Of Mice and Men

My daughter had to buy this book for her English Literature GCSE Exam and she told me it was very convenient. The pages that summarise the chapter helped her find the main points she needed to revise for her exams. They were also a useful way to go back and remember what happened without having to re-read the entire chapter.There were questions at the end of the book that you could answer that helped her to understand the context, content, author and characters better.My daughter tells me Of Mice and Men is a detailed and intricate story written in the 1930s by John Steinbeck. It tells the story of George and Lennie, two migrant ranch workers, sharing a dream of one day owning their own ranch and also their struggle of trying to survive due to lack of money. The book also includes the most important issues regarding society in America during the great depression which were my daughters GCSE topics for this novel such as racism, sexism, prejudice and the American Dream. It is a highly thought provoking story wherein the simplest of sentences has a profound deeper meaning.Overall it’s a very good book with useful summarised pages and questions that make it easy to understand and use as a revision tool for GCSE English Literature. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who either is doing this for their GCSEs or has a teenager that is.

Before you finish the first page you realise that you’re reading an authentic poetic piece of literature. As with other John Steinbeck works, his recognition and homage to hard economic times in America, and the transient workforce is so subtly and vividly portrayed.Lennie and George are two immortal characters that live well beyond the pages of this book. It is a heart-breaking story of loyalty and love, of friendship and society, and of hope and despondency. Lennie is the main discussion point in the book and it is such a sad story about the impact of a serious personality disorder, and how it can have devastating consequences to the person and those around them. I did, however, think a lot about George and how he had enabled the friendship to grow and how he tried to provide a protective shield around Lennie. He was constantly driving Lennie to remember statements he needed to recite if challenged or actions he needed to follow if confronted. They dreamed and talked constantly about the smallholding they had been saving for. They would have different crops and animals (particularly rabbits for Lennie) and be masters of their own domain. Life can be cruel when hope and aspirations can be dashed with an unforeseen event and twist of fate.The story does have a sexist feel to it in the sense that the woman (no name) was the downfall of Lennie and was only ever referred to as Curley’s wife. There is an inference that she was Curley’s possession and perhaps her behaviour was to illustrate she was not the possession of one, but free to be with many.George showed sincere and deep love for Lennie in resolving the issue in a way which was best for Lennie while leaving himself with remorse, guilt and loss for the rest of his life.Why oh why did it take me so long to read this book – don’t make the same mistake.

I didn’t really know much about this book going in. The only reference I had of it was from ‘Lost’ when Sawyer and Ben mention it on the top of a mountain holding a bunny! I now get the reference!I don’t remember it being on the curriculum for school books, but when I was researching the category of ‘a classic you didn’t read in school’ this came up.As I’ve said many times I’m not a big fan of ‘classic’ books, they usually seem non-sensical, and I can’t usually follow them. So, I chose this because it was short and I wouldn’t have to suffer for too long.However, I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. It was simply written, easy to follow and straightforward in its storyline.The characters were likeable, although there are a lot to remember and most beginning with the letter C. So they did become a little inter-mixed, and I’d have to stop and remember who everyone was.It wasn’t overly descriptive, as there is a lot of dialogue. I loved the representation of the dialect; this really made it feel as if you were on the ranch with them listening to them chew the fat!I even teared up a little at the end (and during with the dogs), but I wasn’t expecting the outcome, and it was really sad.So this was a pleasant surprise of a read. I read it fast as it was so easy and had a relaxed style of writing.

The best laid plans of men and mice often go awry.Such a short book, only 112 pages, but its powerful.Not an awful lot happens, the pace is slow, your strolling. Your meet George, Lennie, spend two days together and finish where you started but I'm sure you wont feel the same.I didnt expect much from this novella, total credit to Steinback, he has created a lot in very few words. In fact I've read much longer books that will prove to be less memorable.This is a definite cigarettes and whiskey kind of book and well worth reading.