Self-Publishing a Family Memoir

Self-Publishing a Family Memoir Self-Publishing a Family Memoir Having previously published many children's books, Malaika Rose Stanley is no stranger to publishing. Yet with Loose Connections, she attempted something completely different from her usual style of writing. Read on to know what it was like for her to  self-publish her book and go on a familiar yet new adventure.Loose Connections is my first independently published book, my first book for adults and my first non-fiction book. But I have a history of writing traditionally published books for children dating back to 1996. I had to look back and check - and I’ve completely shocked myself with the realization that I’ve been involved in this writing and publishing malarkey for twenty years!‘Write what you know’ is a well-worn authorial snippet of advice, a clichà ©. At times, I’ve taken heed but at others, I’ve totally ignored it. My motivation for Loose Connections and for all my books has been to write what I love, to write what stirs my soul ; I don't plan them so much as channel what flows through me.My sons were born in the 1980s and I started writing children’s books when I realized that the lack of diversity in children’s and young adult books had persisted from my childhood to theirs – and I wanted to do something about it. I started to write Loose Connections because I wanted to tell another invisible story - of my mother’s incarceration in a mental hospital as an unmarried mother of a mixed-race child, and of what came before and after. At first, I tried to write the story as fiction; I tried to write it without including myself so the transition to ‘creative non-fiction’ and ‘family memoir’ was a lengthy process. I have files buried on my hard-drive that are at least ten years old.Why I chose self-publishingI decided to go down the route of self-publishing partly because I am familiar with and realistic about the barriers into traditional publishing for peop le like me. I’m not a bright, young thing with a literature degree from Oxbridge or a creative writing master’s degree from East Anglia or City East, at the beginning of my writing career.I’m not seen as ‘commercially viable’ or ‘marketable’ with a blog with thousands of followers, a huge social networking platform or a reality TV fan-base. I’m more likely to be perceived as a grizzled old cynic, with a chip on my shoulder and an axe to grind.It’s not true, of course - I’m actually rather delightful, with a story to tell! Loose Connections was published at the beginning of June - and my first Amazon review says it’s a ‘†¦wonderfully moving book†¦ really well written, clear and simple but heartbreaking too.’ Also true! I decided to self-publish even though I didn't have a huge social networking platform or fan-base. The Reedsy experienceThe Reedsy marketplace was a revelation. Although there is an option to ‘shortlist’ up to five professionals, I quickly narrowed down my choice to two editors and sent them a request for a quote for a structural edit together with a synopsis and the first chapter of my book. They both responded very quickly and it was clear that they were highly skilled and experienced. I thought either would be able to do a good job so my final choice came down to cost, although I definitely struck gold with Gillian Holmes. She did a first read-through, followed up with a phone call about possibly libelous content and my overall intentions for the book, a few minor copy editing corrections and queries about continuity, proposed cuts and a couple of gaps, in tracked changes – and then a detailed restructuring proposal. Wow! Her recommendations were straightforward and simple but I clearly hadn’t been able to see the wood for the trees – excuse th e continuing lumberjack analogies – and her suggestions were spot on!How to Write a Memoir: Breathe Life into Your Story in 8 Steps Read post What were, for me, the unforeseen advantages of self-publishing have been huge: creative control of my own work, choosing my own editor and designer and yes, compared to traditional publishing, which can take months – or years – even the speed of the process from word doc manuscript to e-book download and beautifully typeset, beautifully packaged paperback book! I would definitely recommend Reedsy and the self-publishing option to any new and aspiring authors and to grizzled old cynics alike. Two months ago, I swore blind I would never do it again, but now I’m already planning my next project, an anthology.Loose Connections  is available on both  Amazon US and Amazon UK, get your copy now!Ever thought of writing a family memoir? Would you self-publish it like Malaika did? Leave your  thoughts and experiences, or any questions for Malaika, in the comments below.

