Summer Reads...

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - 4 stars ****

This was another easy little read, which I was surprised at as I thought it would be a huge book, like most of the other 'classics'! Whilst doing research I actually saw that it is categorised as a 'novella' (short novel) which makes more sense.

Of Mice and Men is about two farm workers called George and Lennie - Lennie is large and strong but of limited intelligence, whereas George is clever and a hard worker, a protector of Lennie and loyal to him. The pair dream of owning a ranch with animals on and making a living, a vision which Lennie frequently asks George to describe to him. They are on the move from their last place of work after Lennie was accused of raping a girl there, as he likes touching soft materials so grabbed her dress and alarmed her.

Whilst they are working there they meet various other people, Curley, the heir to the farm who has an inferiority complex and likes to get into fights with people, Candy, an old worker who has one hand and is close to retirement, Slim, a much respected member of the team, who is shown to be compassionate and insightful, and Crooks, a black worker who is ostracized due to his skin colour. Curley's wife is also in the story, she is never known by name, and is very flirty, enjoying the attention she receives from the men, much to the jealousy of her husband, who threatens them all.

George and Lennie tell Candy of their intentions to set up a ranch, and offer him a place to join them as he has money to help them achieve it sooner than planned. One evening when all the men go out for drinks in the town, Lennie stays behind and chats to Crooks, who he learns is intelligent and feels resentful of being treated how he is due to his race. Lennie tells him of the plan and he too shows interest in joining. The four of them vow to keep it a secret from the rest of the group so as not to jeopardise their success.

*Spoilers*

However, the whole thing goes wrong when on another occasion when Lennie is left behind, Curley's wife chats to him and lets him stroke her hair. When he begins to mess it up, she tries to get him to stop, but her alarm only makes him grab it tighter. Unintentionally, after she struggles to escape him, he manages to break her neck, and runs away to a place that him and George agreed to meet should anything go wrong.

When the other men return they know Lennie will be doomed to death by Curley. In a bid to make it less painful for him, George goes to find him in their hiding place, and shoots him in the head whilst he is turned away from him listening to the story of their ranch and what it will be like.

This is such a sad story, and one which makes you question the actions and reactions of humans. For such a short book, it really stayed with me afterwards and made me think, which is probably why it is placed on so many school reading lists for GCSEs etc, as I can imagine a fair few essay questions that could come out of it.

I would recommend anyone read it, as I can completely see why it has been categorised as such a pivotal piece of work. I am interested in reading The Grapes Of Wrath, Steinbeck's other book now!