Johnsenclan

John Steinbeck’s book is frequently on the top ten list of books that close-minded people try to ban, so I thought it was fitting to read it this week in celebration of Banned Book Week.

This is book thirty-nine in 52 books in 52 weeks.

I guess most people have probably read Of Mice and Men.  I remember it being pretty popular in high school among people that didn’t like to read because it is so short (which I’m ashamed to admit is why I chose it over a couple of other banned books I was looking at, work’s been hectic).

George and Lennie are both ranch hands that have been working together for years.  Eventually they’d like to work on a farm that they own.  George takes care of Lennie, who is mentally handicapped and very strong.  George makes sure he keeps his temper under control, and helps them avoid situations that would get the two of them in trouble.  Eventually Lennie gets in trouble with a woman at the ranch and George has to decide how to deal with the problem.

All Lennie wants to do is have a farm where they can plant vegetables and raise bunnies, but he’s destroyed by the actions of others.  Much of the book is about having a companion.  Lennie and George are very different from some of the other people on the ranch because they have each other to depend on.  The person that tempts Lennie, and is the reason tragedy eventually comes to him, is acting out of loneliness.

The dialogue is simple and straightforward, the descriptions of the surroundings are perfect to help bring us into the era.  It’s a great book.

A-

My other reviews in 52 weeks are here.

A few other people doing 52 books in 52 weeks.

• Jaime reviews The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
• Nick reviews War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells