The title comes from the fact that one of the two main characters, Lennie, is a little retarded, but is still a kind man who only wishes for goodness. The other character, George, has more sense and knows his goals. He has dreams of buying a piece of land and settling down. He makes a continuous effort to keep Lennie's erratic behavior in check and keep him out of trouble. However, in one incident, he held a mouse in his hand so tightly that he killed it, only desiring to caress it, but not knowing his own strength. He also has a rather awkward moment with a young farm girl in one of their migrant worker jobs, who terrifies him by screaming in Lennie's presence, driving the man to shake her until her life is gone.

George always tries to rescue Lennie when he finds trouble, although he eventually realizes that he cannot watch him forever. Realizing that the girl's death is just too much to handle, he relinquishes his dreams of a ranch and a life for the two of them in order to find a more direct solution to Lennie's problems.

This is a story of lessons in life that force you to reconsider what you invest in your friends. Of Mice and Men is a story of friendship, of devotion, disappointment and realization. John Steinbeck tries to show how flimsy our friendships can become even if they started off with the best of intentions and how loyal we must be to keep them intact. Yet, he filters out the hardships we endure just to survive and maintain a certain distance from those whose behavior effects us in detrimental ways. Again, Steinbeck is a genius, perfecting his storytelling by delving into the minds of these two men to see at what cost they remain devoted and loyal. I think Steinbeck has captured the spirit of hopes, dreams and wishes in a truly American episode of our great West.

George and Lennie are drifters, moving from rural property to rural property, they go wherever work takes them. They stay for as long as their luck lasts, doing whatever the current job demands, but come what may George and Lennie stick together. George is small, fast to loose his temper and smart. Lennie is big, always affable and dim-witted. Lennie needs George to look after him, and George sometimes wishes that he was able to live life free and easy, free to gamble and booze his money away. Lennie's slow wit often gets him into trouble in the rough and tumble, male world of the rural society. Now "a few miles south of Soledad" George and Lennie are about to start a new job. Before they enter the property the two camp out overnight so George can enjoy the scenery. This proves to be the calm before the storm as the two are about to experience life-changing events.

This is a short book, being just under 100 pages, but it contains much to be thought about. Steinbeck describes in detail the harsh way men choose to live. He notes how, in this environment, some men rise to become leaders, being hero-worshiped in such a way that their word becomes almost gospel in the minds of other men. But Stienbeck, through the friendship of George and Lennie, also notes that there is another, more caring way for men to live Of course even those who follow a philosophy of caring live in the real world of struggle in which circumstances are not easy to resolve, and Steinbeck is well aware of this. Steinbeck's beliefs are informed by his knowledge of Christianity, but one does not have to slavishly follow that religion to agree with what he is saying. This book was first published in 1937, but is contains ideas that have finally flourished in the New Age Men's movement of the late Twentieth Century.

This book is stylistically interesting. Steinbeck deliberately wrote his prose in a way which imitates plays (drama). Events take place in a set 'scene' and characters enter, interact and leave. Dialogue, rather than action, is emphasized. The author, indeed, later wrote a theater version of this story. He did the same thing with the book . Through Steinbecks skillfully woven dialogue we gain a good understanding of his main characters and Lennie is one of his most poignant creations. The climaxes of this tale, and there are more than one, are also memorable.

John Steinbeck is of course a famous author and this is one of his most well known novels. I am glad to say I did not find it in the least disappointing and I am very happy to award it five stars.

One of the common themes in my top five books is loyalty. Looking at my own life experiences I can see why I am drawn to stories that honor loyalty. Steinbeck's character George remains committed to Lennie despite all the trouble and hardships he causes. I absolutely love the dream that George and Lennie share and talk about as they work to achieve it. To quote one of my favorite films RUDY, "Dreams are what make life tolerable." Their little farm dream will always be a vivid picture in my mind. Overcoming obstacles, dreaming big, working hard, and being sensitive to those who are disadvantaged have always been important trheads in my life, and these elements are the crux of John Steinbeck's classic. I often used this book as a "Read Aloud" to my freshmen English studensts. I hope they loved hearing my George and Lennie voices as much as I loved creating them. Their voices will always be in my head and will remind me that when it comes to dealing with life's adversity, it's always better to have someone to share your experiences with, especially the most difficult ones. This book will always remain in my TOP FIVE.