Of Mice and Men

i done this for my English qualification years ago
i loved how it kept coming back to the idea of nature.
how we are ultimately part of nature and as much as we try to fight it we will always be so.
the circular notion made me think of reincarnation.
the american dream was quite a sad and daunting touch that we we'll never truley be satisfied, we need that dream even though it will only ever be a figure of our imagination

I had to read it in english class in grade 11. I can't believe that Lennie died the way he did though at the end of the story. I knew something would of had to of happen to him because he was out of control but to have the main character slaughter lennie like that. Wow!

have you watched the film? i thought that portrayed it really well to.
the book was beautifully written John Steinback could describe wonderfully
i thought it helped to portray how this American Dream they were all after doesnt work out for everyone. they were getting so excitied thinkin they were finally out of that place and it all fell apart...
what makes it so effective is we can all emphasis with that
Also we got to see lennie for who he really was where as in the big wide world no one cares they just saw him as a killer.
haha i could talk bout that book for ages

Yah I saw the movie as well. Had too actually. It was ok but There were a few parts that could have been added that they missed. Its been so long though since I saw it so I couldn't tell you

One of the first 'grown up' books I read. My dad, sick of seeing me knee deep in girlie magazines, dropped two books into my lap one day and said, "It's time you read something decent." One was Mice and men and the other was East Of Eden, both by John Steinbeck. I loved them and applied for an adults ticket at the library so that I could get into the grown ups section where I spent most of my time after that.

I believe that I'm going to be studying this later this year as part of my English literature course.
I'm glad to see that it's quite a short, easy-going book, as I know absolutely nothing about the story; only the title. I am a keen reader, and am also quite good at writing analysis, so the style, which you describe as 'unique', intrigues me.
So, thank you for the review, and I now look forward to reading the book, although not so much to having an exam based upon it next Summer.:rolleyes:

Certainly is a classic. One of those that you read, reread, and then give a third go - all on the same day. The length makes this comfortably possible, and Steinbeck makes this enjoyable.

Khethil said:

[quote]

• Large events in the book just happen - *BOOM* - then they're gone. Although this is how life happens, in books sometimes we'd like to see or feel it coming, then reflect on its effects or somehow otherwise absorb the impact
  

[/quote]

Interesting. Could you elaborate on which events you felt were over too quickly to be adequately processed?

Sure... I chose not to as to not spoil significant events within the book. But two come to mind that hit me this way: 1) What happened in the barn with Lennie when the girl said he could touch her hair. -and- 2) The way these two ended parting ways.

Both caught me by surprise, which in a well-told story is a mark of literary skill.

Does that help?

This book was required for me to read when i was a Sophmore. As stated above, the book is very short just above 100 pages. I read the book the night i got it and came back to school rather confused. How is this such a classic?The book is far too short to really connect to the characters, Therefore i was more relieved when Lennie died than anything. One small step could of been done to change my opinion of this book. That is starting the book where Lennie's guardian died and George makes the promise. Then i think there would of been more emotion drawn from the reader than just sympathy for Lennie.

I see what you mean vTruth. Though, I am one who believes that the reader does not need to know much about the characters in order to relate and sympathize with them.

A great example is Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants. The reader knows almost nothing about the characters - but just enough to understand their situation and sympathize. I've always seen this as a strength of the writer: the ability to reveal only what is needed for the story. Reminds me of drumming: only play what is needed for the tune, no more and no less. I think that is the essence of art, using no more and no less than what is needed in order to convey whatever meaning the artist wants to express.

DT's spot on; I think an essential part of what makes something "a classic" is that element of holding back just a wee bit to allow the reader's mind to play the part.

One of the problems with much out there is that it gives too much to the reader; feeding too many details lessens the reader's mental and emotional participation in the act.

Thanks