Of Mice and Men

By: John Steinbeck

Narrated by: Gary Sinise

Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins

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)

Fabulous is an understatement!

Of the 263 Audible book productions I’ve listened to, this one gets my highest rating. Of course the material is epic and written as a play so it’s perfect to listen to. Descriptive vision and mood evoking narrative and realistic voices rendered by the dialogue. Gary Sinese nails it, every intonation right as it should be. Harmonica music briefly at the beginning sets a tone, just as if one were at the theatre. Listen to this straight through if possible, like you’re watching a movie… it has a rhythm and flow that is engrossing, timing superb!

Nice for a short listen

This novel was a nice and short listen and is well worth the time. The story is emotional and I certainly won't forgot it anytime soon.

At first I thought the narrator was too fast and had trouble keeping up. But in the later parts of the the book, Gary Sinise really captured the emotion and the pace was perfect. He also had some good voices for different characters.

Outstanding reading

Sinise reads with extraordinary skill, richly conveying Steinbeck's empathy, indignation and grasp of his characters' struggle. I used this in a classroom, and it made the text come to life for the students.

Poignant

Story brought to life by excellent narration.
I felt like I could visualize each character and feel each emotion. Beautifully crafted.

Outstanding

This was my first reading of this classic and it quickly became my favorite audio book encountered thus far. The narrator was amazing and authentic. the story was short but poignant. I loved this book and can't praise it enough!

Sensitive performance

Gary Sinise is spot on in his performance of this Steinbeck classic. He captures the characters’s particulars, action, and, through dialogue, the entire austerity of setting, circumstances, and personality of the people in the novel.

emotional

loved it, absolutely loved it. It ain't to long so if you dont like to read like me you'll enjoy this book. One thing though you HAVE to get to the end.

Beautiful.

Gary Sinise does a magnificent job of reading Steinbeck's gentle but gut-wrenching words.
Beautifully written, beautifully read.
Beautifully written, beautifully reader

Wow

Tremendous reading performance, the voices were perfection, I can't believe what a great story this is and how great John Steinbeck is.

The reader did excellent

I really enjoyed the reader's tones and inflections. He made the characters personal. Excellent story.