Of Mice and Men

I forgot to review this one.
I liked it, obviously, but it did not leave as much of a mark on me as when I read it in High School.

No, I didn't have tears in my eyes at the end, what are you talking about?

I read it for school, but I had the ending spoiled for me. Meh, it was alright. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. The imagery was really nice

En este libro se describen cosas que se ven. No se explica como se sienten los personajes o lo que piensan. Si entiendes estas cosas es porque les ves haciendo algo.

Creo que funciona muy bien porque constantemente tienes que estar pensando en los sentimientos de los personajes, ya que el libro no te lo explica, como una obra de teatro pero con algo mas de narrativa. Eso yo creo que te acerca a los personajes y aunque nunca nos hemos metido en sus cabezas, sin duda sabemos lo que va a pasar por ejemplo unos dias despues del final, les hemos conocido en profundidad lo que es un gran logro para un libro tan pequeño.

This is a classic I've been meaning to read after I watched the movie a long time ago. Such a sad story yet filled with companionship, love and loyalty. Things were very different back in that era.

I've put off reading this for years. I'm glad I read it but it's left me heart sick

The characters, the narrative, the description of nature are beautiful, dreamlike and amazing. Steinbeck was a poet.

Nunca a condição humana foi exemplificada tão simplesmente e com tantos sedimentos de interpretação.

No question about it. Brilliant. One of the best books ever written.
But I cried almost through it all. It is very hard.
Also, trigger warning. Animals getting killed.

Steinback created some of the most interesting characters I've met in fiction but it feels like he was so lazy that he left his work incomplete.

Classic take on loneliness and solitude and how we tend to deal with these crushing emotions

All any hard working man could want these days was a little piece of land to call his own and to live off the fat of the land. That was always the plan for George and Lennie save for the face that Lennie was always getting into trouble. George being the brain always found them work and Lennie who for all purposes is an overpowered child in a man's body. They are on their way to the next job with one goal in mind, to work hard enough to buy their own place so they never have to work for anyone again. When they arrive at the new job they are immediately challenged by the boss's son Curley and have a run in with his flirtatious wife. George and Lennie make a plan with old man Curley to pool their money together and buy this little piece of land. All they have to do is make it to the end of the month. One day while the other guys are out playing horseshoes, Curley's wife catches Lennie alone lamenting over the puppy he accidentally killed while playing with it. She takes advantage of Lennie's like for soft things and offers to let him touch her hair. She starts screaming at Lennie and he panics, held holds tight to her and in his panic accidentally kills her. Lennie runs for it and when the others discover what he's done they chase after him with one goal, to put him down. George finds Lennie first and kills Lennie himself because he knew there was no saving him from this situation.  

I have been taking the time to throw a classical book or two into my reading lineup whenever the feeling is set upon me. While the story is short it is so powerful for this tale. Lennie is all George has and it is established rather quickly that without him Lennie would not be able to survive on his own. George plays two roles for Lennie being both a father and a brother to him. Steinbeck was able to paint such an amazing picture very quickly of the dynamic of their relationship without taking the time to explain every detail of it. When reading I think the death of the puppy really struck me, but showed exactly what the reader was supposed to gain which was Lennie's pattern of behavior. As with previous incidents Lennie never meant any of the trouble he caused, but that does not mean his actions did not have disastrous consequences for the time period. I feel for George because he really does all that he can to protect Lennie without chaining him down like an animal, but in the end it wasn't enough with what was bound to happen. The day when Lennie went too far and it was something he just could not be saved from.

Although I read this book over 5 years ago a fresh wave of emotion him me while reading again. It really is a true tale of love and friendship even in the end. George was not going to let Lennie suffer or fall into anyone else's hands. He took the only opportunity he could to protect Lennie one last time. It hurt as I got to those final pages knowing exactly what was going to happen and knowing that like George there was nothing I could do to protect the lovable Lennie. I love this story and it really pulls at my heartstrings as I could see this being a real thing even today.  

If you are looking for a short classical read then I suggest putting this at the top of your list. This can easily be read in a day or two days at most if you're taking your time. Grab a box of tissues or at least be ready for some feels when going through this. 

lennie, u done goofed

Two drifters that roam the country looking for work. They find a farm that will take them, but Lennie gets into trouble because he is “simple minded”. He and George are best friends and take care of each other. At the farm they share they're hopes and dreams with some of the other workers.

