• Of Mice and Men

  • By: John Steinbeck
  • Narrated by: Gary Sinise
  • Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (11,115 ratings)

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Of Mice and Men  By  cover art

Of Mice and Men

By: John Steinbeck
Narrated by: Gary Sinise
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Publisher's summary

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men remains one of America's most widely read and beloved novels. Here is Steinbeck’s dramatic adaptation of his novel-as-play, which received the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play in 1937-1938 and has featured a number of actors who have played the iconic roles of George and Lennie on stage and film, including James Earl Jones, John Malkovich and Gary Sinise.

From the Nobel Prize-winning author of The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden, this classic story of an unlikely pair, two migrant workers in California during the Great Depression who grasp for their American Dream, profoundly touches readers/listeners and audiences alike. George and his simple-minded friend Lenny dream, as drifters will, of a place to call their own - a couple of acres and a few pigs, chickens, and rabbits back in Hill Country where land is cheap. But after they come to work on a ranch in the fertile Salinas Valley of California, their hopes, like “the best laid schemes o’mice an’ men”, begin to go awry.

Of Mice and Men also represents an experiment in form, as Steinbeck described his work, “a kind of playable novel, written in novel form but so scened and set that it can be played as it stands”. A rarity in American letters, it achieved remarkable success as a novel, a Broadway play, and three acclaimed films.

©1937 John Steinbeck (P)2011 Penguin

Critic reviews

"Of Mice and Men is a thriller, a gripping tale running to novelette length that you will not set down until it is finished. It is more than that; but it is that.... In sure, raucous, vulgar Americanism, Steinbeck has touched the quick in his little story." (The New York Times)

"Brutality and tenderness mingle in these strangely moving pages.... The reader is fascinated by a certainty of approaching doom." (Chicago Tribune)

"A short tale of much power and beauty. Mr. Steinbeck has contributed a small masterpiece to the modern tough-tender school of American fiction." (Times Literary Supplement, London)

What listeners say about Of Mice and Men

Average customer ratings
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KETCHUP

IF I WAS A RELATIVE OF YOURS I WOULD SHOOT MYSELF
Steinbeck is America. He almost always writes about the down trodden and gives them a voice, makes them real to us, makes us care. When my boys were growing up, I made them spend some time reading in the summer and I made them read Steinbeck among others. Today they are in their 30's and they are readers. My one son really liked Red Pony. I read most of his stuff before joining audible, but I am looking forward to relistening. .

I THINK CURLY MARRIED A TART
Western fiction readers will also enjoy this book, as it is about hands going from ranch to ranch looking for work.

GEORGE, TELL AGAIN ABOUT THE RABBITS.
Sinese is an excellent narrator.

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47 people found this helpful

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My First Steinbeck... I've Missed So Much!

How unfortunate for me that I waited to age 38 to read Steinbeck. I so loved this book and immediately followed it up with his, Cannery Row and still looking forward to, The Grapes of Wrath. However, I did enjoy this one more than, Cannery Row (despite the fact that I lived five streets up from Cannery Row about eight years ago).

This year I've been running the gamut of Classics; some I've adored and others I'm left wondering why anybody gave a darn (e.g., My favorite has been 20,000 leagues, but hated The Time Machine, Frankenstein was amazing, but I can't finish Moby Dick; Animal Farm was so insightful, but I have no clue what's going on in The Brother's Karamazov).Of Mice and Men is easily third behind two of the aforementioned both in prose and story line.

Gary Sinese might be my new favorite narrator, but this has been the only book I've listened to with him as narrator where I've listened to several books narrated by Wil Wheaton. I had no problem listening at 3x speed.

I'm sure I will listen to this book over and over again; maybe I'll add it to my list of annual reads with Heinlein's, Starship Troopers, and Plato's, The Republic and The Allegory of the Cave.

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The reader alone is worth it

A classic story with a fantastic narrator. His voices felt true to the characters and kept me listening. The story itself is a heart wrenching tale at times. I did not find much enjoyment in Steinbeck's The Pearl but this story completely sold me on the merits of this author

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Music in the background is VERY annoying.

completely impossible to listen to . why put music in an audio book. horrible idea.

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The Poor Little Mouse

Once again I'm so glad to have downloaded and listened to another classic Steinbeck novel.
The narrator artfully brings along as we travel down the road with the two friends. I so love the way Steinbeck gives us characters we already know. And as we experience the human condition and wish for things to turn out a certain way, your heart gets broken before you finish this book. Oh and a journey worth taking.
Thanks to Audible for including this book on your site.

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Gary Sinise Is An Excellent Narrator!

What made the experience of listening to Of Mice and Men the most enjoyable?

They really could not have picked a better narrator for this story. He was so good. I love the story too. It was one of my favorites. I would highly recommend it!

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Ignorance is Bliss

Loved the book, loved the movie and now I can say I love the audio book version as well! I knew this was a great, touching story already but Sinise as the narrator really impressed me. He does a great job with all of the voices and I can't wait to listen to more books by him. It also helped that he is also one of the stars in the movie itself. Indeed this is such a great story and just so sad at the end. Definitely a classic and I would certainly recommend this title to anyone who has yet to read/listen to it.

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Gary Sinise is Amazing. Excellent!

Would you consider the audio edition of Of Mice and Men to be better than the print version?

The audio is better. Gary Sinise really makes the characters come alive. You feel like you are in the room with them.

What did you like best about this story?

Just the whole thing. It's like watching a car heading to a ditch and you just so want to stop it but you know you can't.

Have you listened to any of Gary Sinise’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the only book I have heard by Gary Sinise. He WAS George and Lenny. Truly amazing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to the entire book in one sitting.

Any additional comments?

Must buy. Very good story, very good performance.

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Hear the book, then see the movie...

Any additional comments?

You can't go wrong with a classic!

Another of Steinbeck's raw, emotion filled, suspenseful tales set in the depression era. You'll be on the edge of your seat like a ballpark fan, coaching George and Lennie through querulous choices and foreseeable plot pitfalls.

Hear the book (great narration by Gary Sinise), then see the movie (with Gary Sinise again, rel. 1992)!

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Great Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, a good quick read of a classic.

Who was your favorite character and why?

George. He was a compassionate and loyal friend to Lenny.

Have you listened to any of Gary Sinise’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No but I would like to listen to more. He was a terrific reader.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed and cried. It was a great story and a classic I had never read before.

Any additional comments?

Makes me want to revisit Steinbeck's other works.

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