That vs. Which

That vs. Which That vs. Which That vs. Which By Ali Hale One of our readers, Justin, recently wrote to ask: When proofreading a peers article on the solar system, I realized that she, and I, are unsure of the proper use of that and which in a sentence. Below is [SIC] two examples of the same sentence, one using that and the other which. To our knowledge, it is the only body in the solar system which currently sustains life, although several other bodies are under investigation. To our knowledge, it is the only body in the solar system that currently sustains life, although several other bodies are under investigation. Which is the correct sentence, and what is the general rule of thumb? Justin, Ill give you the answer now, rather than making you read to the end of the whole article: the second version of that sentence, using that is correct. When To Use That and When To Use Which Before I come on to the that/which rule, just a reminder that â€Å"who† should always be used when referring to people. The boy who threw the ball. This is the woman who always wears a black shawl. When referring to objects, though, the rule for using â€Å"that† and â€Å"which† correctly is simple: THAT should be used to introduce a restrictive clause. WHICH should be used to introduce a non-restrictive or parenthetical clause. If that leaves you more confused than when you began this article, read on A restrictive clause is one which is essential to the meaning of a sentence – if it’s removed, the meaning of the sentence will change. For example: Chairs that don’t have cushions are uncomfortable to sit on. Card games that involve betting money should not be played in school. To our knowledge, it is the only body in the solar system that currently sustains life A non-restrictive clause can be left out without changing the meaning of a sentence. Non-restrictive clauses are either in brackets or have a comma before and after them (or only before them if they come at the end of a sentence): Chairs, which are found in many places of work, are often uncomfortable to sit on. I sat on an uncomfortable chair, which was in my office. Why You Need to Use That or Which Correctly Changing that to which or vice versa can completely change the meaning of a sentence. Consider the following examples: My car that is blue goes very fast. My car, which is blue, goes very fast. The first sentence uses that – suggesting I own more than one car (and even implying my other cars might not be so fast). This is what happens if we leave out the clause and write: My car that is blue goes very fast. My car goes very fast. The sentence’s meaning has changed: the reader does not know which one of my cars goes very fast. However, the sentence using which simply informs the reader that my car is blue. We can take the clause out without losing any essential information: My car, which is blue, goes very fast. My car goes very fast. That and Which in Common Usage It is common today for which to be used with both non-restrictive and restrictive clauses, especially in informal contexts: Who ate the cake that I bought this morning? Who ate the cake which I bought this morning? The clause â€Å"that I bought this morning† is essential to the meaning – I’m not asking about a cake which I bought yesterday, or this afternoon. Therefore, the first example using â€Å"that† is the correct one, but many people would not consider the second ungrammatical. It is, however, incorrect even in informal contexts to use that for a non-restrictive or parenthical clause. For example, these sentences would be considered incorrect: This computer, that I have never liked, is very slow. The blue desk, that my father gave me. An easy way to watch out for these is to look for instances where you have a comma followed by the word that. If Id know this years ago, it would have saved me a lot of frustration with Microsoft Word! Even though the usage of which has been relaxed to some extent, it is still better to keep your writing as clear as possible by using which for only non-restrictive clauses, and that for restrictive ones. So, to return to Justins example: To our knowledge, it is the only body in the solar system which currently sustains life, although several other bodies are under investigation. To our knowledge, it is the only body in the solar system that currently sustains life, although several other bodies are under investigation. The second sentence, using that is correct, but many people would consider the first sentence permissible too. In a formal context such as a scientific paper, it is better to use that for total clarity. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Slang Terms for MoneyDo you "orient" yourself, or "orientate" yourself?Neither... or?

