Matthias's Reviews > Of Mice and Men

I read this book once so far, but I'm planning to read it again. And again. And again.

One reason for this, aside from the fact that it's a quick and extremely pleasurable read, is that I don't think I have gotten beyond the point of taking this story at face value. When I see others' reviews I see explanations and interpretations, analysis and theories which are all very interesting, deep and wide-ranging, so I feel as if I've missed out on plenty by getting only one aspect covered. This book opens other books, in essence those of the people reading it, and I feel that in the library of my own heart there is a volume or two still waiting to be read, with the assistance of this play.

The beauty of this story, for me, lies in its simplicity. It's a book that magically conjures up images and ideas beyond what is written, a work of art that makes the reader explore their own doubts and convictions, about friendship, dreams, ambition, freedom, society, the list goes on. It's tiny and it's huge. It's a book that provides plenty of footholds for philosophy and other such commendable fields of thought. A gem that gives the beholding eye a sparkle of its own.

What this book was for me at face value was a story about two men. I'm sure there must have been mice somewhere in the story, serving as careless observers of what was going on in the stables, fields and shacks, providing an explanation for all the goings on behind stage, the ruffling of the curtains picked up by watchful members of the audience, but aside from the title they're not really mentioned. No matter, the men carry this story beautifully. The star of this book is the friendship between these two men. One guy is a bit of a simpleton, Lennie, who has his heart in the right place. The problem of this man is that his heart's good intentions are misunderstood by everyone around him. Except for one person. The simpleton has a friend, George, and this friend also has his heart in the right place. I love reading about people with their hearts in the right places, they are inspiring without fault. George is very clever, he has a way with people and with ideas. He's the kind of guy of whom you know he'll always find his way in life, even though he doesn't always seem to be too ecstatic about it. Regardless of his lack of mirth he's got a certain drive to him, but he rarely uses it to change his fate and he chooses to just go with the flow, making not drowning a simple priority.

Their friendship is a shelter, which serves both men in these hard times.
Lennie gets guidance and protection. He is highly dependent of George as a result, because in times that aren't simple, simple men get left behind. Only George decides to stay by his side.
George gets companionship, a very rare commodity in this play's setting. George needs rooting, because all this going with the flow business does wear him out sometimes, and he has found this rooting with the strong, big shouldered Lennie.

Times get harder though, and the shelter, built on a mutual dream between these two men, has to stand up against tough winds, coming from within and without. This story, for me, is about the beautiful struggle of this friendship against the forces that oppose it.

I'm sure there's more to this gem that I hope to discover during later readings. All I can say for now is that it made my eyes sparkle with Delight, from beginning to end.