【Book Review】Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men

Overall Rating: ★★★★

Characters: ★★★★★

Plot: ★★★★★

Writing：★★★★

       This is a well-known modern classic book that I read recently. My overall rating of this book is four stars. Generally, I really appreciate this book, but I don’t absolutely love it. Of Mice and Man basically tells a story about two outsiders: George and Lennie who dream about their bright future. However, their expectation is ruined when Lennie, George’s single-minded and naïve friend, accidentally commits a dreadful crime, which leads to a despairing end.

    The only thing that I dislike about this book is its writing style. I completely understand the fact that people at that social ranking during that time period were supposed to speak that way. I know the author uses this writing style to illustrate the characteristics of these characters, but I just cannot appreciate this type of writing even I know that it is actually the best thing to do. The author always uses sentences like “I don’t mean no harm”, which, of course, I know their correct meanings, but sometimes I am just so confused. Therefore, I gave the writing style a four-star rating.

-Spoiler Discussion!-

    Here is the thing. As soon as I read the general plot line at the back of the book, I instantly knew that Lennie, as a childlike character with uncontrollable strength, is highly possible to get involved in some kind of troubles. And when I read the part where he accidentally breaks the neck of Curley’s wife, I wasn’t really surprised since I had anticipated this happenstance. However, what shocks me the most is the part where George resolves to shot Lennie from the back, and this plot twist is the reason why I finally decide to give the plot five stars. Seriously, I didn’t see that coming, and that is quite amazing.

    As for the characters, I really like how John portrays Lennie’s characters as well as the development of George’s emotions. Lennie is a character who doesn’t change much through the story, which makes perfect sense due to his natural childlike personality. The transformation of George is what fascinates me. He appears at the beginning of the book as sort of a protector of Lennie, who always gets into trouble. But as the story progresses, George starts this transformation that ultimately leads to the shot.

    This book has a very tragic ending. Both of the protagonists dream of earning their social status by working hard and can therefore gradually own their own farm. Their dreams are ruined for multiple reasons, which I am not sure which reasons is the dominant cause. Lennie is such a tragic figure. He never means to harm anyone. His tragic death derives mainly from his own intrinsic childish mind and his uncontrollable great physical body power. I am sad and pity for him.

    Apparently, this book criticizes the brutality of human nature, as well as the fragile American dreams. In my opinion, this book deserves all of its attention and popularity in the United States. I think this is a powerful book, and I do recommend this book to anyone who is intended to learn more about American historical literature and the farmers’ life in the 20th century. Still, I enjoy it, but I don’t thoroughly love it. However, I agree with the idea that this modern classic should be passed on to generations of readers for the purpose of contemplating its profound meanings.