Services Marketing and Characteristics of Services Essay

Services Marketing and Characteristics of Services - Essay Example The inseparability of a service means that the production of service cannot be separated from its consumption; thus, the customer is a party to the production of the service. Hence, one can not provide banking services to a customer who is not present (either physically or through other means). A waiter cannot serve to a customer if there is no customer present in the restaurant. This is what inseparability of the service means; that the service is generated and consumed at the same time. This makes the quality control process even more difficult and hence efforts are made to overcome the inseparability aspect of the service by separating production and consumption of services. This is another important characteristic of services and refers to the change in service quality and effectiveness each time the service is produced and consumed. For instance, the same waiter serving two different customers, or even the same customer two different times, may provide different quality of services. Sometimes, it is essential to adapt to the specific needs of the customer while providing services like dentists who spend more time with children than adults, assuring and reassuring them that the treatment will not hurt. At other times, a quality control system may be put in place to eliminate the inconsistencies in services, for example, in call centers where all operators are taught to communicate similarly with customers. A drawback of service is that it is difficult to store it and reuse when required. Since services are generated and consumed at the same time usually, these are perished hence minimizing idle time is critical to provide quality services.  Ã‚  

Liabilities of the company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Liabilities of the company - Essay Example The use of insurance is a great way to protect assets. The three most important items that must be protected by insurance are property, income, and liabilities. Most large corporations have billions of dollars in physical assets. These assets such as buildings and machinery should have insurance against fire and natural disasters. On March 11, 2011 Japan was struck by the 4th largest earthquake in the history of mankind. A natural disaster can occur at any time since these are natural events that occur at random. Some of the natural disasters coverage that companies should seek includes earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis, fire, and floods. The liabilities of a company are an important aspect of the capital structure of a company. Normally liabilities of corporate debt are hard to protect against. A method that can be use to create a certain level of protection for debt is to use a portfolio approach to protect the debt by formulating a strong portfolio of financial instrumen ts that serve as a safe haven in case the company is not able to pay for its debt due bad operating results. The liquid portfolio can be partially liquidated to create cash that the firm can use to pay its current debt and other operating expenses such as payroll. Another important asset that must be protected is inventory. ... Insurance can also be used by corporations to protect against workers claims and lawsuits by internal and external stakeholders. When a lawsuit is filed it is often better to settle out of court to lower legal costs and to reduce the impact of bad publicity to the company. The corporate image of the company is sacred. Back in 1998 Nike Corporation lost half its customers instantly due to the revelation of a sweetshop scandal. The use of an internal control system is extremely beneficial to a company. It can be used in order to increase the efficiency and productivity of the entire staff of employees. One of the benefits of the use of internal controls is that it safeguards the assets of the company. The most valuable asset of a company which must be protected at all times is the cash. Cash is the most liquid asset in existence. In the international arena the currency of most countries is different. Three of the most valued currencies in the world are the U.S. dollar, the Euro, and th e British Pound. The U.S. dollar is used as the reserve currency in the majority of the countries in the world. Internal controls can also be used to minimize the theft of inventory in a company. A way to protect the inventory is by placing hidden cameras across the entire warehouse where the inventory is being kept. In the retail environment cashiers must count the money when the cash register is cash out and the manager must verify the amount. Both employees must sign a document regarding the cash. The cash should then be taken to a safe prior to the money being deposited in the bank account of the company. The use of internal controls can prevent the managers and the accounting staff from colluding

The Holocaust Essay Example for Free