What I didn't like is that there is no content, this is a short story that focus more on the characters then on the plot. The characters are likeable and well developed, but they are just too boring.

Very hard to see why this is a classic, although it does have a broad appeal by telling such a simple, relatable story.

- simple characters, reminded me of my grandpa farm stories (yawn)
- no plot, nothing exciting happens

“Es como el cielo, todos quieren su terrenito. He leído muchos libros aquí. Nadie llega al cielo, y nadie consigue su tierra. La tienen en la cabeza, nada más.”

Lennie begged, “Le's do it now. Le's get to that place now.”
“Sure right now. I gotta. We gotta”

And what follows next literally blows up your mind! This is one of the most emotionally charged tragedies I've ever read. Steinbeck knows where to hit the readers and hammers it right where it hurts. It's a tale about an unusual bond of friendship and affection between two poor country folks, Lennie and George who have dreams and ambitions to fulfill. They're just like two brothers. Lennie is a dimwit but a ‘nice fella' and is looked after by George, who tells him that soon they'll raise a stake, have a paradise of their own and then they won't have to work for miserable bosses who keep giving them orders. The storyline is rich and intense. John makes you feel the anguish and the emotions of his characters like it's your own. Your heart is filled with empathy for them. The naivety and child-like innocence of Lennie. The brotherly love George has for him. You are bound to fall in love with them and their brilliant companionship. And when you finish the book, you just sit there with a lump in your throat. A classic masterpiece that just shouldn't be missed!

Sad, brutal, simple, and deep. I can definitely see how high school English teachers can dive into themes with their students.

This is one of those classics that I understand why are called so. I have read it maybe twice and know I'll go back to it at some ohter point. It is strong, and bitter, and real, like sweat under the sun when you are doing some labor. Lennie is something very unique - but so is George. Worth reading, not a shadow of a doubt about it.


Livro curto, pungente, no qual a descrição de fato faz sentido, e me dá aperto no coração toda vez.

I can admit that I got out of high-school without reading this book not sure what we read in it's place but after reading it today I feel like I was done a very big disservice. This book makes you think, wish and makes you wish for equality and a version of the American dream.

The American Dream has many variations, but always, it is about independence and the pride of being one's own man. Lennie and George want this independence more than most men, but have less than most men to get there. In their case, it isn't a white picket fence, but a farm where they can raise rabbits.

Lennie is not a bright man. He desires to care for someone and to be loved, but is unable to think past his own fear. George tries to protect him, but he too, although smarter than Lennie, is managed by his insecurity and foolishness.

The story surrounds Lennie and George's efforts to get and retain work on ranch near Soledad, and more so, toward their American Dream. The big picture is always with them, but it is the day-by-day difficulties they have with being outsiders. Their intrinsic inability to be free is sheer tragedy, as they both fail again and again to make the right decision.

It's a lonely story about two men who hope more than they can think, who are destined by their misery never to enjoy true companionship and happiness.

Too vulgar for school?
An uncomfortable read,
worth the couple hours.

Книга очень понравилась, но я бы не сказал, что увлекла с головой. Небольшая история о мечтах и дружбе. Первая попытка осилить Стейнбека была с “Гроздьями гнева” и с успехом провалилась. В этот раз все гораздо лучше.

A small book with a powerful punch. Moving story of two friends in tough times. I can easily see why it is considered a classic.

It was a very slow read at first, but once I got pass the style of writing I remembered why I loved this book so much when I read it the first time a few years ago. Really loved the foreshadowing, and the conversations between the characters made me think about issues going on in the world. Very beautiful ending and how the author linked the end of the book to the beginning.

I honesty enjoyed this read but it was hard. I couldn't get over the language of the way everyone was talking in but that is part of the culture of the time.

I was shocked about the ending though. Wasn't quite expecting that at all.

This book's storyline really captured my heart. Despite the confusing narrations of this book, i still managed to understand the flow of the story.

Just like Lennie and George, all of us have dreams and hopes and plans in life. We have to go through thick and thin just to achieve them. But if by fate, it doesn't always go well on us and those dreams or hopes or plans weren't always meant for us.

This book also reminds me of the society. The third world countries to be exact. It's a dog-eat-dog world and you have to keep moving just to survive.

But despite all the negativities of the story, i learned that we must value those people around us. The people who support us - our friends, family, etc. No matter what they do, no matter how much of an idiot they are, we must give them our love and respect. In return, they will give us more love than we could've ever imagined :)