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Aug 18, 2020karyn8787 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck tells the story of two friends and migrant farm workers, George and Lennie. After leaving their old job behind because of some trouble that arose, George and Lennie find themselves working on a farm in Salinas Valley, California. Lennie is a little dim witted and not the brightest bulb in the box but is extremely strong, burly, and is a good farm worker. However, alongside this lack of intelligence, Lennie is immature, ignorant, and does not understand the consequences of his actions. Nevertheless, he has his best friend Geroge to take care of him and hopefully keep him out of trouble. They dream of one day buying their own farm where they can be their own bosses and, in Lennie's case, have bunnies. One day they actually scrounged up enough money to buy that farm and fulfill their American Dream, that is, until their lives crumble around them. Of Mice and Men is a very powerful book about friendship, ignorance, and sacrifice. We are able to see all the problems George and Lennie face through the lens of both maturity and immaturity, circling back to the age old question of whether ignorance is bliss. In addition, George and Lennie’s friendship is a central part of the story and we often see George making sacrifices and tough, controversial decisions that he thinks will better their lives. Of Mice and Men is an incredibly heart-wrenching yet a story of hope and perseverance. With that said, the story would get boring at times and the overall theme and even plot is relatively common. Even so, Of Mice and Men is one of those literary classics that all should read.