Customer Reviews

John Steinbeck's of Mice and Men (Max Notes)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a book that I was recently "forced" to read in school. Traditionally, I am not a fan of having to read anything (especially something that was written fifty years before I was born). But this ended up being the best book I've ever read (okay, so maybe it's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest). The best thing about this book is that it's not too long (so that those who arn't crazy about reading won't feel like giving up), and it's not hard to understand, like some of Steinbeck's other stuff. If you want to read a book by him, this is a great first choice. Read it before you pick up anything else by Steinbeck. And the ending...un-freaking-believable!

The book will always be a classic, for it rings with such authenticity. Like The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men portrays the struggles of California farm laborers in the 1930s. The workers often travel from farm to farm, working sixteen-hour days---bucking wheat, picking cotton, picking fruit---always as employees but never as employers. The men are victims of their society and one nourishes little hope for them. They yearn for things they cannot have, such as social positions, money, land; but they never get them (at least they never hold on to them). Their dreams remain unfulfilled. As a result of their hardships, they become bitter and hardened.

Steinbeck's characterizations are superb, and each person is a unique and vital element in the story. The dialogue resonates with truth, the setting and the descriptions are sharp and picturesque, and the symbolism is effective in its foreshadowing of the poignant and gruesome climax. Only criticism I have of the book is Steinbeck's tendency to "tell" rather than "show." He had such talent with description but he insisted on preceding his dialogue with such things as "Candy went on excitedly..." and "'I ain't so sure,' said George skeptically." Other than these distracting "tellings," the book was touching and will certainly remain as one of my favorites.

"Of Mice and Men" is a great book for anyone interested in the wild wild west. Lennie and George, the main characters, tell their story about how they go to and from their jobs. The book was short and easy to read. You will be embraced in the books conflicts and never want to put it down. It brings laughs and tears to the reader as he/she progresses to the end. If you are in the mood for a short and fun all around story, choose "Of Mice and Men."

Of Men and Mice was a good book. The main characters are Lennie and George. I liked it a lot. I'm sure a lot of other people liked it too. This is one of my favorite books I have read so far. The book should be a little longer than six chapters, like it is right now! This book used to be my dad's favorite and now it is my favorite book. The book has been a favorite of our family's for a long time! My mom's side of the family started enjoying it when I told them to buy the book and to read it for themselves

I thought Steinbeck did an outstanding job of conveying the theme of the importance of friendships and the pain of lonliness in this novel. Steinbeck also used excellent, realistic dialogue that made you feel as if you almost knew the characters.

Of Mice and Men By. John Steinbeck

A read from West Virginia

I read this book for a group assignment in English class. I'm not big on reading books that don't look interesting to me. However, when I read this book, it made me think of friendships and how we may treat one another. It made me think that if you have a friend that's not as intelligent as you or just different doesn't mean you have to put them down or treat them bad, even if you are the best of friends like Lenny and George. In a way, the ending is just heart breaking but all George is really doing is saving his best friend from the harsh life he would have had to live. After reading this book, I discovered that John Steinbeck is a wonderful author and in the future I intend on reading Of Mice and Men again.

From the beginning of the story you fall in love with the compelling characters. This book tells the story of two good friends, who share a common dream of earning enough money to own a small piece of land and living there in peace. One of the friends has a mental retardation(Lenny) and the other takes care of him by making sure he stays in line(George). This story takes place in during the depression where people in the larbor party moved around from place to place looking for work. George and Lennie are always moving from place to place because of Lennie tendency to get into trouble. Throughout the story you become attached to the characters as if you knew them first hand. You begin to relate to the problems and want to help them with their dream. If you are looking to read a book which you will remember forever consider Of Mice and Mem.

I read Of Mice And Men because of a school requirement, however towards the end of the book I felt that I had needed to read it for myself more than the school. The themes of Friendship, Lonliness and dreams feature strongly in this book. I felt that I could relate mostly to the theme of friendship, I like, Lennie and George rely on my friends to help and guide me along the way. In this sense I felt a connection with the plot. At the begginning of the book I was not very interested but towards the middle and end I could not put the book down and found that I had to finish it as soon as possible. So it was with bated breath that i began to read the ending at 12am in the morning and was most pleased when I finished, finishing it so early in the morning I dream't of the themes shown in the story and thought over the various issues. I feel now that I have a stronger knowledge of friendship and trust and the limits I would go to for any one of my friends. Therefore I give this book 4/5 because of the resulting effect.

I've to read this book for the school. I think that this is a boring story in some parts but in others its attracting.Mr. Steinbeck ruined the book by killing the only character that make me read the book.Lennie and Geoge's dream was not conceited as Curley's wife was and that show to the people the different views of social classes. I want to emphasize the theme of companionship that share Lennie & George as they said: "I've you, and you've me". But also show some things that wasn't attracting as loneliness, prostitution, violence and death.I would not recommend this book.

I loved this book, but I really hate this page because I am looking for cliff notes on this book, and this is the site that came up, and there are no cliff notes!