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Of Mice and Men (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century) (平装)
by John Steinbeck
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Fiction |
| Market price: ¥ 108.00
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¥ 98.00
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 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
A classic of hope and compassion that simply leaves you speechless and in tears at the end. Real life stuff not to miss. |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 9 items |
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Carlysa Villarreal (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-08 00:00>
The book Of Mice and Men is one dealing with many themes and elements of the story. The action of the novel takes place on or near a ranch in the Salinas Valley of California, south of San Francisco. The time period is never stated, but it is probably during the early 1930s, the time of the Depression. The nomadic wandering, poverty, and despair that George and Lennie embody are all indicative of that time. The dominant mood of the story is that of expectation which is developed through the dreams of the major characters. There are also other moods evoked through the actions of the characters reflecting sorrow, pity, and brutality. The novel ends on a tragic note. The tone at the end is definitely one of depression and frustration. Loneliness is a key element in this story. Many of the characters admit to suffering from profound loneliness. George sets the tone for these confessions early in the novel when he reminds Lennie that the life of a ranch-hand is among the loneliest of lives deep .The fact that they admit to complete strangers their fear of being cast off shows their desperation. In a world without friends to confide in, strangers will have to do. Each of these characters searches for a friend, someone to help them measure the world, as Crooks says. In the end, however, companionship of his kind seems unreachable. For George, the hope of such camaraderie dies with Lennie, and true to his original inference, he will go through life alone. The characters are made helpless by their isolation, and yet, even at their weakest, they seek to ruin those who are even weaker. The novel suggests that the most visible kind of strength, that used to oppress others, is itself born of weakness. The title of the novel, Of Mice and Men, is a reference to Robert Burns' poem entitled `To a Mouse". This book is a classic work of literature and one I would recommend to all. |
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Tyler Adams (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-08 00:00>
Of Mice and Men is a gripping story about two men who are wondering through life, from dead end job to dead end job, with only each other to rely on. George, a bright man and clearly the leader of the two, and Lennie, as the book puts it "a gentle giant," dream of a simple life of one day owning their own land. In a line of work that does not often lend itself to forming such close personal relationships, the two men are able to use each other as a support system to some how make both of their lives a little better.
Steinbeck perfectly describes each scene placing the reader right in the action. One almost becomes the third stooge in the story. Each chapter builds upon the suspense, ultimately culminating in an ending that does not disappoint! |
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Gary (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-08 00:00>
My father would often tell me stories about growing up during The Great Depression. He was not a man of many words, however, his detailed descriptions of life on the streets of Springfield, Massachusetts during this time were both numerous and vivid. Although a time of poverty for most, descriptions of life's struggles during this period provide something of a romantic setting. People were in it together. With this in mind I decided to read Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.
How could a novel about individuals so impoverished that they would find work on a farm miles from home, live in row bunk houses, be paid little for their labor, and have little potential for the future, be considered uplifting. I guess because they were in it together. Despite continual complaining these individuals exibited the ultimate in tenacity; after all they had no choice in the matter. They learned to live with one another and despite obvious dearth of education there instinct was to watch and care for one another; well with the exception of one jerk.
George Milton and Lenny Small are drifters. Family friends for many years George has taken it upon himself to care for the severely mentally challenged Lenny. Their dream is to one day buy a farm of their own and live off the fat of the land. Lenny's handicap makes this somewhat impossible for he is constantly getting himself into trouble. Both his emotions and large stature make it necessary for both men to constantly pick up and leave for yet another work location. They are not alone in this lifestyle since their acquaintances exhibit similiar weaknesses in addition to their lack of income.
I found myself asking myself the same question. Are people's values really much different today when compared to our depression era counterparts? Not really. When we find ourselves under stressful situations we tend to appreciate the fellowship of others, to visualize their dreams as our own, and to hope and plan for a better tomorrow. |
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T. P. Ang (MSL quote), Singapore
<2007-01-08 00:00>
I first read this book for a secondary (high) school class and was instantly captivated by it. Revisiting it recently has reminded me again why the book is such a literary masterpiece.
The first thing that one notices is that the book is remarkably short for all the hype that surrounds it. Yet the book's short length is deceiving, because Steinback packs in a great narrative, some masterful descriptive pieces and a wealth of insight.
