هم راهی داشتن ، رفیقی داشتن
امید به برادری و عدالت داشتن ،امید به اتفاقات محال داشتن ،

امید به معجزه داشتن