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)

EXCELLENT...MARVELOUS...AMAZING!!!

Love the story. Love Gary Sinise..I have to say I wish he was my dad so he could read to me... I will be down loading more books narrated by my favorite actor the one and only Gary Sinise.

Evergreen story

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

Gary Sinise brought each character distinction. I could picture each and every one just because of Sinise's inflections. I'd seen him perform George with great success, and he brought that skill to the entire cast.

What did you like best about this story?

The story is as fresh and relevant today as it ever was. Each character is struggling to overcome loss, disenfranchisement, and isolation. They almost grab the golden ring, and their failure to do so, is heartbreakingly real.

What about Gary Sinise’s performance did you like?

He never hit a wrong note. I will listen to this narration many times.

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

I felt each color of the rainbow listening to this performance. As many times as I've read or seen Of Mice and Men, I still felt surprise at each turn. I think because Sinise is such a skillful performer, I was swept up into Steinbeck's world, quite forgetting that I knew this story well. It felt like discovering these characters for the very first time.

Any additional comments?

Please let me know when Sinise narrates another book.

Outstanding Performance!

The narrator did a fantastic job. He is so talented- the voices of the characters sound so different, it's almost as if there was more than one person performing.
The story is sad and depressing. I wish there wasn't so much profanity- it takes away from the story.

Class book, well done audiobook

Gary Sinse delivers well in this ine. Great book to listen to as eell, as Sinse has a great voice for each character.

No one is better than Steinbeck!

Great performance, a past time, culture and values well worth remembering, emotionally impacting, tissues required

Of Mice and Men

Good job Gary Sinise. This Classic was chosen for our Book Club. wasn't interested, but I'm glad I can cross another Classic off our list. Good Read.

Gary Sinise is so talented

Classic story
Great talent. Gary Sinise brought this to life, did such a good job with all of the voices.

What a story- the reading is superb!

A must listen, I had forgotten what an impactful book this was. Going to go after more John Steinbeck after this read.

The harmonica!

The book and narrator were superb. The harmonic was horrible. I was unable to hear the words over the music.

a classic for a reason.

It's been 25 years since I last read this, to long. I won't wait again.