The Holocaust Essay The term holocaust was coined in a general context, to describe   the brutal killing of   European jews during the second Woerld War, this was part of the National Socialist devised and employed extensive campaign to intentionally abolish jewish presence in Germany at the time.   Conversely, numerous scholars and historians only apply the term to the barbaric treatment of the jews, not to all the recipients of the Nazi Violence.   Several theories have been applied as to how and why the Holocaust happened.    The main objective is to answer two major queries about the Holocaust.   The primary question wishes to findout if there was a master plan behind Hitlers execution of the Holocaust.   The other question is about the initiative of the Holocaust and to whom it is credited.   Two good ways to explore the roots of such brutality and the causes as well as the inentions of the Holocaust are in the intentionalist and the structulist standpoints. Theoratically, the intentionalist view is concentrated on the effects of what a particular act wishes to accomplish.   The Intentionalist view simply interprets that Hitler already expressed hatred of Jews and has been vocal of his desire to push the Jews to the brink of extinction even before his rise to power took place.[1]   [In support of the intentionalist aspect, Lucy Dawidocz suggests that Hitlers long kept intentions against the jews were evident in the   crimes of genocide and discrimination that were executed in installments.   Dawidowicz also implies that the initiative originated from Hitler himself.[2]   ] [The legislation of the Nuremberg Laws of 1935 formalized the casual measures against Jews.   Hitler emphasized on the deprivation of civil rights of the jews just to show the consistency in   Nazi platform.[3] ] .   The first law forbade non-Aryans (Jews) to have marital engagements in order to preserve German purity in blood.   Second was the segregation of pure Germans from cross-bred citizens into nationals and Reich Citizens.   The legislation was symbolic due to the fact that Hitler and the German Parliament were already acting independently via the dictatorial Enabling Act.   . Practically, Hitler forced Jews to work for the industry of the German War only with primitive tools and barely adequate provisions up to the pinnacle of humane physical limit.   [According to Dawidowiczs book, The war Against the Jews, the provisions of the German frontline in the USSR were disrupted so that the jews may be transported to the extermination camps.[4]   ] [By these elements, it was evident that Anti-jewish advocacies reached critical levels via Hitlers personal emotions and his ressurection of previous perspectives by a former German King and re-introducing them in the policies of Nazi Germany. .[5]   ] In another intentionalist view,   Hitlers intentions erupted as a result of his rise to power and the long wait for the aforementioned intentions to become a reality.   It was obviously felt through the German governments treatment of slaves as expendable property and of little or no worth in the operation of war machines, hence, they were disposed after doing their part.[6]   Slave driving never placed Hitler in the pedestal of contentment.   Hitler brought out more from his arsenal in terms of methodology as the Hitler regime, after the conquest of Poland in eastern Europe, deployed an army whose sole purpose is to slay jews and the political adversaries of the Nazis.   Just a sample of how far the German Government, and Hitler for that matter, are willing to go just to ensure a jewish free Germany, and probably the world. [Dawidiowcz notes that Hatred and anti-semitism have never been a blatant aftermath of a system of beliefs by a group, let alone a person.   Hitlers view of the jews was the the most probable origin of   expounding vile belief in the justification of viscious murders, an instance never encountered in history before. ]   Moreover, Hitlers hatred of the Jews were the core of his beliefs and is credited to be the sculptor of his general outlook and political intentions.   It is in this contexts that the heart of the National Socialist constitution was grounded. In the structulist angle, there were several factors that contributed to the Holocaust.   [Primarily, the components of the German Government were in direct inolvement as far as the operations on the mass killing were concerned, classifying Germany as a Genocidal State.[7]]   Legislative acts regarding persecution of jews were already drafted and approved long before Hitler acquired power.   Hence, the Holocaust was also influenced by several factors. In the conference of ministers, Nazi representative, Adolf Wagner,   contended that economic instability will continue until the government has come up with a firm policy against the jews.   [The minister of Economics, Dr. Hjalmar Schacht, countered the theory claiming such a theory makes no sense and that jews have remarkable entrepreneurial skills.   In the same regard, but Schacht did not condemn the anit-jewish policy and even approved of the passing of the legislation just to put order to an intensifying situation.[8]]   [Structulistically, it was quite obvious that the Holocaust wass not only rooted to the personal hatred of Adolf Hitler, but on the economic turmoil as well, [9]] A closer look at the circumstance may support the theory that the ruthless Nazi treatment of jews was also the cause of the declining economy integrated with   international relations and reactions to and from Germany.   The hierarchy of officials from Hitlers government were involved in the accomplishment of the Holocaust together with the local populace, police, army and national railways.   