Reviews

Here are 2 reviews of the book:
John Steinbeck’s classic novel, Of Mice and Men, is one of three novels he wrote exploring the California agricultural labor phenomenon of the 1930s (the other two were The Grapes of Wrath and In Dubious Battle). In this novel, Steinbeck focuses on the friendship between two men - George and Lennie - and their shared dream of owning land and a home of their own. The story is simple and occurs over the span of three short days on a Salinas Valley ranch where the two men have found work as farm hands. Thematically, Steinbeck explores the idea of dreams and how plans may go awry through forces beyond one’s control. Given the time in which the novel was written, his handling of the mentally handicapped Lennie is tender and compassionate. Steinbeck describes setting beautifully, and wraps it around the characters whose personalities emerge through their dialogue and relationships with each other. There is enough foreshadowing to predict the novel’s tragic end.

Of Mice and Men is a short novel that is packed. Steinbeck was able to pack lifetimes of emotions and meanings into this book. There is the dream theme - most of the characters have a dream and hope of some sort. George dreams of a farm of his own. Lenny dreams of caring for rabbits. The one handed worker dreams of a brighter future. The stable negro dreams of a place where he can feel free. The bride dreams of Hollywood and the movies. The son dreams of being the best of the men, stronger than any of them, above them all.

There is the theme of Lenny's handicap and how the others around him react to him. Most of them have some handicap or other, some of them hidden below the surface. Steinbeck subtly shows how each person deals with his own and with other's handicaps. A broken soul can be as much of a handicap as a missing hand.

I re-read this book with my book club. As we discussed the book, I heard at least ten different ideas and themes. Each of those then sparked more discussion, bringing out more discussion of the characters, Steinbeck's writing, and his ideas.

This book review cannot begin to touch everything that is contained in less than a hundred pages. Each time I read it I find something new. This time I was struck by the beautiful, idyllic beginning paragraphs. The sereness is a contrast to the poignant story that follows. Did you have to read Of Mice and Men in high school and/or in a college course? You discussed it to death, didn't you? Read it again - you'll discover something new you hadn't seen or discussed before.