The plot revolves around the idea that the "the best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, gang aft agley (often go awry)" - a reference Robert Burn's poem "To A Mouse". Set in the Great Depression era of the 1930s, the narrative recounts the fortunes of its two central characters, George and Lennie, who set out with their own version of the American Dream and end up falling far short. The reader is caught up in this tight and simple - but incredibly moving - storyline as the protagonists, seemingly oblivious, march inexorably towards their tragic fates.
To Steinback's supreme credit, the main characters readily engender sympathy from the reader despite the shortness of the book. Side characters are also extremely convincing and pack a bigger punch than they would in the hands of lesser authors. The character and plot development is accompanied by an abiding sense of unease, arising from the air of lingering tragedy that Steinback manages to create. Further- more, the matter-of-fact descriptions that punctuate the narrative add an element of rawness that makes the entire tragedy believable.
Of Mice and Men, although short, left me thinking about the big things; about dreams and about destiny. It is truly a modern classic - masterful in style and timelessly relevant. I cannot recommend it more.
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M. S. Bowden (MSL quote), UK
<2007-01-08 00:00>
First published in 1937, this masterpiece of the Twentieth Century still resonates strongly today. The book is ostensibly the story of two men's friendship, but the themes which Steinbeck explores extend much further than is normal for a book of only one hundred or so pages. Hope, fear, love, justice, and friendship are all touched upon by Steinbeck's flowing prose. In addition, Steinbeck touches upon subjects which still impact on modern society to this day; racism and sexism. The book is also interesting for its representation of agricultural life in 1930s California.
The story offers the reader a fly on the wall's perspective as the two main protagonists, George and Lennie, take up their new jobs on a ranch in California's Salinas Valley. George is small and quick-witted, while Lennie is large and simple-minded. George tries his best to look after Lennie and to keep him out of harm's way and Lennie rewards him with loyalty. In the end though, George is unsuccessful in his attempts at helping Lennie avoid trouble and Steinbeck leaves it up to the reader to consider the consequences of this failure.
In Of Mice And Men Steinbeck experiments with a genre of his own creation; the play/novelette. With this knowledge in mind, the book takes on a different aspect and the descriptions and dialogues appear to have been written with the stage in mind. This is just one example of how Steinbeck's mastery of literature becomes apparent upon reading this book.
This book deserves to be read; for Steinbeck's hard-hitting prose and his use of realistic dialogue, and also for his classic exploration of what friendship means. |
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Stephen Pleko (MSL quote), Canada
<2007-01-08 00:00>
This novella, by Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck (1902 to 1968), was first published in the world when it was in the grips of the Great (Economic) Depression (that began in 1929 and lasted through most of the 1930s).
This dark tale presents a human world that contains jealousy, cruelty, loneliness, rootlessness, poverty, and shattered dreams. It is a parable about two men, George and Lennie, striving for a better life; who long for self respect, independence, freedom, and work that they enjoy.
Lennie is a mentally deficient but a big, strong man who has a childlike innocence and is fascinated with soft things. George, who travels with him, is his protector. The only thing that they have is each other. George explains: "I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you."
Their dream? To own their own place and "to live off the fatta the lan'." However, their plan to reach this dream does not work out. The title of this short novel gives this away. It's from a phrase in a famous poet's 1785 poem: "The best laid schemes o' mice and men [often go awry]."
I felt that this novel was so balanced and thoughtful in structure that it's a work of art. However, others may feel that this makes the book predictable.
The entire novel contains little narration. Instead Steinbeck relies on the words and actions of the characters (in which there are seven major ones). In fact, on examination, I found for each chapter (there are six untitled ones) that most pages (after an initial description of the setting) contain all dialogue with short introductory phrases.
This novella is filled with the words of migrant workers and ranch workers of that time period. Examples include: bindle, cat house, swamper, jailbait, booby hatch, Jackson fork, and jack-pin. It is not necessary to know the meaning of these words to follow the story but for the curious, I recommend keeping a dictionary nearby.
Finally, there is a 1992 movie of the same name that is based on this novel starring John Malkovich and Gary Sinise.