These constituents have a broader view and knowledge of the totality of what was really happening across the nation since the millions of lives processed by Nazis required manpower since the accomplishment of Hitlers advocacy included operations from several nearby regions and huge numbers of paperwork.[10] The structulist point of view was backboned by the doctoral dissertation which eventually became a book, Hitlers Willing Executioners.   Author and Harvard Affiliate for the center of European Studies Daniel Goldhagen argues that the participation and involvement of ordinary non-jewish Germans were also another perspective in the events of the Holocaust with reference to the responsibility and completion, Goldhagen (1996) contested that the general public of Germany had knowledge and approval of the execution of the Holocaust and that the majority would have personally done the act if required or had the oppurtunity to do so.[11] ] [Goldhagen also wrote that the antisemitist tendencies of the Germans were unique as it had eliminationist implications.[12]   ] Another argument by structulists was the low ratio of Germans against the mass murder of Jews and other political opponents of the government at the time.   In spite of the contradictions to the theory, Goldhagen stayed firm with his central claims.   In his own description, he claimed that the intent of his witten work was to address three debatable truths.   [The German perpetrators of the Holocaust treated Jews in all the brutal and lethal ways that they did because, by and large, they believed that what they were doing was right and necessary. Second, that there was long existing, virulent antisemitism in German society that led to the desire on the part of the vast majority of Germans to eliminate Jews somehow from German society. Third, that any explanation of the Holocaust must address and specify the causal relationship between antisemitism in Germany and the persecution and extermination of the Jews which so many ordinary Germans contributed to and supported.[13] ] Structulists believe that Hitler only scrutinized and exploited something that was already innate of a German.   [A reflection on the central ideas of Goldhagens book clearly stated that the Germans did not massacre the jewish tribes due to prior claims of social and psychological pressure, nor was it driven by solid fidelity to Hitler, it was applied with the hereditary hatred that were prepared years before the holocaust even became a reality in the German social landscape.[14]]   Moreover, jewish hatred, was already a culture of Germans and Hitler only implied it as a heroic act to persuade the people, that abruptly became the reason behind less resistance from recruited willing executioners to do Hitlers job for him. [The structulist application of Goldhagens idea denotes the persecution and extermination of the jews in Germany and Europe was not the first first of its kind.   Throughout centuries various movements have been made towards the oppression of the jews, however, in the case of the Holocaust, the brutality was brought about by several factors which include social and cultural injection of hatred towards a particular race.   The methods used were different in the sense that the government amplified an emotion that was already present in the first place, years of implanting emotion was the recipe of total annihilation of the jews.[15] ] Conclusion   The Holocaust was one of the bloodiest racial discriminations ever experienced in history.   The question of Hitlers involvement is of vital relevance since his tyranny utilized full extent of power to â€Å"solve† the Jewish problem.   However, contrasting views such as Structulists deem of numerous factors that led to the Holocaust and its flawless accomplishment against the intentionalists conviction in reference to Hitlers personal intentions and sentiments may cause confusion as to who really was responsiblefor it.   The fact of the matter is that no one has the right to willingly claim the life of a person and/or race grounding from personal or innate rationality. Bibliography Goldhagen. Hitlers Willing Executioners. Random House Inc. New York. 1996 Boas, German-Jewish Internal Politics under Hitler 1933-1938. 1984. Dawidowicz. The War Against the Jews. Bantam. New York. 1986 [1]  Ã‚  Ã‚   L. Dawidowicz. The War Against the Jews.   Bantam. New York.   1986 [2]  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ibid. [3]  Ã‚  Ã‚   L. Dawidowicz. The War Against the Jews.   Bantam. New York.   1986 [4]  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ibid. 4 [5]  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ibid. [6]  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ibid. [7]  Ã‚  Ã‚   J. Boas, German-Jewish Internal Politics under Hitler 1933-1938. 1984. p. 3 [8]  Ã‚  Ã‚   J. Boas, German-Jewish Internal Politics under Hitler 1933-1938. 1984. p. 3 [9]  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ibid. 4 [10]   D. Goldhagen. Hitlers Willing Executioners.   Random House Inc. New York. 1996 p. 40 [11]   D. Goldhagen. Hitlers Willing Executioners.   Random House Inc. New York. 1996 p. 40 [12]   Ibid. [13]   Ibid. [14]   D. Goldhagen. Hitlers Willing Executioners.   Random House Inc. New York. 1996 [15]   Ibid.

