I co-taught Of Mice and Men while student teaching, and that was the first time I had actually read it. I found it enjoyable, and it provided some good discussions with the class I felt. My interpretation is the same as Shorty's here, and I felt it was pretty overt that that was the case at the end of the book. Whether or not George was a good friend or was at fault for the circumstances Lennie found himself in are debatable, but George killing Lennie was meant to be an act of mercy and love really.

Not that I have a problem with people not liking Of Mice and Men. I find it more enjoyable and readable than any other Steinbeck I've read, but we all have different tastes

And to mention a story I don't enjoy that will give me flack: Romeo and Juliet. I always hated that it often seems introduced as some great love story when it really isn't. The actual characters of Romeo and Juliet annoy me quite a bit. Mercutio was a cool guy though.