Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck

Paperback, 112 pages

English language

Published Aug. 6, 2002 by Penguin Books.

ISBN:: 9780142000670
OCLC Number:: 750699465

(49 reviews)

An intimate portrait of two men who cherish the slim bond between them and the dream they share in a world marred by petty tyranny, misunderstanding, jealousy, and callousness. Clinging to each other in their Loneliness and alienation, George and his simple-minded friend Lenny dream, as drifters will, of a place to call their own—a couple of acres and a few pigs, chickens, and rabbits back in Hill Country where land is cheap. But after they come to work on a ranch in the fer- tile Salinas Valley of California, their hopes, like "the best laid schemes o' mice an' men," begin to go awry.

Of Mice and Men also represents an experiment in form, as Steinbeck described his work, "a kind of playable novel, written in novel form but so scened and set that it can be played as it stands." A rarity in American letters, it achieved remarkable success as a novel, a Broadway play, and three acclaimed films. Steinbeck's tale of commitment, loneliness, hope, and loss remains one of America's most widely read and beloved novels. --front flap

13 editions

Sergeant Cat reviewed Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Review of 'Of Mice and Men' on 'GoodReads'

4 stars

I often wonder why complicated stories like this are suggested as required reading in high school. When I read this as a teenager, I really didn't care for it. It seemed boring to me because I couldn't relate.

Now, 25 years on, I can appreciate it more. I think it's impossible for a teenager to imagine the hardships you might experience in life and what it can mean to cling desperately to a hope for happiness and have that dream torn away from you through something that is no fault of your own.

What really stood out to me this time through were:

1. The portrayal of Crooks as a person with depth and not just a two-dimensional stereotype, given the original publish date.

2. The clever foreshadowing with Candy's dog. The mention of Lennie's previous problems and his issues with small animals was, I guess, foreshadowing, but it was …

Benjamin Hollon reviewed Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Review of 'Of Mice and Men' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Okay, so this book was a two-sided coin:

First, I thought that it had some of the best writing I've seen. Really excellent characterization, foreshadowing, and plot development. It's also pretty short; I read it in 1-2 hours.

On the other hand, it's got one of the saddest endings I've ever seen. Read at your own risk.

Overall, I thought it was very worth the read.