Technology: Friend or Foe? Essay -- Argumentative Technology Essays Pa

Technology: Friend or Foe? There are many differing opinions on the advancement of technology but there are really two main sides to the issue. One side is enthusiastic and ready for new progress and change, while the other side can see the value of technology but is more cautious and wary of the changes technology brings to society as a whole. These sides are simplified but useful for looking at the extreme ends of the issues in order to see the balance between the two. What is technology and why the fuss? Technology consists of something as basic as a calculator to something as complex as the newest secrets in military defense. Technology is applying the new and innovative discoveries in science to everyday tasks. The biggest concern about technology expressed in a growing number of articles and books has to do with computer technology. People are scared of the many advancements in computer technology such as the internet and the World Wide Web. Currently, information capabilities are growing quickly with few regulations. Some of the dispute comes from misunderstanding but the other half comes from experience. Younger people tend to have a more liberal and open view about the advancements, while older generations have seen the fast paced changes in this world and are more leery and hesitant to accept new technology without caution. It is useful to look at the two main sides and evaluate where the arguments can come together to form a medium and balanced view. In searching for arguments expressing hesitancy about the progress of technology one source is found through a man named Neil Postman. He is a well respected and accomplished professor and writer. Postman has devoted an entire book, Technopoly, to the subject ... ... from and where it is going. From this wider perspective people can begin to understand the pros and cons of technology better. Works Cited Downie, Peter. Transcript from a TV-interview for Progress and Prophesy. http://www.myna.com/~davidck/postman.htm. 1991. Lewis, Peter. "Anarchy, a Threat to the Electronic Frontier?" New York Times. 11 May, 1994: C1, C5. Postman, Neil. Informing Ourselves to Death. Speech. http://www.uni-frankfurt.de/gnomic/postman.html. October 11, 1990. Postman, Neil. Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. Vintage Books. New York: 1992. Turkle, Sherry. "The Human Spirit in a Computer Culture." The Second Shelf. Simon and Schuster, 1984. Verity, John W. "The Information Revolution." Business Week. June 13, 1994: 10-18. Wiener, Jon. "Free Speech on the Internet." The Nation. June 13, 1994: 825-828.

Of Mice and Men – in What Ways Could This Novel

Steinbeck makes it clear that most the workers on the ranch are lonely, as working in a ranch is hard work and no one really wants to work really hard every day Just to eat and survive, so you can say that the people working In the ranch have no alma In life, living temporary lives, oath beaten by hard boys down from the ranches to swim In the deep pool, and â€Å"A beaten hard by tramps†.Also as Leonie and George had to walk long way to the ranch or to work this may have been the case for lots of people in the ‘ass as that was the time of the Great Depression and the Wall Street Crash In where the economy of the USA fell and everyone was out of jobs and money, you can say that this is tragic In some way as it shows how hard people tried Just to find work and how the Depression bought loneliness onto the people of the ASSAI. Some people in the ranch vive more lonely lives than others. One of the loneliest persons on the ranch has to be Curly wife.As she Is the only women on the ranch she feels Isolated and left out from the men and feels different. Also no one really wants to talk to her as she is the wife of the boss's son and no one talks to her out of fear of getting into a fight with Curly who has power upon the ranch to fire people as he is the boss's son and the workers did not want to get fired as there were no Jobs around. This can be seen as tragic as If a worker Is accidentally seen communicating with Curly wife Curly will ant him fired or will want to fight him as Curly is seen as a character as aggressive.Also Curry's wife is seen as a â€Å"flirt† or just wants attention as she is the only female on the ranch, but Curly doesn't want her to talk to anyone. As she has no female friends on the ranch, men are her only option, but they do not want to talk to her. So this really frustrates her and makes her lonely. Even thought Curry's wife is mentioned throughout the book, she is never called by her name, from her lack of a personal definition you can say that the men on the ranch don't see her a normal human being UT as an â€Å"object†. She says to Leonie â€Å"Think I don't like to talk to someone ever once in a while? This shows that she is trying to tell Leonie that she is desperate to talk to someone and have a friend that she can Just talk to, you can say this is tragic as Curry's wife can't even have one of life's simplest things â€Å"a conversation† or a friend. However, she believes that one day she would make It to the movies and become an actor, â€Å"l Alan used to level like this. I could made something of myself†¦ Maybe I will yet. † because of this extreme loneliness she wants to think of herself as having a true ahead of her, but in reality she does not.So she is living in two different lives, but in reality she Is living in a boring ranch with no