Of Mice and Men

By John Steinbeck

This is a short classic written in 1937, something definitely worth reading. From the beginning, Steinbeck's ability to describe scenery is akin to 'The Pearl', another classic of his, where he lets you into a dreamy world that teems with natural beauty. The descriptions set a tone of warm embrace, even though the characters aren't so comfortable themselves. The book explores ideas of innocence and guilt, and both the relationship and separation of the two. It rawly exposes you to the disconnect between intention and consequences of real actions. This reminds you to be careful with what power you hold. Just because you have good intentions in your heart, does not mean you are doing the right thing, and it definitely does not mean you are exempt from consequence. When reading the book, you can sense that the utopia discussed by the George, Lenny and Candy will not eventuate, and that tragedy is almost certainly nigh. Inevitably, when this occurs, you are somehow both pleased and dismayed that justice is served, albeit, served to a guilty man with an innocent heart. It is this mixed emotion that Steinbeck is so good at evoking. Overall, great little book with lots of meaning packed into a short read.

I would love to hear your thoughts, email me at [email protected].

Back to Book Reviews