In conclusion, we all have a dream. This book effectively illustrates how life and fate can alter that dream!! |
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Blair Fowler (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-08 00:00>
Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck is a truly wonderful story about the companionship between two friends. Lennie and George were friends since they were both very young and shortly into the story the reader can feel this dependant state that Lennie is in since he obviously has some form of mental retardation. George is the one that has been keeping Lennie in line his entire life. However as the book continues the reader begins to realize that George really does care for Lennie and it he takes care of him out of love. The pair get a job working on a farm with other tenants. The obvious leader of the group is Slim, who starts a friendship with George at the very start. The reader is then introduced to Curley, who's father owns the farm, one immediately recognizes that Curley and his flirtatious wife are trouble. George and Lennie have plans to save enough money to buy a farm and live off the land. Another worker on the farm overhears them talking and asks if he can trade his life savings for a chance to stay with them on the farm. This shows how everyone else is envious of their rare friendship. The lives of the workers then spiral out of control when Lennie accidentally kills Curleys wife. Lennie immediately runs away but Curley knows who has killed her and they chase after him. George goes to the spot they picked as a place they are to go if they get separated. George finds Lennie crying and George comforts him while he slowly raises a pistol to the back of Lennies head and shoots him out of mercy. |
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Daelamans (MSL quote), Belgium
<2007-01-08 00:00>
George and Lennie, poor wretches traveling the country in search of work, dream of owning their own piece of land, their own piece of liberty. Never having to depend on someone else, never having to listen to what their bosses tell them to do, seems to be their ultimate goal. It all seems unachievable when they start to beg for work on yet another ranch in California. But then suddenly it all seems like a miracle is about to happen. In the face of their final redemption, they cannot help but start to plan their new life. But if they do not watch out, they might get in trouble again. Serious trouble.
Like his other works John Steinbeck gives in Of Mice and Men voice to the lonely and deprived people struggling to survive in the American society at the time of the Great Depression. Although the setting of the story is quite sober and the characters do not have a lot of room to develop within the few pages this novella counts, the message is all the more convincing. The strong friendship between two men, linked together by fate, is heart-warming and honest, which contrasts even more with the violence of their surroundings. The controversial conclusion of the book reads almost as an invitation to reflect upon the true values of life.
Is this book a historical illustration of the past (Great Depression) or a prophetical vision of the future? Many different opinions can be voiced, but isn't the American Dream still floating through our lives? Maybe our modern world is full of people like George and Lennie?
The kind of critique voiced by Steinbeck is not always well received in the land of the Brave and the Free. It is quite sad that even today this book is banned from some schools and public libraries in America. |
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An American reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-08 00:00>
John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men can be interpreted at several levels. It is quite symbolic in nature, serving to show how oftentimes dreams, hopes, can become difficult obstacles. Although Steinbeck narrates in a simple voice, the prevalent themes - isolation, loss of the American Dream, importance of friendship - give the novel a wider range of meaning. George and Lennie's failure to meet their dreams could be aligned with the context in which this novel was written - that is, the many struggles of the migrant workers to find their ideal form of life in the times of the Depression. Lennie's "living off the fat of the land" is akin to many of the people traveling from Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl to California with bigger and better dreams of daily work and life.
The story begins with George and Lennie running away from the town of Weed in California. George is small in stature, but has a "street smart" persona about him that helps him get himself, and Lennie, out of predicaments. He needs this because Lennie, who is slow in mind but tremendous in size and physical strength, often unintentionally gets them in some sort of trouble, such as accidentally touching a girl's dress. Lennie has a fondness for animals, which shows his innocent intent, but has just gotten blamed for a rape in Weed, which he and George come into the town of Salinas to get away from. They are searching for work to get them back on their feet and moving again. The new ranch could be a solution, but George has to look out to be sure that Lennie doesn't get them in trouble, and he also has to make sure others don't try to get Lennie in trouble. There is the bully on the ranch, Curley, who tries to pick on Lennie when he doesn't speak up. George, although seemingly resenting the fact that he has to be Lennie's parental-type figure, seems to relish in this role. He not only helps Lennie, but helps to keep Lennie's dream alive by telling him it is possible, but helping him relive that dream by repeatedly saying it to him, "Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place... With us it ain't like that. We got a future." While on the ranch, George and Lennie begin to find themselves, but not without potential problems from others, such as Curley and his wife. In the end, George has to make a decision that will affect his own livelihood, his own dream.
Although small in size (the book is only a little over one hundred pages long), this is a book that teaches about the importance of hope and the essence of sticking together with those who mean the most to you. Another great literary experience from Steinbeck, one which I definitely would recommend giving a try. |
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1 Total 1 pages 9 items |
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