Reviews for The Red Pony

The average rating for The Red Pony based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2020-12-19 00:00:00 Andrew Crystal The Red Pony by John Steinbeck Steinbeck has always done really well when it comes to describing human emotions. In this novella, there are four chapters. And each one can be defined as a standalone but all connected. It is an engaging and very well-written story. It has some depressing moments. However, throughout the tale, it explores many things, especially about human relationships with nature. No matter how good a man is, there's always some horse can pitch him. Good read.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-10-03 00:00:00 Yash Khopra A story about a pretty, pretty precious pony? Hurray! This is going to be giggly-joyous, laughy-good pony times!...What? It's written by John Steinbeck? Fuck. Sorry pony, you or everyone you love is going to die. Yes, these are tales of living on a ranch in the early days (well, early-ish) of California, but underneath they are more of the same Steinbeck: the vignettes of the hardscrabble life of immigrant farmers. Specifically, it's second and third generation immigrants, such as seen in Tortilla Flat. The people are established. This is their land. It feels as if it's always been theirs, but there were others before them...ghosts now. The Red Pony follows a boy, who is coming of age and given the responsibility of raising his own horse. Steinbeck captures well the emotions and perspective of a child feeling his way in a world that is changing for him, new understandings that jab at young folks daily like minor revelations. Will he cope? Thought I'd give this a read, what with my interest in animals being piqued by Goodreads' recent ads for All Creatures Great and Small. The Red Pony reads like a collection of related short stories. It definitely doesn't feel like a complete novel with a plot, climax and satisfying finish. There's just theme, like viewing a photo album. That can be enjoyable too, after all, every picture tells a story, don't it?