one to talk to. You can say this Is tragic as the ranch brings peoples hope up Into believing that they will make it big one day but in reality the ranch crushes this dream and the workers on the ranch will 1 OFF Another point about Curly wife is she escapes all this â€Å"loneliness† by dying, when she is killed by Leonie, Steinbeck writes, and â€Å"The meanness and the planning of the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face.This means that Curly wife is dead and now she looks happy when she is dead as she has escaped from being lonely. This can be seen as tragic as you can say that the only escape from loneliness is death. Another character that can be seen as lonely is Crooks. Crooks suffers from loneliness because he is the only black person on the ranch, and black people suffered lots of racial abuse from white people in the ‘ass because black people didn't have human rights. Also he lives by himself as no one likes him as he is black, this makes Crooks even lonelier.Crooks does not take part in any social activity in the ranch, he is so lonely that he tur ns to reading books in his spare time. Steinbeck shows Crooks character someone who is desperate for company, but Crooks really does not show it. This can be seen as tragic as everyone is racist to Crooks on the ranch and no one likes him. Also when Leonie enters Crooks room, Crooks talks to Leonie even though he knows that Leonie doesn't understand him as much, but still continues to talk as he is â€Å"not lonely' any more as he has someone to talk to.Crooks says, â€Å"A guy goes nuts if he ant got nobody†¦ I tell way a guy gets too lonely and he gets sick. † This shows that he knows what it's like to be lonely and what it can do to somebody, this can be seen as tragic as no one should really know what it really feels like to be left out and lonely for a very long time even though there are always people around you and those people neglect you for something that you don't choose to have – the color of your skin.Another character that is portrayed as lonely by Steinbeck is Candy. Candy is an old man who is physically disabled and who used to work on the ranch, he is disabled due to an accident in the past. You can say that candy is lonely because he is old and no one really wants to become friends with someone who is old, also Candy only companionship was his dog that got shot in the back of his head because he was getting old and useless Just like Candy.As Candy now has no friends he over hears Leonie and George talk about their â€Å"dream place†, as Candy wants to escape this loneliness he wants to Join Leonie and George in their dream place, so Candy offers his saving towards the dream place and making it a â€Å"reality'. â€Å"Expose I went in with you guys. † This shows that Candy is fed up from being in the ranch and wants to escape his past; also he knew he was going to be sacked soon as he old and cannot work so he put his money into the â€Å"Dream place†.This can be seen as tragic as you can say that peop le will give all their money away to escape from loneliness, and you can say that money does not always bring happiness. Another character that can be seen as lonely is Curly, even though he has a wife. No one really likes him in the ranch as he is aggressive and he likes to look down upon the workers on the ranch, this leads to Curly having no friends in the ranch, also Curly goes to the brothel house even though he has a wife, you can say that his wife may not like him that much or satisfy him so he turns to the brothel.This is tragic as Curly wants to be respected and to be seen as someone with power, no one him, also as Curly is intimidated by bigger men, he hates Leonie who is twice his size, as Lien's character is seen by the workers on the ranch as â€Å"innocent† and childlike† the workers seem to take Lien's side when Curly attacks Leonie out of frustration and anger.Curly as a character can be seen as tragic as no one really likes him and he has no real friend s and no one seems to respect him but only fear him because of his position in the ranch, even his own wife doesn't really like him as Curly always controls her and makes her feel lonely in her own ways and Curly even has to go to a brother to satisfy his sexual needs even though he has a wife, from this you can say that Curly is truly lonely.Another character that is portrayed as lonely towards the end of the book is George, as he killed Leonie, you can say that he now has no burden on his shoulders any more, but you can also say that George now has no true friend and will now suffer loneliness like the other men on the ranch. This could be seen as tragic as George killed Leonie out of â€Å"Love† and did Leonie as favor as Leonie would've been sent to a mental asylum and in the ‘ass asylums were bad places to be, so George did something out of â€Å"Love† and now suffers loneliness and not having a true friend.So in conclusion loneliness is seen tragic in a num ber of ways in this book and Steinbeck uses lots of means to escape loneliness; such as death, giving away all your possessions, and even turning to books. Also doing something you may think is good will bring something bad, like when George killing Leonie out of love and friendship, George will now suffer from loneliness, So â€Å"Loneliness† in Of Mice and Men is a major theme as all the characters are affected by it and Steinbeck shows all the tragedies of loneliness and he also shows what people would do Just to escape this â€Å"Loneliness†.